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| Stone Formation Archive 1984 |
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 Stone Formations news, views, gallery and archive brought to you by Weird Wiltshire Introduction Latest News News Archive Stonehenge Stonehenge Project Stonehenge 360 Avebury Saviours Stones Village Solstice Wayland Smithy Long Barrow Woodhenge Gallery Summer Solstice Gallery 2002 Summer Solstice Gallery 2004 Postcards Wallpaper Links  |
First published on June 21, 1984 THE annual hippy invasion of Stonehenge has become one of the county's biggest free attractions. Visitors have been arriving in their hundreds, not so much to see the monument, but the amazing sight on the other side of the Amesbury-Devizes Road. An estimated 20,000 people are camped in fields for the Stonehenge Festival. They are sleeping in everything from wigwams and makeshift polythene shelters to old coaches and vans. The illegal camp, on ground owned by the National Trust, covers a vast area, far bigger than in other years. There are many Europeans and Americans in the camp. Officials reckon there are around 7,000 vehicles on the site. The climax of the pop festival, or 'pot' festivals local people are referring to it because of the open sale of drugs, was this morning's traditional druid sunrise ceremony to mark the longest day of the year. By yesterday, police had made 47 arrests including 25 for alleged drugs offences. On Monday a baby girl was rushed to hospital from the camp after being scalded. Her mother, from Bracknell, Berks, said the child was hurt when a pan of boiling water fell off a camp stove. The baby was released from hospital on condition her mother took her to a hospital near their home for more treatment. While the festival is in progress neighbouring towns and villages have been suffering a spate of thefts and other petty crimes. In Pewsey, ten miles away, residents have been warned to lock up their cars or fit them with locking petrol caps because there have been a number of petrol thefts. Back to 1984 index |
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