[Stones] Longman of Wilmington Abuse

[Karin Attwood]

-----Original Message-----
 On Behalf Of Andy Norfolk

At the risk of prolonging this "discussion" it seems to me that the 
objections, as explained on this list, to the stunt concerned are
1) someone might have made money out of it
2) it might suggest to visitors to ancient sites that they can damage 
them in the future.


At the risk of both prolonging and hopefully broadening the discussion I
shall add a few points to do with 'stunts' that have taken place or been
rejected at Rollright.

1. Some years ago the Trust was approached by a company who wanted to pay
the equivalent of a year's gate takings to film a 'stunt' that involved a
crashed flying saucer in the circle. The company assured us that the site
would be needed for only one day, that no ground penetration would take
place - the ground would be covered with cam coloured tarpulin and fake
rocks, earth etc placed on it to simulate the impact site. The 'saucer'
would have been lifted in by crane. As you can gather permission was refused
although the offer was tempting, as it was deemed inappropriate to both the
site and and the ethos of the trust. Not least because we were not convinced
that this could be done in one day and did not wish to close the site during
peak visitor times.

2. The Kapoor Art installation. Many of you visited during the time this
sculpture was in place, as did many hundreds if not more visitors, many of
whom returned at a later date. It is still talked about by some visitors
today. The increase in visitor numbers during the few weeks it was in place
paid a large sum towards the planned ground repair and contributed to
putting in place wheelchair accessible paths in the King Stone field. Was
this inappropriate use of the site? A modern steel sculpture inside an
anceint stone circle?

3. Another suggested 'art' type project that may or may not take place is to
ask art students to make temporary sculptures to go in the spaces where
there are missing stones or to have art students, made-up and taking the
place of the missing stones.  Inappropriate or not?


Is someone going to get a petition going against Kevin Carlyon encouraging
desperate infertile couple to make love on the Cerne Abass Giant whilst he
chants and performs a ritual from a hill and charges for the service?

For the record I've no strong feelings either way over the Long Man. I can
see the the fee would be useful to the Trust that cares for the monument and
can't imagine anyone wanting to copy the idea.  Unlike an article in a well
known woman's magazine a few years ago that suggested people bury bits of
paper with what they want rid of written on it under stones or in barrows
and to leave jelly beans on the surface of ancient stones as an offering!

Karin