The current horse was cut in 1924 by John T Ade, Eric Hobbis, and Stephen Bovis in a single night, and stands at 93 ft (28 m) long and 65 ft (20 m) high. An earlier horse figure was cut slightly northwest of the current one in 1838.[1] Since 1991, the horse has been owned by the National Trust, who, along with local volunteers, regularly clean and maintain it.[2]
The Litlington White Horse is one of two hill figures in East Sussex, the other being the Long Man of Wilmington, situated 3 miles northeast of the White Horse. It is also one of only eleven horse hill figures in England located outside of Wiltshire.
Original Litlington White Horse
The original Litlington White Horse was part of a broader trend in the 19th and early 20th centuries when several communities in southern England created or restored chalk figures as symbols of local identity and heritage.[3]
Origin
The origin of the original White Horse is most commonly accepted as being created by James Pagden, the son of a tenant farmer of Frog Firle Farm, along with his two brothers and his cousin William Ade (1820–92), in 1838 to commemorate the coronation of Queen Victoria.[1] It has also been suggested that William Ade's father, Charles Ade, who had experience in surveying, was involved in the planning.[1] This view of the horse's creation in 1838 is supported by numerous accounts of the white horse recorded throughout the 1850s and 1860s.
Another theory posits that the horse was cut in 1860 by two local boys, who, noticing a patch of bare chalk resembling a horse's head, proceeded to cut away the rest of the horse to complement it.[1][4] While the view that it was originally cut in 1838 is more commonly accepted, it is conceivable that these boys might have recut the horse after a period of neglect in 1860, resulting in overgrowth in certain parts of the horse's body and contributing to the confusion regarding its later creation.[5]
The Hackpen White Horse is often regarded as the 'sister horse' to the original Litlington White Horse, both having been initially cut in 1838 to honour Queen Victoria's coronation and being of broadly similar proportions.
Design and Location
Few historical accounts of the original horse describe its design. One notable account, written after a visit in 1884, describes it as having a glaring "mane, eyes, and nose" alongside "two donkey's ears".[6] Although no known account provides its size, a faint photograph taken in the late 1910s suggests the horse was considerably larger than the present horse and was cut in a standing position with straight legs, similar to most other horse hill figures.
Although it has been suggested that the original horse was likely located 100 yards northwest of the present horse, photographs of Hindover Hill from the late 1910s show the faint outline of the horse roughly in the same location as the present-day horse.[7]
Original Litlington White Horse late 1910s (outlined in red)
Maintenance and Neglect
Over the years, the original white horse fell into disrepair.[8] Chalk figures require constant maintenance to prevent them from being overgrown with grass and vegetation.[9]
By the early 1860s, the crudity of the horse's cutting was frequently remarked upon, including one comment in 1862 referring to the horse as "a piece of rustic sculpture", implying that the recutting and maintenance of the horse in the early 1860s were not done to the same standard as its original form in 1838.[10]
Continued mentions of the horse in texts throughout the mid to late 1800s suggest the figure was regularly maintained until around 1900, after which neglect resulted in the original horse becoming completely covered by the early 1910s. The last recorded sighting of the horse was in 1924, when it "could be made out, though with difficulty" due to significant overgrowth.[11]
Current Litlington White Horse
Interest in the original Litlington White Horse was rekindled in the early 20th century, leading to efforts to revive the tradition.[12] The 1924 carving is seen as both a restoration and a new design, honouring the original horse.
Origin and Re-cutting
Litlington White Horse before 1940
The current horse was carved by John T. Ade (the grandson of William Ade, one of the cutters of the original horse) alongside two of his friends, Eric Hobbis and Stephen Bovis, during a single night on the full moon of 20 February 1924.[13] Originally designed by John Ade during the winter of 1923, he drew inspiration for his design from the Westbury White Horse in Wiltshire.[14] John Ade's interest in cutting the horse was based on both the history of the original Litlington White Horse cut by his grandfather and the story of the Kilburn White Horse in North Yorkshire.[14]
According to John Ade, they first laid out the horse using ropes and pegs in the House Field at Ade's Grove Hill Farm in the nearby village of Hellingly in preparation for its cutting in Litlington.[14][15] The original drawing created by John Ade to assist with the horse's cutting is minutely annotated to give the distance between each peg and the next to ensure the accuracy of the design's transfer.[14][15] During the February full moon, the men cut the horse using a 'stick' of 35 inches as a measurement for a quick transfer of their design.[15] The horse was cut without the knowledge of the local residents, who were startled by the horse's sudden appearance on the hillside. This may have been the motivation behind the speedy cutting.[16]
History and Maintenance
In the late 1930s, the Litlington White Horse was deliberately covered by the Ministry of Defence to prevent it from being used as a location marker for the Luftwaffe during World War II, after maps featuring hill figures were found on captured German aircrew.[17] The rushed uncovering of the horse in 1945 by Ministry of Defence contractors resulted in several changes to the horse's original shape, including only one front leg being recut.[17] This was not corrected until the full moon of 9 June 1949, when between 10 pm and 3 am, two of the original cutters, John Ade and Stephen Bovis, alongside their friend Paul Harris, made several changes to return the horse to its 1924 appearance. These changes included recutting an additional front leg and readjusting the back, which "had shifted uphill a bit from saddle to rump".[15][18][19]
The Litlington White Horse design and 1949 repairs (by James Lancaster, based on J. T. Ade’s plan of 1924)
In the 1980s and 1990s, significant restoration efforts were undertaken to preserve the figure's visibility and sharpness. In 1983, the East Sussex County Council scoured the horse and installed wooden boards around it. They also terraced its legs and body to reduce the gradient, keeping the chalk in place.[17] This work included installing a perimeter fence to prevent damage from livestock.[17] During this time, the horse's posture was changed from standing to prancing to prevent slippage of the chalk rubble used to fill the figure, resulting in the horse taking its present form.[20][21] This change in the horse's legs was directed using a two-way radio link between workers on the hill and observers below in the valley.[14][15]
A significant issue in the horse's preservation since its recutting in 1924 has been the legs acting as channels for running water, causing them to become straightened, elongated, and splay out to form deltas at the hooves after significant rainfall.[14] In 1991, Frog Firle Farm, along with the White Horse situated in its grounds, was acquired by the National Trust, which has since regularly maintained the horse.[22]
Over the decades, the figure has required several restorations, particularly after periods of neglect or natural overgrowth.[23] In recent years, technology has played a role in the preservation of the Litlington White Horse. Techniques such as aerial dronephotography and digital mapping have been used to monitor its condition and plan conservation efforts more effectively. As part of its maintenance, care is taken to minimize environmental impact. The chalk used for restoration is often sourced locally to ensure consistency, and efforts are made to protect the surrounding grassland and its biodiversity.
As a significant local landmark, the horse has been subject to several acts of vandalism. In May 2017, it was vandalized with the addition of a unicorn horn, which was quickly removed.[24]
Design and Location
The horse is situated on a 45-degree slope and measures around 28 meters (65 feet) long and 20 meters (93 feet) high. Unique among other horse hill figures, it has been cut in a prancing position since 1983.[25] When visiting the horse in 1949, Morris Marples described it as having "two ears and a long, flowing tail, but lacking both an eye and nostril".[26]
Present Day
Looking across the Cuckmere Valley from the horse
Beyond its historical and communal roles, the Litlington White Horse has become a symbol of local identity and pride. It features in local art, literature, and even in the branding of local businesses and organisations. The horse has also been featured in numerous paintings, photographs, and films. Its striking image against the rolling hills of East Sussex makes it a popular subject for artists seeking to capture the beauty and history of the English countryside.
The chalk hillside where the Litlington White Horse is situated is not just a cultural landmark but also an ecological one.[27]The South Downs, of which Hindover Hill is a part, hosts a unique chalk grasslandecosystem.[28] The maintenance of the horse indirectly supports the preservation of this habitat, as regular clearing of the figure helps prevent the spread of invasive species and promotes the growth of native chalk grassland flora.
Today, the Litlington White Horse is a popular spot for hikers and tourists, offering stunning views of the surrounding countryside and the Cuckmere Valley. It serves as a waypoint for many walking routes across the South Downs, attracting visitors interested in both natural beauty and historical landmarks.[29] The horse also features in local educational programs, where schools and community groups visit the site to learn about local history, geology, and ecology.
At the peak of Hindover Hill, a free car park is located along Alfriston Road, with a short footpath leading down to the White Horse. However, a better view of the horse can be obtained from across the valley by walking south along the banks of the River Cuckmere from Litlington village.
Historian Rodney Castleden suggests that Hindover Hill once featured a giant figure similar to the Long Man of Wilmington, which has since faded from memory.[30] Historian Jacqueline Simpson supports this, noting that until the 1800s, the figures on Hindover Hill and Wilmington were collectively referred to as 'Adam and Eve'.[31] Philip Carr-Gomm adds to this by describing stories of a tall female giant, which he refers to as a goddess, being carved out of chalk on Hindover Hill.[32]
In 1905, J. P. Emslie recorded a local tale of a male figure carved into Hindover Hill, representing "a man being thrown from a horse," marking a Saxon victory over the Normans.[33] A. H. Allcroft summarized the recurring accounts, stating that "men who were schoolboys in the 1860s recollect it well enough, though it is now so vanished that learned folks refuse to believe it."[34] Despite these stories, by the late 19th century, the figure had disappeared to the point that its existence was doubted by contemporary scholars.
White Cross
Several mid-19th-century accounts of the Litlington White Horse mentioned a large cross cut into the chalk alongside the horse on Hindover Hill.[35] An 1865 account refers to the figures as "the cross and white horse".[36] However, by the 1890s, accounts of the horse failed to mention the cross. The reason why the horse continued to be maintained while the cross was neglected remains unknown.
Other Hill Figures
During the late 1920s and 30s, there were accounts of a large letter "S" and an irregular shape resembling a lion's head cut into the chalk below the current white horse.[37] However, no further mention of these figures can be found after the mid-1930s. If these markings were man-made, their short existence suggests they were not maintained.
Folklore
Oral histories passed down through generations of local families contain rich details about the original figure, blending fact and folklore and adding a layer of myth and legend to the horse's history.
Hindover Hill including the current White Horse
One local folklore suggests that the horse was originally cut as a memorial to a local girl whose horse bolted while riding along the brow of Hindover Hill, resulting in her fatal fall.[17] However, there is no evidence to support this story.[17]
Another story suggests that the hill figure originally depicted a dog, cut by a grieving boy to mark the grave of his dog, which was killed either alongside or in the River Cuckmere below.[38] Supposedly, due to erosion over the years, the figure began to resemble a horse, taking its present form. There is also little evidence to support this story.[39]
There are persistent local tales of treasure buried in the vicinity of the horse. These tales often involve hidden stashes of coins or valuable artefacts placed there by ancient inhabitants or later generations seeking to safeguard their wealth during times of conflict. While no substantial evidence has been found to support these rumours, they add an element of mystery and intrigue to the site's history.
In Popular Culture
The Litlington White Horse was the solution to Pimania, the UK's first real-life video treasure hunt game.[40] Released in 1982, the clues revealing the White Horse were not identified until 1985, by which time its publisher Automata UK had ceased trading.[41]
The Litlington White Horse served as the inspiration for Miriam Moss's book The Horse Girl (2002), which tells the story of a young girl who secretly carves a large white horse on the chalky hill overlooking her village after her mother forbids her from going near real horses.[42]
Gallery
Horse before being scoured
Horse after being scoured
Second horse soon after being cut in the late 1920s
Drawing of the second Litlington White Horse in 1936
Second horse with only one front leg after being uncovered in 1945
^Marples, Morris (1970). White Horses and Other Hill Figures. Wakefield: S.R. Publishers. p. 129.
^Marples, Morris (1970). White Horses and Other Hill Figures. Wakefield: S.R. Publishers. p. 129.
^Brandon, Peter (2022). The South Downs. History Press.
^Brandon, Peter (2022). The South Downs. History Press.
^Brandon, Peter (2022). The South Downs. History Press.
^Castleden, Rodney (1983). The Wilmington Giant: The Quest for a Lost Myth. Winnipeg: Turnstone Press. p. 24.
^Simpson, Jacqueline (1973). The Folklore of Sussex. Batsford. p. 29.
^Carr-Gomm, Philip (1993). The Druid Way. Shaftesbury [England]; Rockport, Mass.: Element.
^Burne, C. S. (1915). "Scraps of Folklore Collected by John Philipps Emslie". Folklore. 26 (2): 164.
^Simpson, Jacqueline (1973). The Folklore of Sussex. Batsford. p. 29.
^The Ecclesiastic: The Memorabilia of Sussex. London: Joseph Masters and Sons. 1865. p. 18.
^The Ecclesiastic: The Memorabilia of Sussex. London: Joseph Masters and Sons. 1865. p. 18.
^Marples, Morris (1970). White Horses and Other Hill Figures. Wakefield: S.R. Publishers. p. 129.
^Hamlyn, Alex. "Litlington White Horse". Strange Britain: The Weird and Wonderful Isle. Strange Britain: The Weird and Wonderful Isle. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
^Hamlyn, Alex. "Litlington White Horse". Strange Britain: The Weird and Wonderful Isle. Strange Britain: The Weird and Wonderful Isle. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
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