The White Horse of Cherhill is a hill figure in Wiltshire, England. This hill figure is in the shape of a prancing horse, and it is white because it is made of chalk, as the name implies. The Cherhill White Horse is one of England’s oldest white horses, and it is a prominent landmark in its home county, visible from a considerable distance. Visitors to Wiltshire frequently try to schedule time to see the Cherhill White Horse and enjoy the surrounding walking and hiking opportunities.
Hill figures are created slicing through the turf of a hill to reveal the stone or earth beneath. The underlying geology of the hillsides in many parts of England is chalky, and as a result, hill figures are white, making them stand out dramatically against the surrounding hillside. Making hill figures appears to be an ancient practice, as evidenced several very old specimens found throughout England. The Cherhill White Horse is a 1780 horse.
On Cherhill Down, the horse is carved into a steep face and faces northeast. It is shown raising one foreleg and standing almost straight up with its bobbed tail. The modern Cherhill White Horse’s eye is made of concrete, but in the past, it was made of glass bottles that were buried with their bottoms facing up. The bottles glistened and caught the light, making the eye visible from afar. The bottles were repeatedly stolen souvenir hunters, prompting the decision to use a more permanent medium for the eye.
Dr. Christopher Aslop oversaw the construction of the Cherhill White Horse, also known as the Oldbury White Horse. The horse had become severely degraded the early twentieth century, prompting a preservation effort in the 1930s. During WWII, the horse was covered so that enemy troops wouldn’t be able to use it as a landmark. The Cherhill White Horse was resurrected in 2002, with a new layer of compacted chalk and a series of buffers to keep the surrounding turf at bay. The Cherhill White Horse’s edges stand out against the surrounding hillside today.
The reasons for the Cherhill White Horse’s construction are a little hazy. It was most likely inspired other hill figures in the area, as well as a desire to make a big splash in the community. Some historians speculate that Dr. Aslop may have wanted to pay tribute to a friend who enjoyed painting horses.