where is the oldest building in England?

Answer 1

It depends on your definition of building.

Stonehenge is predated by Avebury Ring which itself is predated by the Rollright Stones, but are they actually buildings or just constructions?

St Peter's Chapel at Bradwell-on-Sea in Essex dates back to AD 654 - built by St Cedd on the foundations of the old gatehouse of Othona Roman fort

Answer 2

the world's oldest artificial structure, on a hillside at Chichibu, north of Tokyo - a shelter built by Homo erectus half a million years ago, according to a report in New Scientist. However, this is an archeological remains. For surviving structures, it has to be in Wiltshire

West Kennet Long Barrow - part of the Avebury complex of Neolithic sites - is one of the most impressive and well-preserved burial chambers in Britain, as well as being one of the most visited.

The mound itself - of which the burial chamber is only a small part - stretches for 100 metres in an East - West orientation.

The chamber, which extends 10 metres into the mound, consists of five seperate chambers, two on either side of a narrow passage, which then opens up into a further chamber at the far end. Like many of these passage graves, the entrance was flanked by a semi circular forecourt, which framed the dark opening, although this is now partially obscured by the huge stones used to seal the tomb. These large stones, and the other hefty sarcen boulders used in the barrows construction, were brought from the nearby downs, while the smaller stones seem to have been selected and brought from a location over 30 miles away.

The tomb is thought to have been constructed around 3500BC, and was in use for a thousand years, until 2200BC, when the tomb was sealed with chalk rubble, and the gigantic sarcen boulders that now guard the entrance. This was at the same time as the great stone circle at Avebury was begun.

The oldest standing church in Britain is probably St. Peter's-on-the-Wall at Bradwell-on-Sea, Essex which dates from the 7th Century. or St Andrews in Bradford upon Avon, built at the same time.

The oldest cathedral in Britain is Durham Cathedral, started in 1093, which is also the oldest Norman building.

The oldest inn in Britain is, officially, Ye Olde Fighting Cocks in St. Albans, Hertfordshire - it's listed in the Guiness Book of Records - but it was rebuilt in 1600 on Medieval foundations. So 'ye old trip to Jerusalem' may take the record.

The oldest surviving Roman structure in Britain is the Balkerne Gate together with the Roman wall at Colchester, Essex. or Porchester Castle in Hampshire.

The oldest house in England is disputed, my money is on the Jews House, Lincoln - is a two storied stone building dating from 1158 and reputed to be the oldest domestic building in England.

Answer 3

Stonehenge is was built by humans so, I guess, is a building and probably the oldest in England. Answer 1 appears to know nothing about English buildings. Big Ben is not a building and is only about 150 years old.

Answer 4

big Ben is not a building its a bell from the whitechapel bell foundry what you are actually talking about is the Westminster clock tower, but this is not the oldest building in Britain and stone henge was rebuilt in the seventeenth century and may not have even looked like it does in pre historical times as it does now. i think you have to look at Hadrian's wall or even London wall parts of which still exist, for a real building it has to be a church or castle a lot date back a thousand years parts of the tower of London are nine hundred years old

Answer 5

Big Ben dates to the 19th century. Jesus Christ you know nothing of history.

As for the question, 'building' is a relative term. The Great Bath dates to the 1st century AD and was a building, but most of the original buidling is gone except for the bath itself and foundations. The oldest surving 'interior space' is probably a Roman lighthouse at Dover from the 1st-2nd cent. AD.

And as has been noted, Stonehenge, Avebury, and other megaliths in Britain have been standing for ca. 5000 years.

Answer 6

Peachmouse is good at history. Christ here was me thinking the Millenium Dome was he oldest in Building in England, but along comes PM and decides a bell is the oldest building in England. Phew im glad i come on here for knowledge

Answer 7

I agree with a-and-a. I'm not sure that the various stone circles in England would be considered "buildings." And by the way, 32 Characters, Big Ben is the bell in the tower, not the clock.

Answer 8

How about this one for a surviving intact building -

The Anglo-Saxon crypt of St Wystan's Church dates from the 8th Century and is one of the oldest intact buildings in England.

Answer 9

Not sure but I do know that the oldest bowls lawn is in the world is in the middle of Southampton, England.

Answer 10

Stonehenge. It is irrelevant that it doesnt have a roof, it is still a building! Also, there are some historians who believe it may have been covered at one time. It is around 5000 years old.

From historic times, there are also some celtic and anglo saxon churches and houses still standing, and of course the Roman Spa in Bath.