Monument record MDO1820 - Osmington White Horse

White Horse hill-figure measuring 280ft long by 323ft high and representing George III on his charger was cut into the south-facing slope on White Horse Hill, Osmington in 1815. <2>

Hill-figure as described by RCHM (2), and in a fair state of preservation. Re-surveyed at 1:2500 on MSD. <3>

In 2011 a collaborative research project between English Heritage and Ordnance Survey was undertaken to help inform the restoration of the hill-figure at the particular request of the Osmington Society. Although a relatively recent creation, there was little conclusive evidence for its origins or for subsequent changes. More pressing was the concern that the original shape had been obscured by extensive erosion and other forms of disfigurement in recent decades, and that the figure should be restored to a fitting condition before it appeared in the background to the 2012 Olympic sailing events in the bay below.

Recent historical research has demonstrated without doubt that the figure was first cut in the late summer of 1808 (contra reference 2) as the private initiative of four local individuals: John Wood (a Weymouth bookseller), Robert Serrell Wood (a landowner), James Hamilton (a prominent Weymouth architect) and John Ranier (who funded the project). The figure depicts George III seated on his favourite charger Adonis in an east-facing pose comparable to numerous equestrian portraits of the era. Overall it measures c.98m by 85m, the dimensions serving to correct some of the foreshortening effect of the steep slope on which it was cut (6). Its creation preceded the King’s Golden Jubilee, which began with the start of his 50th regnal year in October 1809. The likely intent was to commemorate this event and celebrate the King's association with Weymouth, which, prior to his recent illness, had been one of his favourite seaside retreats from 1889 to 1805. <7> <9>

A highly visible local landmark, the figure also appears to have served as a seamark noted on Admiralty charts of the early 19th century. <8>

A combination of research methods – aerial photography, detailed ground survey and the study of historic maps, photographs and postcard images – charted a long sequence of change and minor adaptations. Notable earlier restoration attempts included several efforts in the late 1940s (after the figure had been both camouflaged and neglected throughout the war) and the addition of 160 tons of Portland scalpings in 1989 under the aegis of the ‘Challenge Anneka’ television series. The combined research determined an accurate (and historical robust) outline for the restoration which was put into effect out by local volunteers in June-July 2011. Following restoration the monument was it officially unveiled by HRH The Princess Royal in March 2012. <8>

White Horse hill figure, visible as bare chalk on aerial photographs <9-11> and digitally plotted during the South Dorset Ridgeway Mapping Project.

The hill figure is thought to be George III. There are several stories about the creation of the figure, one attributes it to a soldier who was stationed in Weymouth in the early 19th century and wished to commemorate the visits of George III and his brother to Weymouth which began in 1789. Another suggests that it was created by some soldiers with time on their hands during the Napoleonic invasion scare of 1803-5.

<1> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Map 6in, 1963 (Map). SWX1540.

(SY 715843) White Horse (NAT)

<2> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume II (South East) Part 1, 183 (Monograph). SDO148.

'(29) WHITE HORSE, hill-figure (715843), is cut into White Horse Hill, at the extreme N.W. of the parish, on a S.-facing slope of about 26°. It was cut in 1815 and represents King George III on his charger (Plate 114); the whole is 280 ft. long and 323 ft. high. (Hutchins II, 505; cf. M. Marples, White Horses and Other Hill Figures (1949), 123–7. R.A.F. V.A.P. CPE/UK 1821: 6440–1.)'

<3> Barton, J G, Various, Field Investigators Comments JGB, F1 JGB 26-JUN-80 (Unpublished document). SDO11900.

<4> Newman, Paul, 1987, Gods and graven images: the chalk hill-figures of Britain, 194-6 (Monograph). SDO18874.

<5> Bergamar, Kate, 1997, Discovering hill figures, 194-6 (Monograph). SDO20399.

<6> Ditchfield, G M, 2002, George III: an essay in Monarchy, 163-4 (Monograph). SDO20401.

<7> Wallis, S, 2010, Osmington White Horse: supporting documentation for Scheduled Monument Consent (Unpublished document). SDO20400.

<8> 2011, Dorset Life, 22-24 (Serial). SDO20402.

<9> Ainsworth, S and Horgan, J, 2013, Osmington White Horse Hill-Figure, Dorset, A Regal Restoration. Surveyed and Historical Evidence for the Re-established outline (Serial). SDO13993.

<10> Royal Air Force, 04-NOV-1946, RAF/CPE/UK/1821 6439-40 (Aerial Photograph). SDO11751.

<11> 07-AUG-1923, NMR SY 7184/1 (CCC 8612) (Aerial Photograph). SDO11754.

<12> 06-DEC-2006, NMR SY 7184/5-11 (24498/24-30) (Aerial Photograph). SDO11755.

<13> Historic England, Historic England Archive, AA72/01789 (Index). SDO14738.

CHALK HILL FIGURE DEPICTING GEORGE III ON CHARGER, CUT IN 1815 FROM SOUTH.

<14> Historic England, Historic England Archive, BB88/01953 (Index). SDO14738.

SKETCH OF WHITE HORSE - 'CUTTING THE HORSE OUT WHEN THE KING WAS AT WEYMOUTH A BRASS CELT WAS FOUND'.OSMINGTON HILL = OSMANTOWN HILL = EASTER MEN'S HILL

<15> Historic England, Historic England Archive, BF113003 (Index). SDO14738.

Seaside Project: Resorts

<16> National Record of the Historic Environment, 454441 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Dec 22 2023 2:12PM