A breathtaking natural light show, visible for a fleeting ten minutes each year, has been captured illuminating the ancient interior of a Neolithic tomb in Shropshire.
A Once-a-Year Spectacle
Photographer Andrew Fusek Peters, 60, was on hand at Soulton Long Barrow near Wem as the setting sun on Wednesday, December 17, aligned perfectly with a large stained-glass window. The result was a cascade of multicoloured light beams – blue, purple, orange, red, and green – flooding the 5,000-year-old style burial chamber.
Describing the awe-inspiring moment, Andrew from Lydbury North said it was "like something from Indiana Jones". He explained: "At 3pm it just looks to be a standard doorway but as the sun sets it just transforms into this magical spectacle. The light just floods into the chamber and you just feel extremely blessed."
Modern Construction, Ancient Methods
The Soulton Hall long barrow is a remarkable modern structure built using ancient techniques. It is only the third such tomb to be opened in Britain in recent times, reviving a Stone Age custom.
Farmer Tim Ashton spent three years constructing the barrow, visiting numerous ancient henges to perfect the design. The site boasts the largest stone corbelled ceiling built in modern times, standing taller than two double-decker buses and offering space for 80 people.
The strategically placed window is precisely aligned to capture the sun specifically during the midwinter solstice, creating this annual phenomenon.
Capturing the Magic
Andrew Fusek Peters, who has visited the site before, believes these are his best images yet, thanks to perfect conditions. "I have been up there before but I think these are the best I have taken. The light was just perfect," he said.
Highlighting the challenge and brevity of the event, he noted: "You only have such a short ten-minute window in which to capture the images and it only happens once a year." To document the scene, he used both his OM System OM-1 Mark II camera and an iPhone 16 Pro Max mounted on a tripod, marvelling at the capability of modern smartphone cameras.
The stunning photographs serve as a powerful reminder of the sophisticated astronomical understanding of ancient cultures and the enduring magic of the winter solstice, now celebrated anew at this unique Shropshire landmark.
