In 1998, John Lorimer, a local special needs worker, took some fishing nets to the beach at Holme-next-to-Sea on the North Norfolk coast, for testing. On the beach, close to the peaty remains of a prehistoric forest, he discovered a Bronze Age axehead. On a later visit, he noticed some strange timbers protuding through the sand. The sands moved, and now, he could see a wierd altar-like timber, surrounded by a circle of smaller timbers.
Seahenge was not built on a beach. Erosion has moved the sea over to its salt marsh location. It is not by any criteria a 'henge' monument. It is a unique prehistoric monument. Perhaps it should be known as the 'Holme Timber Circle' - but Seahenge has stuck. Authorities felt that the timbers were at risk, and decided to remove them. There is a fantastic story revolving around that operation, involving self-styled modern day druids, local villagers, new age travellers, a local entrepreneur, a Channel 4 Time Team Television crew, and of course varied archaeologists.
Whether the archaeologists were justified in removing the timbers from their in situ position or not is up for debate. However, the timbers, at the time of our visit, were being stored at Flag Fen Centre. I felt rather concerned at the very lapse security on site, and the awful presentation. It felt disrespectful. Still, here are the photographs of the timbers (no longer a circle) in their temporary 'holding tanks'.
Back to Flag Fen Gallery