Amesbury Town Council

Amesbury is situated 8 miles north of Salisbury, is located on the A303, with Stonehenge within its parish boundary. 

The River Avon meanders through the town, providing pleasant walks along the water’s edge. 

History of Amesbury

Amesbury’s history extends as far back as the Iron Age, when a large hill fort – Vespasian’s Camp – was built overlooking the River Avon.  Over the years, Roman structures have been excavated in the Stonehenge landscape.  Most recently, a small Roman graveyard was discovered. In a corner of this site the grave of the Amesbury Archer was discovered. He dates from approximately 2500-2600BC and lived around the Neolithic and Bronze Age. 

It is widely believed that the name of Amesbury derives from Ambrosius Aurelianus, who led the Romano British resistance to Saxon invasions in the 5^th century. 

There is also an association with the Arthurian legend, the convent at Amesbury being the one to which Guinevere retired. 

The Abbey of St Mary & St Melor was founded in 979 AD, dissolved by Henry II and replaced with a double priory.  The priory and associated buildings were destroyed during the Reformation, but the Parish Church survived.  Amesbury became an estate, and was given to Edward Seymour, 1^st Earl of Hertford.

The estate remained in the Seymour family until 1675.  Several grand homes were built, including Kent and Diana houses.

The estate subsequently passed to the Bruce family, and then to Lord Carleton, who bequeathed it to his nephew Charles Douglas, 3^rd Duke of Queensberry.  It remained in the Queensberry family until 1824.

In the early 19th century, William Douglas, 4^th Duke of Queensberry, planted the Nile Clumps to commemorate Admiral Nelson's victory at the Battle of the Nile, and had the hill fort landscaped as part of the grounds around the mansion.

In 1824 the Antrobus family acquired the estate and it remained their property until 1915 when, after the last heir was killed in France, the grounds were sold - including Stonehenge - to private bidders. The mansion, however, remained in their hands until 1979.

With the building of the military establishment at Boscombe Down in 1939, Amesbury began to expand. There have since been substantial developments on the land between the old town centre and Boscombe Down. Several new housing estates have been completed, and the most recent one - Archers Gate - has taken its name from the discovery of the Amesbury Archer.

For a detailed history of Amesbury Click Here.

The Future of Amesbury

The retail industry in Amesbury is expanding with the addition of large supermarkets on the outskirts of the town – Lidl, Focus, and Tesco.  Solstice Park continues to bring further businesses to the area. 

The current national economic crisis is having its effect on local businesses, and work is underway to encourage new businesses into the town centre

The large housing development on the south side of Amesbury – Archers Gate – brings with it new leisure facilities for residents and visitors.  Play parks, sports fields and pavilions, a second cemetery and allotment space will become available as the development progresses.