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| Silbury
Archive 2000 |
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 Silbury Hill news, views and archive brought to you by Weird Wiltshire Introduction Latest News News Archive Excavations The Hole Beaker People What is it for? What Next? Postcards Wallpaper Links  |
First published on June 1, 2000 STRUCTURAL engineers have had to be called in to check the stability of Silbury Hill this week, after a gaping 50ft shaft opened up on the top. It was feared many tons of soil could cave into the gaping hole. Structural engineers were asked to make an emergency inspection on Tuesday and they confirmed that if the hole and surrounding area remained uncovered then any further rain could lead to more soil being washed into the hole. Chris Gingell, the Avebury property manager for the National Trust said: "The problem is that the soil at the top of the hill around the old shaft has been loosened by the rain and we fear it could slip at any time." The soil around could slip creating what is known as a funnel effect because the hole left resembles a funnel. "The whole top of the hill is very dangerous and will remain that way until the engineers have been able to advise us on the steps that need to be taken to make it safe." Yesterday a team of builders headed by structural engineers began the massive task of carrying scaffolding to the summit of the hill to build a corrugated steel cover over the hole. The Gazette and Herald was alerted on Monday night when one of its readers, Jayne Sierakowska from Marlborough, called to say that during a visit to Silbury, a concerned tourist had warned her about the dangerous shaft which had opened up. The Gazette contacted Avebury Parish Council chairman John Cronk, who warned the National Trust about the huge cavity and the potential danger to the many visitors who ignore warning notices and clamber over fences to climb the hill. National Trust staff discovered a hole about six feet by four feet had opened up revealing a drop of almost 50 feet into a well-like shaft. It is believed to be a shaft which was sunk in 1776 into the core of the 130ft high mound by miners employed by the Duke of Northumberland, who wanted to see if Silbury Hill was a tomb, and if there was any treasure inside. The Duke went away empty-handed and out-of-pocket after paying his men to fill the hole in again. Mr Gingell said he believed the recent heavy rain had caused the material used to fill the shaft over two centuries ago, to destabilise, which resulted in the collapse. Mr Gingell said the materials for the cover were having to be handed up the hill by a human chain of workers. I am sure when it comes to the stage of filling the shaft it will require helicopters to move the hundreds of tons of soil which will be needed. Once the cover is secured and made weatherproof, archaeologists, plan to examine the shaft to see if any more can be learned about the original excavations. Back to 2000 index |
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