Broad Town White Horse

One of eight canonical hill figures in Wiltshire depicting a white horse, it is carved into a 45° slope above Little Town Farmhouse and is visible for 20 miles.

The horse is 80 by 60 feet (24 by 18 m) in size and composed of fine compacted chalk with well defined edges.

Simmonds claimed later that it had been his intention to enlarge the horse gradually over the years, but he had to give up the farm and so did not have the opportunity.

"[10] Barry Leighton of the Swindon Advertiser similarly claimed: "Broad Town could have laid a decent claim to being the most enigmatic of our magnificent mares – largely because you had to be quick just to catch a glimpse of her – flitting in and out as she does from behind bushes and trees along the Wootton Bassett to Marlborough B40[4]1.

[9] "We have been spared the sight of a very distorted figure with a short neck and thick legs," Smith wrote.

"[11] During World War II, the horse was successfully camouflaged to avoid the attention of the German air force; this was achieved with hedge trimmings that were covered with turf and soil.

"[7] Following a Village Appraisal in early 1991, over 90% of Broad Town's inhabitants showed a readiness to support the restoration and cleaning of the white horse.

"[3] The horse is trimmed and weeded twice a year to ensure that the outline and shape of the figure is retained.

[12] A recent scouring of the horse took place on 14 and 15 June 2014, led by Bob Clarke, a local archaeologist.