White Horse

[sg]

The history of the white horse on the hill at Cuckmere Haven. Does anybody know about it?

[Jay_Jay]

There are two Litlington White Horses. The first was cut on Hindover Hill around 1838, perhaps to commemorate Queen Victoria and has largely disappeared. It has been superseded by a second horse, cut 1923/24 around a hundred yards from the original. Last scoured 1993. This second horse is still visible.

Grid reference: TQ 510 009

[scrumpy78]

What does "last scoured" mean?

[sg]

It probably means scraped off the manky stuff so that it's nice and bright again....

[Jay_Jay]

Yes, more or less. The top surface of the chalk, where it weathered, was taken back so it would shine white again. I believe there used to be some sort of ritual attached to it.