A LANDSCAPE architect believes she might have solved the mystery of Stonehenge’s origin.

Sarah Ewbank believes the ancient structure was a two-storey “majestic roundhouse” and has used her 30 years of experience in design to create a scale model.

It has taken nearly a year of research and studying the footprint of the stones to come up with the theory. She thinks it was once used as a multi-purpose venue and says not being an archaeologist has allowed her to think about it logically.

“Archaeologists are very obsessed with dating and the meaning of it,” she said. “I looked at it and thought it was a ruin, and that with my design skills I could work out what was there. In our climate back in the Bronze Age it still rained, and why would you move 75 large stones just so you could dance around twice a year? If you put a roof on it you can use it all year.”

Sarah says the frame would have been made out of oak with thatch used to keep out the elements.

Key to her concept was finding four lines that spanned across the central space, which she interpreted as being huge support beams.

She also noted that the height difference existing between the central giant stones was necessary to allow them be raised from horizontal to vertical.

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“When you look at it the whole thing it fits absolutely perfectly,” she said.

“I haven’t had to push one stone out of place. I have just taken all the standing stones and it all fits.

“People have said to me, ‘is there any evidence there was a roof ?’. I say look at our abbeys, what roof have they got left? And that was only 500 years ago.

“We are a thieving bunch, if something is lying around useful we will have it. So don’t expect to find the timber structure lying around after 4,000 years.”

Now Sarah is currently writing a book on the theory and is seeking funding to create a 1:10 scale model – around three by two metres in size.

To find out more about her theory visit sunhenge.uk