Amesbury Leaflet - Holiday Inn Salisbury

Next stop is the Historic town itself, where ample low-cost parking
can be found in one of three visitors’ car parks in the Centre or at
Church Street. There are a number of hostelries and always great
offers for visitors to enjoy in a variety of shops. For those seeking
peace and tranquillity, take a stroll to Lords Walk 7 and enjoy a
picnic by the river. For children, Bonnymead Park 11 is full of things
to do.
A visit to the 10th century church of St Mary and St Melor 2 is also
worthwhile. It houses an impressive 1777 organ, one of the World’s
oldest working clocks from the 15th century and floor tiles from the
13th century priory. A careful look at the walls (inside and out) and
you may see two crosses engraved, possibly left by the crusader
King Edward I during his many visits to the town.
Amesbury’s own Royal heritage started
in folklore with Arthurian legends and in
899 it was gifted in the will of King
Alfred the Great. A Benedictine Abbey
was founded by Queen Elfrida in 979
and William the Conqueror named
Amesbury a Royal manor in the
Domesday Book. The original Abbey
was replaced with a grand Fontevraud
Priory by Henry II in 1177. The Town
became the home and final resting
place to King Henry III’s Queen Eleanor
of Provence when her Royal funeral was
held here in 1291. In 1501 Catherine of
Aragon stayed overnight at the Priory
before her marriage to Prince Arthur,
King Henry VIII’s brother.
At the church you can learn Eleanor’s
story and how she is connected to
Salisbury Cathedral and the current
Kings and Queens of Europe.
The George Hotel 4 , a 13th century pilgrims‘ hostel, became an
overnight stay and headquarters for General Fairfax on June
29/30th 1645 during the Civil War and now houses an exhibition of
Amesbury’s pioneering role in earliest Military flight.
The Antrobus Arms Hotel 10 also played its part in Amesbury’s
recent history, being the home for the Beatles when they filmed on
Salisbury Plain in May 1965 and for the filming of Miss Marple.
Visitor’s guide to
E: info@amesburymuseum.co.uk
/AmesburyMuseum
@AmesburyMuseum
Nestling within a loop of the River Avon alongside the A303 and just
1.5 miles from Stonehenge 1 and Woodhenge 5 , Amesbury holds
one of Britain’s oldest and best kept secrets.
John Gay is also believed to have written the Beggars’ Opera whilst
staying with the Fourth Duke of Queensberry at Amesbury Abbey in
the 18th Century.
To the east of Amesbury you can see 21st century contemporary
sculptures at Solstice Park. A stop at the Holiday Inn for a meeting
with Amesbury’s mighty Ancestor 6 standing 24 ft high is
recommended. This makes a memorable photograph and provides
another location for refreshments.
Finally a short distance away near the home of early flight and
outside the Bowman Centre, you will see the unique modern day
sculpture of the Amesbury Archer 8 often referred as the “King of
Stonehenge” and whose grave is described as the “richest beaker
burial site in North West Europe” containing the earliest gold
jewellery found in Britain.
A final photograph opportunity might be the famous historic town
mosaic 9 , created to tell the story of the Town’s heritage and
unveiled in front of Her Majesty the Queen on 1st May 2012.
* Average recorded temperature of 11°C
Recent archaeological work alongside a warm* spring has identified
the Mesolithic homebase of our ancestors who built the first
structures at Stonehenge and who lived at Amesbury during the
last Ice Age.
Founded by the Trust, Amesbury Museum 3 is a “must visit”. With
it’s breath-taking exhibition of the evidence found and Amesbury’s
rich heritage, volunteers will share with visitors why Stonehenge is
here and the amazing story of the town where History began.
2
3
4
The George Hotel,
Aviation Museum SP4 7ET
St Mary & St Melor Church
SP4 7EU
5
Nile Clumps
1
A303 t
o Lond
New King
Barrows
S
to
d
Roa
London
A303
n
e
h
11
ad
Ro
Stonehenge, SP4 7DE
6
ss
Counte
Old King
Barrows
The
Ave
nu
e
e
n
ge
Ro
ad
Woodhenge, SP4 7DW
A345
1
1
5
Iron age
& Roman
Amesbury
West
Amesbury
6
4
3P
2
10
P
P
7
Antrobus
House
R
iv
e
r
Lords Walk, SP4 7AP
Avo n
A345
8 Miles to Salisbury
9 8
Woodford Valley
10
9
11
8
A345
Antrobus Arms Hotel
SP4 7EU
Historic Amesbury Mosaic
SP4 7XT
12
Amesbury Ancestor, SP4 7SQ
7
11
Bonnymead Park, SP4 7BB
A303
on
Amesbury Archer, SP4 7XT