In aid of Wiltshire Air Ambulance

WESTBURY/BRATTON WHITE HORSE - 1778 The oldest White Horse in Wiltshire. The present one was preceded by a much older horse on the same site, date and origin unknown. Local tradition has it that it was cut as a memorial to one of King Alfred's victories over the Danes - the battle of Ethandun (now Edington) in 878 AD. This statement cannot be proved, but there was certainly a previous horse here in the early 1700s or before. It may be asswned that the original horse, like Uffmgton, was carved in the chalk just below an Iron Age settlement (Bratton Camp) and ancient trackway. This earlier horse had a long tail curving upwards and ending in an Iron Age symbol of tribal fertility - the crescent moon. The present horse was cut by Mr Gee, Steward to Lord Abingdon, who owned the land at that date. He destroyed the original horse as he thought it a bad imitation of a real horse, and had no regard for antiquity -genuine or otherwise. In 1873 the present horse was given a face-lift as it had fallen into disrepair. An edging of stones was laid to keep its shape. Further renovations have been made since that date, and it is now one of the most outstanding white horses to he seen. Best view of this horse is from the A350 Melksham to Westbury road, look left to the bills; then to get near the horse, use the B3098 to Bratton. OR for quicker approach (but not good panoramic view of horse) from Devizes take A360 to West Lavington; turn right onto B3098 to Bratton (& Westbury). In village turn left on to by-road signed 'White Horse', which leads to hill top above horse. Good view of West Wiltshire from top.

BROAD TOWN WHITE HORSE - 1864 There are several accounts as to when this horse was cut, but the most reliable date is 1864 by William Sinimonds, of Littleton Farm, on whose land it stood. The horse has remained invisible since it was covered during the 1939-45 war. In 1992 a group of local enthusiasts cleaned and rechalked it. This horse lies to the N.E. of the minor road between Wootton Bassett & Marlborough. Best view - take A4361 Avebury to Swindon road, turn left at junction to Broad Hinton, and continue to Broad Town (village). Look right as you come down the hill. A good view also at the village school here. Return to A4361 junction, cross over towards Marlborough. The HACKPEN White Horse lies to the right near this road, on the north side of the Marlborough Downs.

HACKPEN WHITE HORSE - 1838 Said to have been cut on the side of Hackpen Hill by the then Parish Clerk of Broad Hinton, (the village near by to the north west) with one of the publicans of the village, in order to celebrate the Coronation in 1837 of Queen Victoria.

MARLBOROUGH WHITE HORSE - 1804 Cut by the boys of a school in Mariborough kept by a Mr Greaseley. (This was before the foundation of Marlborough College). It was designed and pegged out by one of the boys - William Canning of the Manor House, Ogboume St George. Best view - walk from College Memorial Hall (on A4 Bath road) along footpath inside the hedge, look left for the 'horse'. Alternatively - from A345 Pewsey road turn off at the Citroen Garage to walk along Granhain Close, then hard footpath through 2 fields. In the 3rd field near tennis courts look left.

PEWSEY WHITE HORSE (Second) 1937 The original Horse (1785) has long been invisible. It was carved under the direction of Robert Pile who also designed the Alton Barnes Horse. The Horse now seen was designed by Mr George Mwples for the committee who were organising the celebrations in Pewsey village for the Coronation in 1937 of King George VI. Cut by the members of the Pewsey Fire Brigade under Mr Marples direction. Best view - Take A345 Marlborough to Pewsey road. After Oare village look left for a glimpse of this horse. Proceed on A345 through Pewsey village passing a garage on the left. Just after this garage a country road is signed (left) to Everleigh, which goes near the horse.

ALTON BARNES WHITE HORSE - 1812 Cut at the expense of Mr Robert Pile, Manor Farm, Alton Bames, the then owner of the ground. His first contractor decainped with an advance payment of £20 after drawing a sketch of the horse as it should appear on the hill. This contractor was eventually hung for a list of crimes! Mr Pile had to cut and finish the horse himself A good view is from the minor road connecting Pewsey and Devizes which passes through Alton Bames. The horse is between Milk Hill and Walkers Hill to the North.

DEVIZES MIILLENIUM I-IORSE - 2000 Devizes had a White Horse carved on Roundway Hill below Oliver's Camp by apprentice shoemakers of the town in 1845. It was known as Snob's Horse (a dialect word for shoemaker). It was never completed and vanished with time. The present horse was cut for the 2000 Millenium on Roundway. Hill about one mile from the old one. It was designed by Peter Greed, who originally drew up plans for a new horse in 1954. About 200 local people helped to create this horse. Coming into Devizes on the A361 Swindon to Devizes road, the horse can just be seen on the hill to the right. The best view is to continue on this road towards Devizes - after 3 roundabouts take the right tum signed to Roundway Garden Industrial Estate (Folly Road). Continue to Roundway village and take the righthand fork at the telephone box, at the next junction turn right again. There is a small car park at the top of this hill. The horse is on the right.

CHERHIlL WHITE HORSE 1780 Cut under directions of a Dr Alsop of Calne, given by megaphone from the main road. Again like Ufrmgton and Westbury horses, it lies just below on ancient earthwork, known as Oldbury Castle. In no way is this horse connected to anything of an earlier date. The centre of the eye (4ft across) was originally filled with upturned bottles to sparkle in the sunlight, but these disappeared with time. The Lansdowne Obelisk was erected in 1845 by Lord Lansdowne for his ancestor Sir William Petty. Best view for this horse is from the A4 Calne to Avebury road, look right at Cherhill. Easy to see.