'In the far north-east sky he could see between the pillars a level streak of light. The uniform concavity of black cloud was lifting bodily like the lid of a pot, letting in at the earth's edge the coming day, against which the towering monoliths and trilithons began to be blackly defined.'
This is how Thomas Hardy, at the end of Tess of the d'Urbervilles, describes an ominous dawn on Salisbury plain, the megalithic circle of stones silhouetted by the light. Began in around 3100 BC and constructed over hundreds of years, Stonehenge is one of the world's most instantly recognisable monuments. But there are about 900 stone circles in Britain, so what makes Stonehenge so special?
Well, apart from the sheer size of its pillars, Stonehenge is unique because of its lintel stones: horizontal stones perched on top of other standing stones. It seems almost impossible: Medieval writers thought that Merlin the wizard must have given a helping hand. Not to mention the fact that the slightly smaller Bluestones were quarried in Pembrokeshire and transported all the way to Salisbury plain. That's 180 miles - but we think it was worth it!
This design showcases Stonehenge's famous gravity-defying lintels, drenched in a warm orange Wiltshire light: perfect for anyone who wants to bring some magic into the kitchen!
