There may be many alternatives to Stonehenge this summer solstice, but one British man is proud his stone circle is complete rubbish. Bryan Raines, of Awbridge, Hampshire, has been creating his ‘Millennium Circle’ since 2000 entirely from waste fly-tipped on his land.
Bryan’s 24-stone circle surrounds a soil barrow, and he even believes it is located on a ley line – a mystical line linking ancient monuments. Yet the power of the ley line hasn’t saved Bryan’s landmark from some altogether less mystical interlopers. “Some of the stones are between five and six feet high, but unfortunately cows keep knocking them over.
“I’ve ended up with a sort-of 24-hour sundial,” Bryan tells the Romsey Advertiser. “It’s a good 50 metres across. I’m quite proud of it, actually. I have had quite a few people who were surprised about it.”
The circle began life a decade ago, when 55-year-old Bryan decided to put rubbish dumped in his field to use. “I was in the process of collecting builder’s rubbish that I had accumulated,” he says, “and I thought I would use it for a stone circle.” Bryan believes the landmark lies on an ancient line running from the Isle of Man to the Isle of Wight.
Ley lines were first suggested in 1921 by amateur archaeologist Alfred Watkins in his book The Old Straight Track. Watkins’ theory claims that straight lines linking megaliths like Stonehenge resonate mystic energy. This weekend thousands of pagans and revellers will head to ancient sites around Britain to celebrate the summer solstice. Find out how to do things the right way at Stonehenge with a look at Ann’s special guide. Don’t forget you can see Stonehenge from your own home with Heritage Key’s Stonehenge Virtual.