Cherhill White Horse

The White Horse was carved in 1776 by Dr Christopher Alsop.  It is said that it was originally cut by the Danes and Dr Alsop had it cut facing the other way. 

The dimensions are:

Length 129ft.

Height 142ft.

Eye diameter 4ft.

Leg length 54ft.

Tail length 18ft.

Head length 24ft.

Body length 80ft.

It obviously took great ingenuity to carry out this task.  It is said that he took up a position 100yds south of Main Road opposite the lower farm and gave instructions to the workers by shouting through a large trumpet.  These two points are at least 1 1/4 miles apart so it is unlikely that voice communications were used, it is more likely that flags were used.  He could have used his trumpet from a point about 1/2 mile west of the horse from where it can be seen almost perfectly.

Construction did not simpy consist of cutting away the turf and filling with chalk.  Only about half the turf was removed, the rest being built up above the turf by as much as 7ft. in some places and supported by stakes and turf.  Sometime later a small ditch was made over the top to carry water away but this seems to have disappeared now.

In Aug/Sep 2002 the horse was given a new lease of life as it had started to look a little tatty.