Vale of Pewsey facts for kids
The Vale of Pewsey or Pewsey Vale is a beautiful area in Wiltshire, England. It's located east of the town of Devizes and south of Marlborough, with the town of Pewsey right at its heart.
Contents
What is the Vale of Pewsey?
The Vale of Pewsey is like a long, flat valley that separates two areas of chalk hills. To the south, you have Salisbury Plain, and to the north, the North Wessex Downs. It stretches for about 30 kilometers (19 miles) and is around 5 kilometers (3 miles) wide.
Exploring the Vale's Landscape
Hills, Rivers, and Views
Even though the Vale itself is flat, it's surrounded by impressive hills. The highest point in the Vale is Milk Hill, which stands at 295 meters (968 feet) above sea level. Right next to it is Tan Hill, almost as high at 294 meters (965 feet).
Several small villages are dotted around the Vale, including Bishops Cannings, Etchilhampton, and Urchfont. The area is also home to the beginnings of the Salisbury Avon. This river flows south through the chalk hills towards the coast. Another river, the River Bourne, also starts here and joins the Avon later.
Getting Around: Canals and Railways
The Vale of Pewsey acts as a natural pathway between London and the west of England. It's not used by big main roads, but it's perfect for a canal and a railway line.
The famous Kennet and Avon Canal runs through the Vale. This canal connects the Kennet (which flows to the Thames) with the Bristol Avon. It even goes through a special tunnel called the Bruce Tunnel. The main railway line from London to the southwest also uses this route, making it an important transport corridor.
A Look at the Vale's Ancient Past
The Vale of Pewsey has a rich history, with many clues left behind by people who lived here thousands of years ago.
Stone Age Discoveries
Archaeologists have found many sites from the Stone Age in the Vale. One important place is Knap Hill, near Alton Priors. This was a "causewayed enclosure," which was a large area surrounded by ditches and banks, possibly used for gatherings or ceremonies. It was first explored over a hundred years ago!
More recently, in 2005, two large ancient circular monuments called "henges" were discovered. These are the Marden and Wilsford Henges, showing that the Vale was a very important place for early communities.
Roman Treasures
In 2000, a schoolboy made an amazing discovery near the village of Wilcot. He found a hidden collection of Roman coins! This collection is now known as the Stanchester Hoard and can be seen at the Wiltshire Museum in Devizes.
How the Vale Was Formed
The Vale of Pewsey has a fascinating geological story. Imagine the Earth's layers of rock like a giant blanket. Over millions of years, these layers can get pushed and folded. The Vale sits on what's called an "anticline," which is like a big upward fold in the rock layers.
The top layers of chalk rock have worn away over time, revealing older rocks underneath. The floor of the Vale is mostly made of a type of rock called "Upper Greensand." This Greensand is surrounded by the chalk hills that form the edges of the Vale.
Fun Things to Do and See
The town of Pewsey is a lively center for the surrounding villages. There are many exciting places to visit in and around the Vale of Pewsey:
- Avebury (a famous stone circle)
- West Kennet Long Barrow (an ancient burial mound)
- Savernake Forest (a beautiful ancient woodland)
- Crofton Pumping Station (a historic steam-powered water pump for the canal)
- Silbury Hill (a mysterious man-made chalk hill)
- Wilton Windmill (a working windmill)
- Alton Barnes (known for its impressive crop circles)
- Marlborough (a historic market town)
- The Kennet and Avon Canal (great for walks and boat trips)
- The Bruce Tunnel (part of the Kennet and Avon Canal)
