Brewer's: White Horse

of Wantage (Berkshire), cut in the chalk hills. This horse commemorates a great victory gained by Alfred over the Danes, in the reign of his brother Ethelred I. The battle is called the battle of AEseesdun (Ashtreehill). The horse is 374 feet long, and may be seen at the distance of fifteen miles. (Dr. Wise.)

An annual ceremony was once held, called “Scouring the White Horse.”

Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Related Content