Durrington combines Neolithic monuments with traces of life from around 4,000 years ago. Woodhenge and Durrington Walls offer different archaeological insights, while the Church of All Saints adds Anglican church architecture to the picture. Anyone choosing a destination for its history will find several specific themes here rather than just a single monument.
Woodhenge and Durrington Walls
Woodhenge is a Neolithic timber monument built around 2500 BC. Six concentric ovals of standing posts were surrounded by a bank and ditch. The site was aligned with the sunrise at the summer solstice. The combination of its oval structure and this alignment makes Woodhenge a distinctive starting point for exploring the area’s monuments.
The small henge monument of Woodhenge lies about 70 metres south of Durrington Walls. Durrington Walls itself is a large, circular Neolithic earthwork, approximately 500 metres in diameter. Excavations have uncovered the remains of hundreds of houses there. Thus, the archaeological picture of the site includes not only the prominent earthwork but also evidence of many dwellings.
Interpretations of the finds add another dimension: around 4,000 years ago, thousands of people gathered at Durrington Walls for large midwinter feasts, where domestic pigs were eaten. The monument, house remains and feast tell different aspects of the past. By considering the sites together, visitors can distinguish between the built structure and communal life without reducing them to the same function.
A walking trail and the Cuckoo Stone
The Durrington Walls to Stonehenge walking trail starts at Woodhenge and passes the Cuckoo Stone. The former standing stone was a place for Bronze Age cremation burials. The route described therefore connects a starting point at a Neolithic monument with a place associated with Bronze Age burials. If you include the trail in your plans, bear in mind that local conditions can change.
Church of All Saints
The Anglican parish church, Church of All Saints, is also one of Durrington’s distinctive attractions. It is listed as a Grade II* building. The present church is made of dressed flint and ashlar. Its features include a chancel with a south vestry, a nave and a west tower. These features give the church a different profile from the prehistoric monuments: here, the focus is on building materials and architectural layout.
Fittings dating from the 17th century have been preserved, including an altar table, a pulpit and a tower screen. Anyone interested in architectural history can use these to consider individual elements of the furnishings as well as the building’s exterior. Together with its Grade II* listing, the church offers a clear contrast to the archaeological landscape around Woodhenge and Durrington Walls.
Fishing on the River Avon
Fishing is possible on the River Avon in Durrington. A rod licence, a fishing permit or membership of the Salisbury District Angling Club is required. Licence and permit rules can change, so check the current conditions before fishing. This activity differs from the archaeological themes because it has a specific requirement that you should take into account when planning.
When choosing what to focus on, it helps to distinguish between the themes: Woodhenge and Durrington Walls lead to Neolithic archaeology, the Cuckoo Stone adds a Bronze Age burial site to the walking route, and the Church of All Saints provides an architectural feature. Fishing on the Avon is another option, but it is subject to the licence or membership requirements mentioned above.
Discover more destinations: Holt, Calne, Charlton, Larkhill, Purton, Hindon, Tidworth, Redlynch.
For the broader travel overview: Wiltshire.
