Amesbury

Amesbury is a town and civil parish in Wiltshire, England. It lies on the River Avon at the northern edge of Salisbury Plain, about eight miles north of Salisbury and near the Stonehenge World Heritage Site. The town’s location and landscape have long encouraged human activity, from prehistoric times onward.

The surrounding countryside shows evidence of early occupation, with archaeologists uncovering remains dating to the late Neolithic and Bronze Age. Notably, the Amesbury Archer, a well-preserved Bronze Age skeleton, was discovered nearby, underscoring the long history of settlement in the area. In medieval times, Amesbury developed as a market town and was the site of religious houses such as Amesbury Priory, which contributed to the town’s historic profile.

Today Amesbury is governed by Amesbury Town Council and falls within Wiltshire Council, the unitary authority for the area. The population is around 9,000. The local economy centers on services for residents and visitors, with tourism closely tied to Stonehenge and other regional heritage sites, as well as agriculture in the surrounding countryside. The town serves as a gateway to the wider heritage landscape of the Salisbury Plain and the wider Stonehenge complex, contributing to the area's cultural and economic fabric.

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