I took these when I recently visited Avebury in Wiltshire, the site of one of the oldest and largest stone circles in Europe. The complex of circles, banks and avenues dates back 5,000 years to the Neolithic era (or New Stone Age), and it’s a little bit older than Stonehenge. It’s also a short walk from Silbury Hill, the largest man-made mound in prehistoric Europe.

The site has suffered damage from both natural erosion and deliberate destruction; local farmers broke up a large number of stones during the 14th - 18th centuries. However, many stones still survive and the scale of the construction is still apparent, with several stones having been re-erected and markers indicating the position of those that have been permanently lost.

I also visited Stonehenge on the same trip - we were passing through Wiltshire and decided to break up the journey north. With the purpose of both monuments long forgotten, they give an incredible and intriguing glimpse into ancient Britain and it was great to see them both.