Long Man of Wilmington facts for kids
The Long Man of Wilmington
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 Location in East Sussex
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| Alternative name | Wilmington Giant |
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| Location | Windover Hill, Wilmington, East Sussex, England |
| Coordinates | 50°48′36″N 0°11′17″E / 50.810°N 0.188°E |
| Type | Hill figure monument |
| Length | 72 m (235ft) |
| History | |
| Material | Chalk |
| Founded | First recorded 1710 |
| Associated with | |
| Site notes | |
| Ownership | Sussex Archaeological Society |
| Public access | Yes |
| Designated | 1 May 1951 |
| Identifiers | |
| NHLE | 1002293 |
The Long Man of Wilmington, also known as the Wilmington Giant, is a huge figure carved into the side of Windover Hill in East Sussex, England. It is a type of artwork called a hill figure, which means it's made by cutting into the ground to show the lighter soil or rock underneath. This giant figure stands about 72 meters (235 feet) tall. It appears to hold two long poles, or "staves," one in each hand.
The Long Man is special because it was designed to look correct when you view it from far away and below. For a long time, people thought it was very ancient, perhaps from the Iron Age or even earlier. However, a study in 2003 suggested it might be much more recent, possibly from the 16th or 17th century. Today, the figure is made from white-painted blocks and mortar, not just carved chalk.
This impressive figure is one of only two large human hill figures still existing in England. The other is the Cerne Abbas Giant. Both are protected as scheduled monuments. There are other hill figures in England, like the Osmington White Horse and the Fovant Badges, but they are not human figures. In East Sussex, the Long Man shares the landscape with another hill figure, the Litlington White Horse.
Contents
The Mystery of the Long Man's Age
The exact age and reason for creating the Long Man are still a puzzle. For many years, the oldest known drawing of the figure was from 1766. This drawing showed the Long Man holding a rake and a scythe, which were shorter than the poles he holds today.
Early Discoveries and Theories
In 1993, an even older drawing was found. It was made by a surveyor named John Rowley in 1710. This drawing is the earliest proof we have that the figure existed. Some people once thought that monks from a nearby priory carved the Long Man. They believed it might represent a pilgrim. However, many historians didn't agree with this idea.
Other theories suggested the Long Man was from the Neolithic period, a very ancient time. This was partly because there was an old burial mound, called a long barrow, nearby. Some also thought it could be from the Iron Age, comparing it to other ancient hill figures. One historian, John North, even suggested it might have been used to track the Orion constellation in the sky.
Another interesting idea came from a discovery in 1964. An Anglo-Saxon buckle was found in Kent. It showed a figure, possibly the god Odin, holding two spears in a way similar to the Long Man. This led some to believe the Long Man could be from the Anglo-Saxon era. A novelist, Sheila Kaye-Smith, also suggested in 1953 that the figure might represent the god Baldr welcoming the summer sun.
Modern Research and New Ideas
In 2003, archaeologists led by Martin Bell from the University of Reading conducted a detailed study. Their research suggested that the Long Man might be much more recent than previously thought. They found evidence that the hillside was unstable during the 16th or 17th century. This suggests the figure was first carved during this "Early Modern" period.
This new finding opened up exciting possibilities. The Long Man could have been a political message or a religious symbol from the Reformation era. Historians are now looking at this figure in a whole new light.
How the Long Man Has Changed
The Long Man has not always looked exactly as it does today. For much of its history, it was more like a faint outline in the grass. It would appear as a different shade of green in summer or as a shadow after a light snowfall. This is why it was sometimes called the "Green Man."
Early Appearance and First Restoration
Older drawings, like the one from 1710, show details that are different from today. For example, one of the poles might have looked like a scythe blade. The figure might also have worn a helmet or hat. The position of its feet was also different.
The Long Man's current clear outline is mostly thanks to a "restoration" project in 1873–74. A group led by Reverend William de St Croix outlined the figure with yellow bricks. These bricks were then whitewashed and cemented together. However, some people believed this process changed the original position of the feet. They said the feet originally pointed outwards and downwards, making the Giant look like he was walking down the hill.
Later Changes and Discoveries
Surveys done in the 1990s supported these observations. They showed strong evidence that the feet had indeed pointed outwards and were slightly lower. These surveys also suggested the figure was originally made by digging trenches into the chalk.
The Long Man's size might also have changed slightly. Before 1873, it could have been a bit taller, around 75.5 meters. The replacement of the bricks with breeze blocks in 1969 also contributed to its current appearance.
The Long Man in Recent Times
The Long Man of Wilmington has been cared for by the Sussex Archaeological Society since 1925. They received the site as a gift from the Duke of Devonshire.
Protecting and Visiting the Site
During the Second World War, the figure was painted green. This was done to hide it from German aircraft, preventing it from being used as a landmark. Today, many people visit the Long Man. It is a popular spot for various activities.
For example, on May Day, the Long Man Morris Men perform traditional dances at the foot of the figure. The site is also used for neo-pagan rituals. These are traditional gatherings held on Sundays closest to eight special festivals throughout the year.
Modern Events and Temporary Alterations
In 2007, the Long Man was featured on a TV fashion show. For the show, 100 women temporarily changed the figure's appearance. They lay down in white suits to create new shapes, adding features like pigtails and hips. The owners of the site gave permission, ensuring no permanent changes were made. However, some people, including Neo-Pagans, protested the event, feeling it disrespected the site. The Sussex Archaeological Society later apologized for any offense caused.
The Long Man has also seen some temporary alterations by others. In June 2010, an inappropriate drawing was added to the figure overnight. In October 2015, protesters against fracking added the words "FRACK OFF!" above the figure using tarpaulin. These words were quickly removed. More recently, in January 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic, a face mask was painted onto the Long Man.
The Long Man's Impact on Culture
The Long Man has inspired many artists, musicians, and writers over the years. Composers Benjamin Britten and Frank Bridge often enjoyed picnics at the base of the figure.
The Long Man inspired a musical piece called On Windover Hill by Nathan James. This piece was performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in 2020. Another composer, Avril Coleridge-Taylor, wrote a work for chorus and orchestra called Wyndore in 1936, also influenced by the figure.
In literature, Arthur Beckett dedicated a chapter to the Long Man in his 1909 book, The Spirit of the Downs. He imagined a story where Saxons celebrated a victory by drawing the giant figure. The Long Man also plays an important role in a 1989 comic book story, De krachtige krans (The circle of power), from the Belgian series Suske and Wiske. More recently, in a 2022 Netflix TV series called The Sandman, the Long Man is shown as a magical portal to another world.
See also
In Spanish: Hombre Largo de Wilmington para niños
- Firle Corn
- Cerne Abbas Giant
- Hill figure
- Litlington White Horse
- Osmington White Horse
- Uffington White Horse
- Marree Man
- Fovant Badges
