A selection of videos by those who object to Stonehenge road plans, as well as videos giving voice to other objectors, and informative videos about the scheme. Some videos were first published on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
VIDEO INDEX
PRESENTATION BY PROFESSOR PHIL GOODWIN who argues that the economic case for the Stonehenge road scheme is weak and based on exaggerated heritage benefits. Talk given to the webinar organised by the Stonehenge Alliance.
3 June 2021. Professor Goodwin’s slides and text can be viewed here.
PRESENTATION BY PROFESSOR MIKE PARKER PEARSON where he explains the archaeological significance of the World Heritage Site and addresses several key aspects about the Stonehenge road scheme and damage. Talk given to a webinar organised by the Stonehenge Alliance.
3 June 2021. You can read Professor Parker Pearson’s text with slides here.
SAVING STONEHENGE WORLD HERITAGE SITE A webinar with distinguished speakers Mike Parker Pearson, Professor of British Later Prehistory at the Institute of Archaeology, UCL, and Phil Goodwin, Professor Emeritus and Senior Fellow of Transport Policy at UCL and the University of the West of England, explaining why Britain’s most iconic World Heritage Site should be saved from irreparable damage from the catastrophic A303 Stonehenge road widening scheme. The event was chaired by Tom Holland, Stonehenge Alliance President and award-winning historian, author and broadcaster.
Event on 3rd June 2021
“WHAT IS PLANNED” Part Two is the second summary description of the construction of the tunnel, spoil and what happens to the spoil based on information presented to the Examination.
Published 20 May 2021. You can also scroll through the slides here.
“WHAT IS PLANNED” Part One is the first of a series of summaries about the components of the Stonehenge A303 road widening scheme presented here as a video. You can also scroll through the slides here.
Published 3 May 2021
DW (German news) – London Approves tunnel next to Stonehenge – 12 November 2020
Interview with Kate Fielden: The problem with the Stonehenge Tunnel
World Heritage Watch: A monument beyond the ages – 30 October 2020
Chair of World Heritage Watch sends a video letter to Grant Shapps.
Stonehenge Tunnel: Enormous act of folly
Julian Humphrys, Development Officer for the Battlefields Trust, urges government to reject the A303. It puts at risk “an absolute treasure house of archaeology” for the transient motor car, which itself threatens “the futures of people, not just here but across the planet.”
The Stonehenge tunnel will fulfil its purpose in only a few decades
Abigail Parslow, a field archaeologist and osteologist, shares her shock that a road is to be constructed through a unique cultural site that “has lasted thousands of years that may serve its purpose for a few decades … That we are even discussing this as an option is ludicrous to me and many others in my profession. Future generations will look back on this decision and see it as short sighted.”
Stonehenge road tunnel: “An act of monstrous vandalism”
Few know more about what’s at stake to the archaeological environment of Stonehenge than Vince Gaffney, whose team made the astonishing discoveries at Durrington Walls last month. The professor of landscape archaeology argues that the road tunnel would be such an act of monstrous vandalism that it would be hard to justify to generations to come.
Spinal Tap’s Harry Shearer: Leave it as it is and rock on!
Spinal Tap, Harry Shearer implores the authorities to “take the humility way out. He says Stonehenge has been there longer than we have. It’s best left as it is. “A tunnel by Stonehenge is probably a bad idea.” If the voice sounds familiar that’s because he is the voice actor for the Simpson’s wicked Mr Burns and other characters.
Dr Joanne Paul: impassioned plea “Reject the A303 plans”
Not only would the Stonehenge road scheme permanently damage the World Heritage Site’s archaeology, but it would also inflict high ecological damage across the whole landscape. Historian and author Dr Joanne Paul makes an impassioned plea to Government to abandon the proposed development.
Mike Wood: “There’s still time to reconsider. And we should.”
Historian, broadcaster and author Michael Wood defends the Stonehenge landscape from from the gouging and tunnelling for the widening of the A303. “There’s still time to reconsider. And we should.” Speak up, sign our petition and tell your MP why the road and tunnel are wrong. If you’re an overseas objector, please write to our prime minister. Full details on this link.
Drone footage courtesy Geoff Aitken
Matthew Lewis fears for the wider Stonehenge landscape
Author and historian Matthew Lewis expresses his fears for the wider Stonehenge landscape. As the decision on the tunnel development looms, we are sharing short video messages of support that we’ve received from supporters, colleagues, historians and archeologists.
Dr Emma Wells – Heritage is more than the sum of its parts
Dr Wells, ecclesiastical, architecture historian and heritage consultant is not against change or development. But – reminds us that the heritage asset is as much below ground as above. “I don’t mind queuing endlessly along the A303 if the only other option is to wipe out a vast amount of our country’s history.”
A303 road will dwarf one of our most famous World Heritage Site
26 October 2018 – Professor Mike Parker Pearson, distinguished archaeologist and leading authority on the British Neolithic speaks out in this interview with historian Tom Holland and explains in this video why he opposes the A303 Tunnel. The Stonehenge World Heritage Site “is one of the few places, not just in Britain, but in the World, where you can see a special, sacred landscape developed over thousands of years.”
Stonehenge Tunnel: Surrender of prehistoric remains
19 September 2018 – Historian and Stonehenge Alliance President, Tom Holland, describes the location of the Stonehenge tunnel within the internationally significant landscape. He denounces the legacy as a tragedy for posterity. Time is running out. Please take action.
Funding a White Elephant
4 August 2018 – Tom Holland explains why the Stonehenge Tunnel is more than a desecration of Europe’s most precious prehistoric landscape. It is a spectacular waste of money as well. Here is the paper by the Tax Payers Alliance. Respond to Highways England supplementary consultation by midnight, 14 August.
UNESCO: World Heritage Committee Decision published by World Heritage Centre 18 July 2018
Stonehenge in Danger
20 April 2018 – Respond to Highways England by midnight on Monday 23 April to object to their plans for a tunnel and road by Stonehenge that threaten to devastate Europe’s most significant prehistoric landscape. Consultation closed on 23 April.
A farmer and archaeologist speak out
Broadcast on BBC One: 31 March 2017 (No longer available on iPlayer)
Inside Out West asks “Could a road tunnel at Stonehenge destroy one of the world’s most important archaeological sites?” Farmer, Rachel Hosier, wants the road to be sensitive to the peace of Normanton Downs where the western portals are planned, whilst archaeologist David Jacques doesn’t want the road to come anywhere near the significant finds of Blick Mead where an 8 meter high flyover and bank are planned on the Eastern boundary of Stonehenge World Heritage Site.
Clip starts 1:08 minutes into the programme and ends at 10:32 minutes.
The Stonehenge tunnel begins
Published by Tom Holland: 31 March 2017
A report from Bush Barrow to view the projected western portal of what the Government intends will be a 4-lane road tunnel in the heart of the Stonehenge World Heritage Site. Watch. Weep. Protest.
1.11 minutes
Video created and donated by Tom Holland @holland_tom
Circle of solidarity against the road
Published by Stonehenge Alliance: 23 March 2017
Over a 1,000 Druids and visitors to the Vernal Equinox celebrations formed a circle of solidarity around the monument against Highways Agency too short tunnel (or no tunnel).The Archdruid makes a statement. 4.14 minutes
Associated blog: Archdruid leads tunnel protest amidst uncertainty.
Filming donated by campaign supporters.
Stand up for Stonehenge with Tony Robinson!
Published by the Stonehenge Alliance: 25 February 2017 Save Stonehenge!
Tony Robinson and other objectors speak out at Highways England’s consultation at the Society of Antiquaries in London. 3.26 minutes
Video created and donated by Razor Television www.razortv.co.uk @RazorTelevision
Dr Julian Richards – objections to Stonehenge Tunnel
Published by Stone Henge: 15 February 2017
Stonehenge tunnel plan finalised
Broadcast on Facebook by BBC South: 12 January 2017
Video clip in which Dr Kate Fielden, for the Stonehenge Alliance said: “If they are going to put a tunnel in, then it needs to be long enough not to do any further damage. This scheme is a major disaster for the Word Heritage Site.” 1.06 minutes.
Save Stonehenge!
Published by Tom Holland: 12 November 2016
Tom Holland introduces the road building plans which threaten Europe’s most significant archaeological landscape with irreparable damage. Film includes Blick Mead at Eastern boundary of the World Heritage Site. 2.30 minutes
Video created and donated by Tom Holland @holland_tom
Tom Holland launches Stonehenge Alliance Website – March 2015
Tom Holland discovered our campaign at the beginning of 2015 on Twitter. The rest is history!
VIDEO INDEX
- What is planned? Part One – Scheme components – 6 May 2021
- DW (German news) interviews Kate Fielden – London Approves tunnel next to Stonehenge – 12 November 2020
- World Heritage Watch: A monument beyond the ages – 30 October 2020
- Prof Vince Gaffney – “An act of monstrous vandalism” – 14 September 2020
- Julian Humphrys – “Enormous act of folly” – 14 September 2020
- Matthew Lewis – “We have a duty to take care of Stonehenge” – 14 September 2020
- Abigail Parslow – “The Stonehenge tunnel will fulfil its purpose in only a few decades”– 14 September 2020
- Dr Joanne Paul – “Reject the A303 plans” – 14 September 2020
- Harry Shearer of Spinal Tap – “Leave it as it is and rock on!” – 14 September 2020
- Dr Emma Wells – “Heritage is more than the sum of its parts” – 17 September 2020
- Michael Wood – “There’s still time to reconsider. And we should.” – 14 September 2020
- Prof Mike Parker Pearson – Stonehenge Tunnel: Surrender of prehistoric remains (clip) – 16 November 2018
- Prof Mike Parker Pearson – A303 road will dwarf one of our most famous World Heritage Sites (clip) – 26 October 2018
- Prof Mike Parker Pearson – “Stonehenge tunnel sets a bad precedent” – 23 October 2018
- Prof Mike Parker Pearson – Stonehenge tunnel: prof Mike Parker Pearson speaks out (clip) – 6 October 2018
- Tom Holland (Independent production) – Stonehenge tunnel: Surrender of prehistoric remains – 19 September 2018
- Tom Holland (Independent production) – Funding a white elephant – 4 August 2018
- UNESCO: Stonehenge Tunnel should not proceed with current length – 18 July 2018
- Stonehenge Alliance – “Stonehenge in danger: Write to Highways England” – 20 April 2018
- Stonehenge Alliance – Message to General Election candidates from A level student: “This is my heritage” – 28 May 2017
- BBC One Inside Out – A farmer and archaeologist speak out – 31 March 2017
- Tom Holland (Independent production) -The Stonehenge Tunnel begins – 31 March 2017
- Stonehenge Alliance – Druids at the vernal equinox – “Circle of Solidarity against the road” – 20 March 2017
- Tony Robinson and others – “Stand up for Stonehenge with Tony Robinson!” – 25 February 2017
- Dr Julian Richards (Independent production) – Objections to Stonehenge tunnel – 15 February 2017
- BBC South – Stonehenge tunnel plan finalised – 12 January 2017
- Tom Holland (Independent production) – Save Stonehenge! – 12 November 2016
- Stonehenge Alliance – Dan Snow Visits Stonehenge Landscape Clip1 – 17 March 2015
- Stonehenge Alliance – Dan Snow Visits Stonehenge Landscape Clip2 – 17 March 2015
- Tom Holland launches Stonehenge Alliance Website – March 2015
