The Stonehenge Local Residents Pass and the Good Ladies of Amesbury Library

I thought it might be prudent to check to see whether or not the process to get hold of a Stonehenge Residents Pass was as easy as the folk at English Heritage this morning had led me to believe.  After all, I wouldn't want anyone to go to their local library, as instructed, and find that they didn't issue them.  It turns out that there is only one library that issues these passes and that is Amesbury Library - at least that is what the two nice librarians I spoke to today told me.  Surprising that the Mobile Library that tootles round some of the villages doesn't issue them as well.

The entire process was very straightforward and curiously old-fashioned.  A quick check of a piece of ID that links your name to an address in a local village, then the nice librarian fills in name, address and date and you sign it.  That's it - no photo, no digital record.

What did concern me was the small pile of 20-30 blank cards held by Amesbury Library.  Trying to be helpful, I suggested that they might want to consider getting a few more in, what with all the publicity around the new visitors centre and the furore that was being kicked up about the state of the traffic.  The two lady librarians did a bit of a double take when I mentioned that over 30,000 locals might be eligible for the pass.  After due consideration, they thought they might ask the English Heretics Heritage people for more.

So, shop early to avoid disappointment.  You have been warned.  But do be nice to the librarians, they are really helpful.

UPDATE 02/10/13

I had a call last night to ask exactly which residents were entitled to the free pass.  Well Cecil Chubb's initial donation of Stonehenge to the government in 1918 mentioned only Shrewton, Netheravon, Durrington and Amesbury.  This was later extended to residents of all the parishes that made up the old Rural District of Amesbury.  The 1911 Census indicates the Rural District of Amesbury comprised:

Amesbury
Maddington
Orcheston St George
Orcheston St Mary
Rollestone
Shrewton
Tilshead
Winterbourne Stoke
Amesbury
Bulford
Durnford
Durrington
Figheldean
Milston
Wilsford cum Lake
Woodford
Allington
Boscombe
Cholderton
Idmiston
Newton Toney
Winterbourne Dauntsey
Winterbourne Earls
Winterbourne Gunner

Some of these may come as a bit of a surprise; even to the residents of the villages involved.  Don't be backwards about coming forwards to get your free Stonehenge Local Residents Pass