Summary
This 19th century white chalk cut horse is situated on Hindover Hill.
Identification Images (3)
Monument Types
- HILL FIGURE (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
Description
History of the site: The first white horse hill figure on this site was cut by James Pagden, the son of the tenant farmer of Frog Firle in about 1836, aided by his brothers and a cousin, William Ade. The present horse was cut to replace the then lost original in 1924. It was cut secretly (ie without permission) in a single night in February by John T Ade, grandson of the original William Ade. He was assisted by two friends. Camouflaged during the second war, post war repairs carried out in 1945 altered the original design slightly, hiding one foreleg behind the other and making adjustments to the line of the back. These inaccuracies were corrected by Ade, with two helpers, on the moonlight night of 9th June 1949. The repair was carried out between 10 p.m. and 3 a.m. (Marsden, 1984).
Description: Horse cut into the chalk and now edged with boards retained by iron pegs. In its present (1993) form there are also boards set along the contour to prevent erosion. A plan based upon Ades original drawing of 1924 shows both fore legs straight (Marsden 1986), but in it present form the front fore leg is raised. This adjustment was introduced by East Sussex County Council in 1983 in an attempt to arrest erosion. It was at this time too that the timber edging boards were introduced (Marsden 1986) (Martin, D. & Martin, B. 1993).
References
- SZF8586 - Unpublished document: David Martin, Barbara Martin. 1993. Archaeological & Historic Landscape Survey: Frog Firle, Alfriston, East Sussex.
Designations
None Recorded
Other Statuses and References
- Environmentally Sensitive Area
Associated Events
None Recorded
Associated Finds
None Recorded
Related Records
None Recorded