King Arthur Refuses To Leave Stonehenge

A druid protester named King Arthur Pendragon said today he "had no intention" of leaving his live-in protest site at Stonehenge after a judge evicted him.
Pagan King Arthur Pendragon - formerly known John Rothwell - set up camp on the edge of the site in June 2008.

Mr Pendragon, a former soldier, who changed his name by deed poll 33 years ago, wants the protected world heritage opened to all.


Mr Pendragon wants visitors to be able to walk around and touch the stones, rather than remain in a visitor centre and stuck to marked-out trails.

Yesterday, Wiltshire Council successfully applied to Salisbury County Court for an order to remove Mr Pendragon from "byway 12" known locally as the Netheravon Coach Road.

The druid has set up a protest camp on the byway - alongside Stonehenge between the A303 and A344 - which includes a caravan.

District Judge David Asplin granted the possession order - effectively evicting him from the site with effect from May 3.

But speaking from the Stonehenge visitor centre, where he pickets staff and tourists everyday, Mr Pendragon said he would not be deterred by "this travesty of justice".

The bearded 55-year-old, who hopes to run as an independent parliamentary candidate, said: "I have no plan on going anywhere. I was refused an adjournment to seek legal advice, I was refused the right to hear the case in a different court, and I was refused my right to appeal."

Mr Pendragon said recently formed unitary authority Wiltshire Council wanted to "flex its muscle".

"We never had any trouble before from the old authority, or the National Trust, or English Heritage," he said.

"I'm not blocking access on the road, emergency services could easily get through. I have a right to protest and I will continue to do so."

Mr Pendragon's started protesting with consent from the Council of British Druid Orders last June following the Summer Solstice at the site.

He is opposed to the site being flanked by two busy roads - the A303 and A344 - and claims the spiritual site should be open to all.

The Government scrapped plans to remove the fences around Stonehenge, build an underpass, and grass over the A344 in 2007.

Stephen Helsby, Wiltshire Council's highways enforcement and traveller services manager, said: "This ancient byway - known locally as Netheravon Coach Road - is open to all traffic.

"Wiltshire Council, in it's capacity as local highway authority, has a duty to maintain everybody's right to use it's full width without interruption or other obstruction.

"The council strives to protect all of its public rights of way from trespass and that includes byway 12 which is situated at the heart of this important World Heritage Site."

Mach said:

A druid protester named King Arthur Pendragon said today he "had no intention" of leaving his live-in protest site at Stonehenge after a judge evicted him.
Pagan King Arthur Pendragon - formerly known John Rothwell - set up camp on the edge of the site in June 2008.

Mr Pendragon, a former soldier, who changed his name by deed poll 33 years ago, wants the protected world heritage opened to all.


Mr Pendragon wants visitors to be able to walk around and touch the stones, rather than remain in a visitor centre and stuck to marked-out trails.

Yesterday, Wiltshire Council successfully applied to Salisbury County Court for an order to remove Mr Pendragon from "byway 12" known locally as the Netheravon Coach Road.

The druid has set up a protest camp on the byway - alongside Stonehenge between the A303 and A344 - which includes a caravan.

District Judge David Asplin granted the possession order - effectively evicting him from the site with effect from May 3.

But speaking from the Stonehenge visitor centre, where he pickets staff and tourists everyday, Mr Pendragon said he would not be deterred by "this travesty of justice".

The bearded 55-year-old, who hopes to run as an independent parliamentary candidate, said: "I have no plan on going anywhere. I was refused an adjournment to seek legal advice, I was refused the right to hear the case in a different court, and I was refused my right to appeal."

Mr Pendragon said recently formed unitary authority Wiltshire Council wanted to "flex its muscle".

"We never had any trouble before from the old authority, or the National Trust, or English Heritage," he said.

"I'm not blocking access on the road, emergency services could easily get through. I have a right to protest and I will continue to do so."

Mr Pendragon's started protesting with consent from the Council of British Druid Orders last June following the Summer Solstice at the site.

He is opposed to the site being flanked by two busy roads - the A303 and A344 - and claims the spiritual site should be open to all.

The Government scrapped plans to remove the fences around Stonehenge, build an underpass, and grass over the A344 in 2007.

Stephen Helsby, Wiltshire Council's highways enforcement and traveller services manager, said: "This ancient byway - known locally as Netheravon Coach Road - is open to all traffic.

"Wiltshire Council, in it's capacity as local highway authority, has a duty to maintain everybody's right to use it's full width without interruption or other obstruction.

"The council strives to protect all of its public rights of way from trespass and that includes byway 12 which is situated at the heart of this important World Heritage Site."

DiminutiveRocker said:

Mach said:

A druid protester named King Arthur Pendragon said today he "had no intention" of leaving his live-in protest site at Stonehenge after a judge evicted him.
Pagan King Arthur Pendragon - formerly known John Rothwell - set up camp on the edge of the site in June 2008.

Mr Pendragon, a former soldier, who changed his name by deed poll 33 years ago, wants the protected world heritage opened to all.


Mr Pendragon wants visitors to be able to walk around and touch the stones, rather than remain in a visitor centre and stuck to marked-out trails.

Yesterday, Wiltshire Council successfully applied to Salisbury County Court for an order to remove Mr Pendragon from "byway 12" known locally as the Netheravon Coach Road.

The druid has set up a protest camp on the byway - alongside Stonehenge between the A303 and A344 - which includes a caravan.

District Judge David Asplin granted the possession order - effectively evicting him from the site with effect from May 3.

But speaking from the Stonehenge visitor centre, where he pickets staff and tourists everyday, Mr Pendragon said he would not be deterred by "this travesty of justice".

The bearded 55-year-old, who hopes to run as an independent parliamentary candidate, said: "I have no plan on going anywhere. I was refused an adjournment to seek legal advice, I was refused the right to hear the case in a different court, and I was refused my right to appeal."

Mr Pendragon said recently formed unitary authority Wiltshire Council wanted to "flex its muscle".

"We never had any trouble before from the old authority, or the National Trust, or English Heritage," he said.

"I'm not blocking access on the road, emergency services could easily get through. I have a right to protest and I will continue to do so."

Mr Pendragon's started protesting with consent from the Council of British Druid Orders last June following the Summer Solstice at the site.

He is opposed to the site being flanked by two busy roads - the A303 and A344 - and claims the spiritual site should be open to all.

The Government scrapped plans to remove the fences around Stonehenge, build an underpass, and grass over the A344 in 2007.

Stephen Helsby, Wiltshire Council's highways enforcement and traveller services manager, said: "This ancient byway - known locally as Netheravon Coach Road - is open to all traffic.

"Wiltshire Council, in it's capacity as local highway authority, has a duty to maintain everybody's right to use it's full width without interruption or other obstruction.

"The council strives to protect all of its public rights of way from trespass and that includes byway 12 which is situated at the heart of this important World Heritage Site."

I haven't read the name Pendragon since I finished "The Mists of Avalon" years ago! (a fave book)

He's an odd duck, that one.