Stonehenge Gets Revamp

Updated:15:40, Wednesday July 31, 2002

A £57m scheme has been unveiled to restore Stonehenge and give unprecedented access to visitors.

English Heritage wants to clear "the 20th century clutter", including unsightly fencing and paths.

A new visitor centre will be placed outside the archaeologically-sensitive site and is designed to be in harmony with its surroundings.

The roof of the building is to be planted with narrow bands of grass, making it appear subterranean and, from above, as simply lines on the ground.

Lottery

Although visitors will still not be able to walk right up and touch the stones - this was stopped in 1978 - they will be able to access far more of the 1,700-acre National Trust-owned site.

People are to be encouraged to use the existing network of public paths to roam across the open downland surrounding the stone circle and explore the area's many archaeological monuments.

New look visitor centre

The Heritage Lottery Fund has pledged £27m towards the project with the Government giving backing of at least £10m.

Appeal

A contribution of £11.7 million will come from English Heritage while the balance will be raised through a major appeal later this year.

Sir Neil Cossons, chairman of English Heritage said: "The importance of today's announcement cannot be underestimated. These funds are the key to reuniting archaeological landscape rich with ceremonial monuments spanning over 10,000 years.

"Visitors to Stonehenge deserve better than this and at long last they will be able to engage with the wonder of the Stonehenge landscape as never before."