CHALK FIGURES
There are locations on the chalk hills of southern England well known for their chalk figures. These are made, basically, by removing the grass turf and exposing the underlying white chalk rock. Just east of the town of Weymouth, Dorset above the village of Osmington is a chalk figure commemorating King George III (reigned 1760 - 1820) - a monarch particularly fond of Weymouth and a regular visitor. He purchased property in the town and it was said Weymouth became the centre of the British empire during his visits. He enjoyed the surrounding countryside and enjoyed riding "Adonis" his Hanoverian Cream charger (a breed of horse now extinct), across the hills to visit friends.
During one such ride the King noticed a lone woman working in her field. He stopped and asked her why she was not in Weymouth to see the King. She replied "someone has to stay and get on with the farm work." King George was so impressed with her attitude to work (he was nick-named "Farmer George" because of his interest in agriculture) that he gave the woman a guinea ( = a gold coin worth £1/1/- one pound and one shilling the equivalent of £1.05p today), a decent sum of money in the early 17th century. It was only then that the woman realised she was in the presence of her King.
As a tribute to the King, two local people decided in 1808 to honour him by creating an image on the hillside of him mounted on his horse. Sadly the King was taken ill and never returned to Weymouth so never saw his loyal subjects' tribute.
The figure is 85m long and 100m high and carved into the south facing hillside. During its 200yr life the figure deteriorated and became poorly defined as the surrounding vegetation encroached. In 1989 a misguided attempt to "restore" the figure by putting 160 tonnes of crushed limestone onto it made matters worse.
It is an official "ancient monument" and is unique in that the horse has a rider (the other horse carvings do not). In March 2009 volunteers restored the figure by removing the crushed limestone and cutting back the vegetation that was encroaching from the surrounding grassland.
During one such ride the King noticed a lone woman working in her field. He stopped and asked her why she was not in Weymouth to see the King. She replied "someone has to stay and get on with the farm work." King George was so impressed with her attitude to work (he was nick-named "Farmer George" because of his interest in agriculture) that he gave the woman a guinea ( = a gold coin worth £1/1/- one pound and one shilling the equivalent of £1.05p today), a decent sum of money in the early 17th century. It was only then that the woman realised she was in the presence of her King.
As a tribute to the King, two local people decided in 1808 to honour him by creating an image on the hillside of him mounted on his horse. Sadly the King was taken ill and never returned to Weymouth so never saw his loyal subjects' tribute.
The figure is 85m long and 100m high and carved into the south facing hillside. During its 200yr life the figure deteriorated and became poorly defined as the surrounding vegetation encroached. In 1989 a misguided attempt to "restore" the figure by putting 160 tonnes of crushed limestone onto it made matters worse.
It is an official "ancient monument" and is unique in that the horse has a rider (the other horse carvings do not). In March 2009 volunteers restored the figure by removing the crushed limestone and cutting back the vegetation that was encroaching from the surrounding grassland.