Uffington Castle is an exceptionally well-preserved example of an Iron Age hill fort. The White Horse is the oldest chalk-cut hill figure in Britain, too; perhaps over 3,000 years old. From the summit, you are afforded wonderful views.

Hendrik

June 7, 2018

Stylized image of a horse, size 107 x 37 meters. Is considered the oldest image in England.
How is it done? The image is cut into the vegetation and then scratched into the ground until the underlying chalk is visible. Just behind is Uffington Castle. Here, however, only ramparts are available on which one can run but excellent. From the not far away parking lot a small hike leads here. Connected with fantastic views.

Translated by Google •

Mike The Mooching Minister.

May 3, 2024

Come on a clear day. I didn't. Also I bet it looks great with a drone. Next on my wishlist.
The Uffington White Horse is a prehistoric hill figure, 110 m (360 ft) long, formed from deep trenches filled with crushed white chalk. The figure is situated on the upper slopes of Whitehorse Hill in the English civil parish of Uffington in Oxfordshire, some 16 km (10 mi) east of Swindon, 8 km (5.0 mi) south of the town of Faringdon and a similar distance west of the town of Wantage; or 2.5 km (1.6 mi) south of Uffington. The hill forms a part of the scarp of the Berkshire Downs and overlooks the Vale of White Horse to the north. The best views of the figure are obtained from the air, or from directly across the Vale, particularly around the villages of Great Coxwell, Longcot, and Fernham.
The Uffington White Horse was created some time between 1380 and 550 bc, during the late Bronze Age or early Iron Age. The site is owned and managed by the National Trust and is a scheduled monument. The Guardian stated in 2003 that "for more than 3,000 years, the Uffington White Horse has been jealously guarded as a masterpiece of minimalist art." The Uffington Horse is by far the oldest of the white horse figures in Britain; the others inspired by it have an entirely different design.
Until the late 19th century, the horse was scoured every seven years as part of a more general local fair held on the hill. Francis Wise wrote in 1736: "The ceremony of scouring the Horse, from time immemorial, has been solemnized by a numerous concourse of people from all the villages roundabout." After the work was done a rural festival was held sponsored by the lord of the manor.
During the Second World War the figure, easily recognisable from the air, was covered over with turf and hedge trimmings so that Luftwaffe pilots could not use it for navigation during bombing raids. It was uncovered after the war by Welsh archaeology professor William Francis Grimes.

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Details

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Elevation 290 m

Open during reasonable daylight hours

Free entry

Contacts

Oxfordshire, SN7 7UK

www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/uffington-castle-white-horse-and-dragon-hill/

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Location: Uffington, Vale Of White Horse, Oxfordshire, South East England, England, United Kingdom

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