Inspired by Stonehenge

This summer Salisbury Museum is joining forces with archaeologist Julian Richards to produce a truly inspirational exhibition about Stonehenge. Using a wide range of original artefacts, graphics, music and moving images, this exhibition will explore the many ways people have experienced and been inspired by Stonehenge.

Exhibits include unique posters from the rock festivals of the 1980s; recordings, photographs and postcards relating to people’s reminiscences of visiting the stones; publicity using Stonehenge imagery ranging from beer to lawnmowers; rock music and album covers; and more unusual items including toasting forks and Wedgwood ceramics. We will even have on display one of the Bogles used to decorate the stones in a mysterious prank in the 1960s!

There will also be a whole range of exciting activities to accompany the exhibition – not least National Archaeology Day on 12th July when Julian Richards will be building a replica Trilithon with help from Museum visitors. Julian will also be conducting special access tours of the stones with groups from South Wiltshire Mencap and the Museum will be delivering sessions in local schools about the exhibition.

This exhibition will also look at the different ways that visitors have experienced Stonehenge, from the totally open access of the Victorian era to the closing of the central stones in 1978. This will include the guide books, the earliest from 1823, which show how our views of the past have changed.

Between 2 and 4 on Saturday 20th September you are invited to see the exhibition for the last time before it goes off to be shown at the Museums in Devizes and Chippenham. Members of the Bemerton Local History Society, who specialise in oral history, will be on hand to offer tea and biscuits, to write down family memories and to scan photos which can then be added to a StoryBoard in the Exhibition.

All very welcome: whether it was a stopover on a family trip to the coast or part of a long forgotten rave in the 60’s, the museum would love to hear from you.