To see a picture of it.
Click on Town Photos.

How to see it.
The Westbury White Horse can be seen from the view point (turn in for off-road parking) on the Bratton Road, just east of Westbury past the Cemetery.

How to get to it.
(from the view point)
(1) Go west along the Bratton Road (B3098) until you come to the cross-roads by the Pottery (old infant school), where you turn south into Newtown. (Jump to 3)

(from Westbury Market Place)
(2) Facing the pillared old Town Hall find Alfred Street to your left. Go along Alfred Street, minding the narrow pavement, to the cross-roads by the Pottery (old infant school), where you go straight across into Newtown. (Jump to 3)

(3) Proceed up Newtown then after 1/2 mile bear left in front of the house facing you up Long River Road (no sign), then turn left at the cross-roads at the top to free parking.
This route is also used by horses.

What to do when you are there.
See also the Iron Age fort that lies next to the White Horse.
Kite flying, hang and para-gliding, and radio control flying are enjoyed, sometimes all at the same time, if the wind is right. The escarpment faces north-west.

What to do when you are not there!
Be aware that the nearest Toilets are in town in the car park off High St., also in car park off Warminster Road opposite the petrol station.

A little history.
The legend that the White Horse was cut to commemorate Alfred the Great's victory apparently dates from the nineteenth century (1800s).

In 1742 a clergyman named Wise published an illustration of the horse showing a squat animal with head facing right carrying a saddle and having a tail curving upwards. It is thought that this is a throw back to an Iron Age cult - an Iron Age fort being adjacent to the White Horse. This strange animal is illustrated here.

The story goes that in 1778 a Mr. Gee, as agent for the Earl of Abingdon who had acquired Heywood House, cut a new, much more life-like, horse to impress his master. This is the present White Horse and it is shown on the Town Photos page.

What it is made of.
The White Horse was until recently cut directly into the chalk that forms the hill, but as this needed regular attention, both to keep the shape and the white colour of the chalk, it was decided to concrete it over and paint it white with a special paint. This has certainly retained the shape, but the white colour soon goes grey.

What size it is.
It measures 180 ft. (54.9 m) from head to tail, 107 ft. (32.6 m) high at the shoulder, and with an eye 25 ft. (7.62 m) round.

Where to eat.
To eat there is the Westbury Hotel in the Market Place, The Cedars in Warminster Road, the White Rabbit in Church Walk (off Edward Street), and the Horse and Groom up Alfred Street (off Market Place), plus Fish and Chip shops in Warminster Road and the Market Place, also take-aways and shops for sandwiches, etc. in the High Street and Edward Street.

Note. Neither the author nor anyone else associated with this site makes any claim as to the validity or accuracy of the information presented on this site. Useage is at the user's own risk.

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Produced for Westbury, Wilts by Michael Badger © 2000 Michael Badger Updated: Nov. 2003