Something to remember it by...
Every visitor to Stonehenge has to exit the site via the gift shop. As the word souvenir means “to recall” or “to remember” in French, most items on sale include pictures of Stonehenge. Tourists want something to remember it all by, and also have proof that they have actually been there. Much like the photographic proof, souvenirs are used to help underline the statement that travellers have experienced the site. They can produce something that they have taken from the site, and which will trigger the memories associated with it.
To cater for various tastes and preferences, the souvenirs at Stonehenge can simply be postcards and guidebooks, as well as elaborate jewellery which even includes bluestone (one of the main stone types used in the monument) as a gem stone, and gives the sense of wearing a part of Stonehenge. Videos, DVDs and CD guides are available, as are calendars, diaries, towels, caps, glasses, mugs, bags and posters. These feature images of Stonehenge – mostly at sunrise or sunset which is seen as the “ideal” view of Stonehenge due to the popularity of the solstice celebrations – or stylized images of either the trilithons or the outer stone circle. These to images are supposed to be unique for Stonehenge and therefore easily recognisable, even by those who have never seen the original monument. A range of clothing also contains images of Stonehenge, with the most prominent theme at the time of visit (10 April 2010) being a stylized sunrise at Stonehenge, with the words “Stonehenge Rocks!” across it, which is a double entendre meaning that the site is great, as well as referring to the fact that it was built with massive stones.
To cater for various tastes and preferences, the souvenirs at Stonehenge can simply be postcards and guidebooks, as well as elaborate jewellery which even includes bluestone (one of the main stone types used in the monument) as a gem stone, and gives the sense of wearing a part of Stonehenge. Videos, DVDs and CD guides are available, as are calendars, diaries, towels, caps, glasses, mugs, bags and posters. These feature images of Stonehenge – mostly at sunrise or sunset which is seen as the “ideal” view of Stonehenge due to the popularity of the solstice celebrations – or stylized images of either the trilithons or the outer stone circle. These to images are supposed to be unique for Stonehenge and therefore easily recognisable, even by those who have never seen the original monument. A range of clothing also contains images of Stonehenge, with the most prominent theme at the time of visit (10 April 2010) being a stylized sunrise at Stonehenge, with the words “Stonehenge Rocks!” across it, which is a double entendre meaning that the site is great, as well as referring to the fact that it was built with massive stones.
A typical souvenir photograph to show 'I was there'
The gift shop's unassuming shop front
