Long Man of Wilmington
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The Long Man of Wilmington is a hill figure located in Wilmington, East Sussex, England on the steep slopes of Windover Hill, 9.6 kilometres (6 mi) northwest of Eastbourne. The Long Man is 69.2 metres (227 ft) tall and designed to look in proportion when viewed from below.
The Long Man is one of two 'main' human hill figures in England; the other is the Cerne Abbas giant, north of Dorchester. It is a Scheduled Ancient Monument. There are four human hill figures in England that are not just considered 'giants', however, which also include King George III riding the Osmington White Horse and the man in the Royal Corps. of Signals badge at Fovant.
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[edit] Origins
The origin of the Long Man remains unclear. Archaeological work done by Professor Martin Bell of the University of Reading suggests that the figure dates from the sixteenth or seventeenth century AD.[1][2]
Originally, the earliest known record was in a drawing done by William Burrell when he visited Wilmington Priory, near Windover Hill in 1766. Burrell's drawing shows the figure holding a rake and a scythe, both shorter than the staves.[3] However, in 1993, a new drawing was discovered, made by the surveyor John Rowley in 1710. This drawing suggested that the original figure was a shadow or indentation in the grass with facial features, rather than an outline of a human figure. The staffs were not depicted as a rake and scythe as was once thought, and the head was a helmet shape.
Before 1874, the Long Man was only visible after a light fall of snow in certain light conditions (such as in early morning or evening). In that year Reverend W de St Croix[4] marked out the outline with yellow bricks cemented together[5] though it is claimed that the restoration process distorted the position of the feet, and removed the Long Man's genitalia (there is no historical or archaeological evidence which supports the latter claim).[citation needed]
[edit] 20th and 21st centuries
In 1925, the site of the Long Man was given to the Sussex Archaeological Trust (now the Sussex Archaeological Society) by the Duke of Devonshire. During the Second World War it was painted green to avoid it being used as a landmark by German aircraft.
In 1993 a book, The Druid Way by Sussex author Philip Carr-Gomm, drew attention to the supposed significance of the Long Man as a sacred site for the modern world.
At dawn on May Day, the Long Man Morris Men dance at the foot of the Long Man.[6] The Long Man plays host to neo-pagan rituals on Sundays closest to the eight Pagan Festivals through the year. The maximum recorded attendance for the rituals is 112 people.[7]
On 2 July 2007, the Long Man of Wilmington was used in Trinny Woodall and Susannah Constantine's television fashion show Undress the Nation. Trinny, Susannah and 100 women gave the Long Man a temporary female form by adding pigtails, breasts and hips. ITV stated that they were given permission for the event by Sussex Archaeological Society and that they took "the utmost care... to protect this historical site".[8] The Long Man was not permanently changed or affected, according to the owners, the Sussex Archaeological Society. The stunt prompted 22 Pagans to protest during filming and the Sussex Archaeological Society, later apologised for any offence caused to any "individuals or groups" by the filming.[9] The Council of British Druid Orders claimed the stunt would "dishonour an ancient Pagan site of worship".[10]
[edit] See also
- Firle Corn
- Hill figure
- Gigantotomy
- Long Man (Wilmington, Sussex)
[edit] References
- ^ Derbyshire, David (2 October 2003). "Prehistoric Long Man is '16th century new boy'". Daily Telegraph (Telegraph Media Group). http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1443003/Prehistoric-Long-Man-is-16th-century-new-boy.html. Retrieved 8 February 2009.
- ^ British Archaeology July 2004
- ^ The Modern Antiquarian, Julian Cope, Thorsons 1998
- ^ The Unknown, Issue Jan 1986
- ^ The Modern Antiquarian, Julian Cope, Thorsons 1998
- ^ "BBC reference to the Long Man Morris Men performing at the Long Man every May Day". 29 April 2007. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/sussex/6591483.stm. Retrieved 6 January 2010.
- ^ "www.anderidagorsedd.org/". http://www.anderidagorsedd.org/.
- ^ "'We won't wear it' - Pagans Furious with Trinny and Susannah" — independent.co.uk. Retrieved 6 July 2007.
- ^ ""— Sussex Express 18/7/07
- ^ "Pagans object to Long Man filming" — news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 6 July 2007.
- Brandon-Evans, Tira (2005). "The Seer of Wilmington". Earthsongs (Sardis, British Columbia: Elder Grove Press) 9 (3). ISSN 1499-0482. http://www.faeryshaman.org/es93/es93art5.htm. Retrieved 2009-03-02.
[edit] External links
- The Long Man of Wilmington at the Sussex Archaeological Society website
- Long Man is at coordinates 50°48′36″N 0°11′17″E / 50.810°N 0.188°ECoordinates: 50°48′36″N 0°11′17″E / 50.810°N 0.188°E
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