Alton Barnes White Horse

Location	Alton Barnes, Wiltshire, UK
OS Grid Ref	SU10676373
Coordinates	Latitude: 51.372529N Longitude: 1.848101W

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Alton Barnes White Horse was cut in 1812 on Milk Hill, which beats Tan Hill by one metre to be the highest point in Wiltshire at 294 metres above sea level.

The hill figure was designed by John Thorne, who was an inn sign painter, under commission of Robert Pike, a local farmer. John Thorne was supposed to cut the horse too, but ran off with his advance money (£20) and left John Harvey, a local resident, to cut the horse. Thorne was later hanged for a series of crimes.

This must be one of the best known white horse's of Wiltshire, not only because it is easily seen from the Devizes Road, but also because the fields below often feature crop circles, which bring in people from around the world. The horse is often featured in the photographs and documentaries about crop circles.

The white horse with the Milk Hill Bowl Barrow at the top of the hill above the horse.

As a side note: In nearby Alton Priors is a stone that has been carved with a replica of the Alton Barnes white horse, signed PRS 1995.

Accessibility
The horse is quite a way from the car park (detail below). It can be reached over the downs and through some gates. I don't think it would be suitable for push chairs or standard wheelchairs.

Access
There is a small car park up the hill and to the right of the horse, called Pewsey Downs Car Park, then cross the road andfollow the trail. I haven't been able to find the name of this road, the OS Grid reference is SU11586380. The satellite view below shows the car park:


Street View


See my Alton Barnes White Horse page on Megalithic.com for lots of links and maps and nearby sites, click here.