Locked out of the manor

[Avebury_Janet]

A small thing, but it saddened me more than it should. I had arranged to take a few of the society out to the vanished-village site, the old manor ruin and the standing stones Miss Dunch first walked us through years ago, permission sought the proper way, well in advance. My letters went unanswered, as ever, and when we drove out anyway the lane is gated now, a heavy steel gate and a chain where there was only ever a wooden field gate you could lift. No sign. No notice. No one to contact. Just shut. Forty years I have taken groups to look at the antiquities of this county and I have never once been simply locked out of one. I do not even know who to write to about it.

[Marlborough_Nan]

Locked out of our own history now Janet. That is what it has come to. You go to look at a ruin your grandfather could walk to and theres a chain on the gate and no name on it. I dont like it. I dont like any of it.

[Devizes_Mech]

new owners, new gate, lots of estates lock up now janet, insurance and liability and ramblers leaving gates open. doesnt have to mean anything sinister. though i grant you the no name no contact bit is odd, most landowners at least put a phone number on the gate.