Autumn Solstice at Stonehenge

About 5,050 years ago on the Salisbury Plain a wooden post circle was constructed, surrounded by a deep ditch and earthen bank (called a henge). This first simple construction later become Stonehenge around 2,300 BC when today's surviving stone structure was built. This marked the second stone structure on the site.

Stonehenge remains an enduring mystery. Nobody knows exactly who built it, or for what purpose. Its builders certainly understood the seasons as Stonehenge was built in perfect alignment with the Summer solstice - the date marking the longest period of sunshine each year.

This weekend Garry and I visited Stonehenge on September 23, the date of the Autumn Equinox. At 5:55 AM on Saturday the sun crossed the celestial equator marking its formal decent into winter. On this one day every point on Earth experienced 12 hours of darkness and 12 hours of daylight. An apt time to visit one of the world's most enduring solstice sites.

The weather was also suitably moody. Bold clouds parted at regular intervals bathing the site in alternative bursts of gloom and brilliant sunlight. Standing in the midst of a green field, surrounded by gently rolling hills, it was easy to feel a spiritual connection with the land itself. Perhaps Stonehenge's builders knew something we've forgotten in today's world.

Several hours after we'd arrived it was time to leave. Salisbury was our next stop, followed by Brighton. Yet another childhood dream had been made real.