The Westbury White Horse

The Westbury White Horse

The Westbury White Horse is a giant representation of a horse, situated near the village of Westbury in southern England. It wascreated by cutting the outline of a horse into the white chalk of the hillside. The existing horse may be different from the original as it has slowly changed with the passage of time. Archeological evidense suggests that the White Horse dates back to prehistoric times, althought not all experts agree on this. Some historians believe that the White Horse was created at a much later date -perhaps in the 17th century. However, its located immediately below the remains of an Iron Age hill fort, seems to confirm its ancients origins.Nobody really knows why the White Horse was created. In an ancient civilisation, it may have religious importance although some experts suggest that it represents the artistic expression of the time. Local people recently took inspiration from it to create a modern version which is situated near the town of Folkestone.

The horse is 180 feet tall and 170 feet wide and is a symbol for the town of Westbury, appearing on welcome signs and in the logo for its tourist information centre. It is also considered a symbol for Wiltshire as a whole.