Merlin's Tomb Demolition Delayed to 2027

Demolition at a neolithic monument, fabled to hold the bones of the wizard Merlin, has been postponed until 2027. Initially planned for April and then summer, the works are now delayed as Marlborough College, the site's owner, is prioritizing other projects. A spokesperson for the school stated that whatever lies within the mound has remained undisturbed for centuries and is safely buried.

The monument, constructed around 2,400 BC, shares a ritual landscape with Silbury Hill and Avebury. In November 2025, Wiltshire Council approved the demolition of 20th-century structures built into the mound's side, including a carpentry workshop and toilets. These buildings will be carefully removed with an archaeologist present, according to the Marlborough Mound Trust.

An archaeological assessment from 2024 suggests that while significant finds beneath the structures are unlikely, their removal will permit archaeologists to examine a cross-section of the mound. The proposed works are expected to reveal traces of medieval and post-medieval waterways, ultimately creating a more aesthetically pleasing setting for the historic monument.