The Long Man of Wilmington

The Long Man is situated at Grid ref TQ 542 034, six miles NW of Eastbourne. It is approached from the A27 two miles W of the junction with the A22 (A2270) at Polegate, ten miles east of Lewes in Sussex, England.

The first known reference to the Long Man is a drawing made in 1710 by John Rowley. However OSL dating carried out by the University of Reading gives a construction date of around 1545.

In 1874 the chalk outline (approx 230 ft) was replaced by yellow bricks which were replaced by concrete blocks in 1969 (but not to exactly the same outline). It is thought that the feet (which now point to the left) originally pointed downwards - probably changed during a restoration. Surveys using soil resistivity measurements suggest that one of the figure's poles was originally a rake, the other a scythe, and that he wore a head plume or helmet.

Roman coins bearing a similar figure suggest that the Long Man may be from the 4th century AD. Some claim that he is similar to a helmeted figure found on Anglo-Saxon ornaments.

While some of Britain's hill figures (especially the White Horses and Fovant military emblems of Wiltshire) are modern, the more bizarre figures such as the Long Man of Wilmington and the Cerne Abbas Giant are exceedingly old, and defy all attempts to interpret their origins and purpose.

The Long Man is clearly visible from the lane, and can be visited by following the signposted track across the fields. However the very best way to see hill figures is from the air.

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