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"achievABLE STONEHENGE"

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VenerableBottyBurp V
VenerableBottyBurp Feb 12, 2006 12:39:32
Replying to nigelswift

I think there is a consensus that there should be a shop, but that the visitor should n't be forced or persuaded into it.

As an aside I would also underline how loathsome and brain reducing the content of the EH shop at Stonehenge, and not a patch on the recent stocking policy of the NT shop at Avebury thanks to the woman in charge. An example being the democratic approach to publications, where at Stonehenge you could not until the recent edition even buy Chippindale's book, if you wanted a book it had to be EH's or an approved, there was no mention of Druids anywhere and no mention of the restoration (drum banged once again). That is another good reason to take Stonehenge out of the hands of those that have abused and mismanaged for the last century.

VBB

A andy worthington
andy worthington Feb 12, 2006 13:34:45
Replying to VenerableBottyBurp

Ha ha, thanks to the VBB for introducing the lamentable state of the current EH shop into proceedings - and also pointing out how excellent the NT shop at Avebury is. EH should have the world's finest bookshop for archaeology, earth mysteries, modern interpretations and all things megalithic - and the world's finest online bookshop for the above, as well - but no... the decision-makers in Swindon really should be ashamed of themselves.
This will probably be my last post on this particular thread. I'm going to go and have a good look at Nigel's 'Achievable Stonehenge' proposals, and will see y'all there hopefully.
All the best,
Andy

Andy is the author of Stonehenge: Celebration and Subversion (Alternative Albion, 2004), described by SchNEWS as 'by far the best bit of modern British social history I've seen', and the editor of The Battle of the Beanfield (Enabler, 2005), described by Professor Ronald Hutton as 'probably the definitive work on its subject, something very rarely achieved in practice', neither of which is available in the English Heritage shop at Stonehenge.
http://www.andyworthington.co.uk

J Jo-anne
Jo-anne Feb 12, 2006 14:33:33
Replying to VenerableBottyBurp

Hi VBB,

I'm sure a balanced mix can be achieved.

L Littlestone
Littlestone Feb 12, 2006 16:22:56
Replying to VenerableBottyBurp

>As an aside I would also underline how loathsome and brain reducing the content of the EH shop at Stonehenge, and not a patch on the recent stocking policy of the NT shop at Avebury thanks to the woman in charge.<

Absolutely VBB! Couldn't agree with you more. The NT Shop at Avebury really has improved <i>amazingly</i> over the last year or so. But how is that possible? The lady in charge must have some considerable personality - working for the National Trust but still being able to turn that old tanker around to what was really needed for the Avebury shop. There's a lesson in there somewhere.