Snobs’ Horse…
The first Devizes white horse
Devizes has a ‘new’ Devizes Millenium White Horse, cut by 200 people in 1999, but we once had another which can’t be seen easily today, although in 1979 its head and neck were revealed in light snow under unusual lighting conditions.
If you fancy taking a shot that reveals the original outline we’d love to see it! Take note that it faces left – the opposite direction to the present day horse.
The original ‘Snobs’ Horse’ was on the edge of Roundway Down at the Iron Age hillfort of Oliver’s Castle, just along the track from the site of the current Millenium White Horse.
This one was cut into the hillside at Whitsun in 1845 by local shoemakers. It was called the Snobs’ Horse because ‘snob’ was a local word for shoemaker.
By the turn of the 20th century it was sadly neglected and no longer visible, but the outline could still be faintly discerned on the hillside.
Discover Roundway Down & Iron Age hill fort – site of the Snobs’ Horse : ///spelling.acted.dusters
Discover the Millenium White Horse – chalk horse: ///auctioned.mule.convinces
