There are two identical sets of slides (Set 2/3 contains 550 slides, Set 3/3 contains 549 slides). The slides are copies of the originals held at the Alexander Keiller Museum in Avebury and the first of the three sets of copy slides is also held by the museum. The original slides are managed by the National Trust under agreement with English Heritage.
The slides date from the archaeological work undertaken between 1938 and 1939. They show general views around the henge and along West Kennet Avenue, both before and after restoration work. Others show the excavation of banks and ditches and the re-erection of stones in progress. There are also several slides which depict maps and plans of the area, archaeological finds from the site and a reconstructed face (possibly the Barber Surgeon).
Some of the photographs were published in an Antiquity article about the work by Alexander Keiller. Others are published in 'Windmill Hill and Avebury', prepared by I.F. Smith (see bibliographic references).
The majority of the slides are labelled in the forms: - 38 (or 39) in one corner and Roman numeral/ Arabic numeral in the other (e.g. VIII/10) or -38 (or 39). Roman numeral. Arabic numeral
The numbers form very incomplete runs. The 38 or 39 clearly refers to the year. The Roman numerals may refer to films and the Arabic to frame numbers as the Roman numerals form a series from I - c.XIX for each year and the Arabic numerals are never higher than c.38. There are occasional duplicates of the same number which may reflect errors in previous numbering.
Set 2 of 3 has been sorted into the order suggested by these numbers. While doing so it was noted that certain sets (films?) are mostly or entirely made up of views of standing stones (38.III, 38.XXIV, 38.XXV, 39.XV, 39.XVI and 39.XVII) while others are mostly excavations. 39.I and 39.VI show plans, maps finds and a head.
Set 3 is missing slide 38 XIX/45.
Received Via : Alexander Keiller Museum: High Street Avebury Wiltshire SN8 1RF Provenance : Alexander Keiller Museum:National Trust manage the collection under an agreement with English Heritage. Originals held at Alexander Keiller Museum, Avebury. RCHME produced three sets of copy slides, one set for Alexander Keiller Museum and two sets for NMR; both NMR sets are stored within the archive. Collection probably dates from excavations undertaken 1938 to 1939.
Keiller's notes on the photographs and slides he took were lost in a fire in 1945 thus all attributions are from reseach by the NMR. The majority of slides have an indication of 1938 or 1939
This is part of the Collection: ALK01 The Alexander Keiller Collection
© Historic England Archive
Creator of Archive: Keiller, Alexander
Neolithic Henge, Neolithic Stone Avenue, Archaeology
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