Wiltshire is the site of many ancient sites including several Long barrows & burial mounds.
This Long Barrow at All Cannings although it looks old is in fact only about 2 years old and is the first new long barrow that has been built for 6000 years (as far as I know) in this country.
It was built in 2014 in the style of a traditional long barrow in natural materials, but made relevant for today in its internal layout. It is aligned to the sunrise of the winter solstice when the sun will illuminate the internal stone passageway.
It measures 75 feet in length and took 8 months to construct.
The Long Barrow at All Cannings is a columbarium or place for cremated remains in urns to be kept.
Within the chalk mound there are five chambers arranged off the passageway that starts at the local Sarsen stone entrance, the original plans are for seven chambers, the other three may be added in the future.
The chambers, or columbaria, have niches built into the natural limestone walls. each niche is about 600mm by 600mm and 320mm tall and is designed for the storage of cremated remains in urns.
The niches are designed to hold one or two urns but depending on the size of the urns upto six can be placed in each niche. The niches can be sealed with a memorial stone if required.
The long barrow is for anyone. It is for those of any religion or none. The field it is in is being restored to native chalk grassland and will be kept as natural as possible for visitors to enjoy its beauty and solitude.
All Cannings lies within the Marlborough Downs area of outstanding natural beauty and is between Avebury and Stonehenge. This ancient landscape is renowned for its chalk downland and ancient history. The long barrow is designed to complement it and become part of it.
