Paragliding over the White Horse of Sussex
6The white horse is made up of six tons of chalk and is approximately 93 feet long and 65 feet high. According to the National Trust, the first figure was originally crafted by four men in 1836. It was carved again in 1924 by one of the original creator’s grandsons. The technical term for this type of figure is a geoglyph. The predecessor to this amazing creation and many others like it is the prehistoric Uffington White Horse.
The reason behind the creation of the Litlington White Horse remains unclear. Some suggest it was originally constructed to commemorate Queen Victoria’s upcoming coronation. Others speculate it was a publicity stunt to amuse the town. Regardless of the reasons behind its origins, it stands as impressively today as it did when it was first crafted thanks to ongoing maintenance from volunteers of the National Trust.
Set within the South Downs National Park, the figure lies amid beautiful fields, mixed woodlands, and wild meadows that act as a natural canvas for this odd, yet lovely giant piece of art.