West Woods facts for kids
Quick facts for kids West Woods |
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| Geography | |
| Location | Marlborough, Wiltshire, United Kingdom |
| Coordinates | 51°23′47″N 1°46′36″W / 51.39639°N 1.77667°W |
| Area | 957 acres (387 ha) |
West Woods is a lovely forest located about 2+1⁄2 miles (4 km) southwest of Marlborough, a town in Wiltshire, England. This amazing woodland covers an area of about 957 acres (387 ha). It is open for everyone to visit. Many people love to explore West Woods, especially in the spring. That's when the ground becomes a beautiful carpet of purple bluebells.
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A Look Back in Time
West Woods has a long and interesting history. It was once part of a much larger area called the Royal hunting forest of Savernake. This changed around the 1330s. West Woods is now about one-fifth the size of Savernake Forest.
In 1928, most of the trees in West Woods were cut down. New trees, mostly beech trees, were then planted. People have been visiting these woods for a very long time. Even before the Bronze Age, people came here to find flints. Later, they used the wood to make charcoal.
Amazing Ancient Discoveries
West Woods is a very important place for archaeologists. These are scientists who study the past. They have found many clues about ancient times here.
The Stonehenge Connection
In July 2020, an exciting discovery was announced. Scientists found that West Woods is most likely where many of the huge sarsen stones for Stonehenge came from. Stonehenge is a famous ancient monument.
Archaeologists studied a small piece from one of the Stonehenge stones. This piece was taken in 1958. They compared it to samples from 20 other sarsen stone areas. The piece of stone had been missing for a long time. An Englishman named Robert Phillips brought it back from the United States in 2019.
Other Ancient Structures
West Woods also has a long barrow. This is an ancient burial mound from the Neolithic period. It is about 40 meters long and 27 meters wide at its widest point. The mound is up to 3.5 meters high and has a ditch around it.
An old earthwork called the Wansdyke also cuts through the wood. This earthwork dates back to the 5th or 6th century BC. It is a very old boundary or defensive wall.
Studying the Past
In 2007, the Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Society started studying West Woods. They found many details about the area. Their surveys showed evidence from different time periods. These included the Mesolithic and Neolithic ages, and also post-Medieval times.
A researcher named Hugh Newman also explored West Woods in 2020. He found more information about the long barrow. He also found more sarsen stones in the area, including near Clatford Farm. These discoveries help us learn more about how people lived long ago.
