Busy day at Stonehenge as the stones are moved forward one hour

March 9, 2025
By Vidar

Stonehenge is one of the world’s most iconic prehistoric monuments, but did you know that parts of it have been moved in modern times?

This fascinating image shows a moment from the 1950s restoration efforts, but with a humorous twist—it almost looks like the stones are being adjusted for daylight saving time!

Of course, no one is actually resetting Stonehenge for daylight saving time—but this real historical photo from the 1950s restoration efforts makes it look that way!


The Real Story: Stonehenge’s Restoration

While some may imagine ancient Druids carefully positioning these stones, the reality is that over the centuries, many fell or shifted. In multiple restoration phases during the 20th century, engineers carefully repositioned and reinforced certain stones to prevent further collapse.

One of the most significant restorations took place between the 1950s and 1960s, when cranes were brought in to re-erect fallen sarsens and lintels. These efforts were controversial at the time, with some believing they altered the authenticity of the site. However, without these interventions, Stonehenge might not have stood the test of time as it has today.


A Timeless Wonder—No Clock Required

Although this image playfully suggests that the stones need to be moved forward an hour for daylight saving time, Stonehenge itself has always been deeply connected to timekeeping—just not in the way modern clocks are. The monument’s alignment with the solstices indicates that its builders likely used it as an astronomical calendar thousands of years ago.

So, while we might struggle to remember if our clocks should go forward or back, Stonehenge remains timeless—no manual adjustments necessary.


More: From Megaliths to Street Art: The Enduring Fascination with Stonehenge


More Stonehenge!:


More impressive old sculptures:

This colossal sculpture was created nearly 450 years ago by Flemish sculptor Giambologna as a symbol of Italy’s Apennine mountains. Standing at nearly 14 meters (45 ft) tall, it was commissioned by Francesco de Medici, the Grand Duke of Tuscany, in 1579.


Leshan Giant Buddha in China (800 AD) At 71 meters (233 ft) tall, this is the tallest pre-modern statue on Earth.


This is how the Statue of Unity in India looks like. It’s the tallest statue in the world: standing at 182 meters (597 ft) tall, it’s nearly three times the height of the Statue of Liberty.


The Resting Boxer, crafted more than 2,000 years ago, is one of the most realistic sculptures ever made and one of the finest examples of bronze sculptures to have survived from the ancient world.


‘The Peeker of Conques’ at Abbey of Sainte Foy, Conques, France (c. 1107)

From Medieval humor: 9 Astonishing Gargoyle Statues


More here!: 30 Sculptures You (probably) Didn’t Know Existed

Discussion 19 comments

  1. This writer claims the restoration took place ” .. between the 1950s and 1960s” ! How dumb, there is no space in time ” between” these two decades.

    Reply
  2. @streetartutopia except that in Europe we change to daylight saving time the last Sunday of March, so this fascinating ritual won't be happening this Sunday…

  3. @streetartutopia Nah. Stonehenge is in England, so that happens at the end of March.

  4. @streetartutopia Just the 21 days too early for this!

    1. @streetartutopia@mastodon.online @streetartutopia@streetartutopia.com
      Just in time for Daylight Savings, Street Art Utopia!
      At least it is here in the Untied Snakes.
      #DaylightSavings #Stonehenge

    2. @streetartutopia@mastodon.online @streetartutopia@streetartutopia.com

      In ancient times,
      Hundreds of years before the dawn of history
      Lived a strange race of people, the Druids

      No one knows who they were or what they were doing
      But their legacy remains
      Hewn into the living rock, of Stonehenge

    3. @streetartutopia cone henge?

    4. @streetartutopia brilliant 🤩

    5. @streetartutopia@mastodon.online @streetartutopia@streetartutopia.com Oh no, they paved over this treasured Neolithic site? What would UNESCO say….🤣 😍

Join the conversation

Keep it kind, keep it real, keep it short.

Keep exploring

More visual stories