By Jonathan Hartley. Eastern Daily Press, Norwich. Monday June 28 1999
The controversial excavation of Norfolk’s latest archaeological Þnd is set to be put on hold again. English Heritage had planned to resume its removal of the Bronze Age timber monument today.
But with protesters from across the country expected at Holme, near Hunstanton, excavation of the 4000-year-old Seahenge tree circle faces further delay.
Fears have been voiced that New’ Age travellers who clashed with police at Stonehenge last week are being encouraged to take part in a protest.
Hunstanton police’s Sgt Joe Callaghan said he had received information suggesting there will be some sort of demonstration today and that this is likely to stop the work.
He said he did not know how many protesters would turn up or types of groups that they would be representing.
“We’re not sending anyone down to keep people away,” he said. “We’re non-confrontational and we’ll react to whatever comes along. Everyone’s talking to each other but everyone’s disagreeing. “English Heritage don’t intend to dig now.”
English Heritage’s 60,000 excavation project stopped on June 15 when a group of druids occupied the site.
Since then no timbers have been removed, and a spokesman said yesterday the situation is now being reviewed on a daily basis. “If there’s any threat of disruption work won’t be carried out,” she said.
The British Druid Order yesterday distanced itself from the groups that had been causing trouble at Stonehenge and said it would only be supporting a peaceful protest.
Joint chief of the order Philip Shalicross said. ‘The people who broke down the fences at Stonehenge were not druids. “They come from a variety of places but weren’t interested in the summer solstice, spiritualism or druidry. “It would be a shame if people determined on confrontation turn up at Holme to cause trouble.”
Mr Shalicross has heard that someone went to Stonehenge to recruit
people to
protest at Holme but he does not know how successful that has
been.
Campaigner and druid Buster Nolan conÞrmed yesterday that a “peaceful protest picnic” will be held at the beach today. He will be handing out poems about the ancient monument.