21st June 1965 : A breakaway group of Druids called the Order of Bards Ovates and Druids observed the summer solstice, the first time that it has been celebrated by Druids away from Stonehenge. The Northamptonshire Advertiser maintains that this is the fourth year the breakaway group have done this but the Chron & Echo says this is the first time that the ceremony has been held there by any Druid Order, although a small group from Hardingstone have held a similar “private” ceremony for several years.
Mr. Nichols, leader of the breakaway group, maintains that Hunsbury earthwork circle is more ancient than Stonehenge (Chron & Echo). The Advertiser states (more believably) that the Hunsbury Hillfort circle is larger than the circle at Stonehenge.
Both the Nptn Advertiser and The Times maintain that the Hillfort “is connected by ancient track with Stonehenge“.
2020/2021 : The Friends of West Hunsbury Parks contacted the Order of Bards Ovates and Druids in 2020 to ask if they would come to West Hunsbury to talk to us about their involvement with Hunsbury Iron Age Hillfort, and also their beliefs and ceremonies. Unfortunately, they declined our invitation, stating that the local ‘Groves’ like to keep their ceremonies private.
Notwithstanding, there is a lot of information about the Order available on their website www.Druidry.org .
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Sources : All from research carried out in Northampton Central Library :
The Times newspaper, 21-Jun-1965,
Chron & Echo, Mon. 21-Jun-1965,
Northamptonshire Advertiser, Fri. 25-Jun-1965