Issue 508 – Future looks whiter for town’s icon

FUNDING to clean the town’s iconic White Horse is now in place, and plans to make the project a reality are being compiled.

The grubby state of the ‘White’ Horse has been a cause for much concern, with the icon and tourist attraction once again being referred to as a grey mare.
Westbury Town Council and Westbury Area Board have both pledged £5,000 towards the cleaning of the horse. This brings the funds available to £10,000, the indicative amount English Heritage advised would be required.
The town council is aiming to have the horse cleaned in time for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, particularly with plans to light the figure up to mark the occasion. Once the project starts,Westbury Rotary Club will lead the project. However, any project to clean the horse needs to be made in conjunction with other organisations with an interest in the land, and needs the approval of English Heritage before any work can be done.

No funds or resources
from English Heritage

English Heritage treated the horse to a facelift back in 2006 at a cost of £20,000. But since then, the state of the horse has deteriorated and the town council has been told that, just six years later, £10,000 is now needed to clean the horse. English Heritage say they do not have the funds or resources to clean the horse again so soon.
With a desire to see the horse clean for the Diamond Jubilee, it has fallen to the town council to arrange and find funding for the project.

“Natural weathering”

The White Horse News asked English Heritage to explain why the £20,000 facelift has not stopped the state of the horse from deteriorating so quickly, and was told that this is down to “natural weathering.” The White Horse News also asked why £10,000 was needed to clean the horse, and how long this could be expected to last for.
Stuart Maughan, English Heritage property manager for Stonehenge, Old Sarum and Wiltshire, said, “The Westbury White Horse is a historic and special landmark. It is also a site of Special Scientific Interest which, coupled with its size and age, creates a challenge for its maintenance that requires a certain methodology and a special type of paint. English Heritage continually monitors its condition and regularly removes graffiti from it. We repainted it in 2006 at a cost of £20,000.
“The White Horse is not at risk of serious damage or disrepair but since 2006, natural weathering has affected the site. English Heritage cares for over 100 historic sites in the South West alone and, therefore, funding is limited. We are delighted that Westbury Town Council has offered to raise funds to repaint the White Horse. We are working closely with them to share our expertise to ensure this much-loved local landmark is continually cared for.”