Wiltshire

New Stonehenge sunset alignment theory 'shown to be correct'

Stonehenge by Tim Daw — Stonehenge steward Tim Daw said his pictures of the midsummer solstice sunset on 20 June 2015 showed how it aligned to the tallest stone

A new theory that the tallest stone at Stonehenge points towards the midsummer sunset has been observed to be correct, it has been claimed.

Earlier this year Tim Daw, a steward at the site, said he had discovered the previously unknown alignment, involving a line of stones at 80 degrees to the axis of the monument.

The theory was tested when the solstice sun set at 21:26 BST on Saturday.

Mr Daw said he was "really thrilled" at the finding.

"It wasn't the best evening for a sunset picture as a bank of cloud came in at the wrong moment but it was close enough to prove the point," he added.

"I put forward this theory. I said 'this stone, the sun will set along its back' [on] Midsummer. Yes it did.

"[There was] a wonderful sunset last night. We could see the sun going down directly in line with... the back of this stone. It was fantastic."

Some 23,000 people attended the neolithic site at Stonehenge to watch the sun rise at 04:52 BST, while others gathered at the nearby Avebury stone circle.

The figure was down on the estimated 36,000 who attended last year and the 30,000-40,000 expected this year.

Wiltshire Police said the celebrations were "positive and peaceful".