Hackpen White Horse

General Information

National Grid Ref SU 1270 7484

The Hackpen or Broad Hinton horse as it is also known as it is close to Broad Hinton village. This horse is 90’ square and faces WNW. The horse lies on the high (600’) but gentle slope of Hackpen hill just below the Ridgeway and to the right of the Broad Hinton to Marlborough Road (B4041). It can be seen from this road which offers the best view and also from the A361 near Broad Hinton. There is a car park where the Ridgeway crosses the B4041 and over the road there is a footpath down to the horse. The horse is in a very poor state, very overgrown and not very conspicuous from the road. This is in complete contrast to 1995 when the horse was in excellent condition and shows how easily these figures may become lost. The figure is slightly raised from the surrounding grass. The chalk is almost completely obscured by dried grass, what chalk remains visible is small compacted pieces. The fence is missing but repairs looked imminent and perhaps this enclosure will prelude a scouring of the horse. It is uncertain as to the party responsible for the horse.

History.

This is the only 19th century horse to have little of its history known, it was cut in 1838 by Henry Eatwell who was a parish clerk of Broad Hinton, he was assisted by the local publican. It is said to commemorate the coronation of Queen Victoria. The head was elevated to help with the foreshortening but over time the chalk has shifted downward and added to the problem.