The Long Man of Wilmington
April 21, 2009 by Bird
Filed under Blog, Good Stuff, Hikes And Walks, On My Travels, Spring
A misty spring morning a couple of weekends ago saw a group of us set out to explore the Long Man of Wilmington. At the start of our walk, in a valley buried in cloud and noisy with birdsong we couldn’t quite believe we would see anything, but as we climbed the haze lifted to give us one of our first truly glorious spring days and a vast panorama dissolving into the horizon.
On the approach to Windover Hill we chose to first climb the ridge to the top, thus hiding the Long Man from our view until we had picnicked at the top and made our descent. Spurred on by the exhilarating song flight of skylarks, buffeted by chilly winds and squinting in harsh sunshine we gained the top of the ridge, sank down into the stubbly grass and unpacked our goodies. Our bellies did very well for themselves, but perched on the precarious ridge with our legs braced against the drop we also feasted on this…
I’ve walked in higher places but this still felt like the top of the world. Where we sat and gobbled our food it was possible to steal a glance at the giant inscribed on the hillside just below our feet, but he’s so huge (and designed to be seen from below) that we could not make much sense of what we saw. Once we’d eaten it was time to go and inspect our enigmatic friend.
It seems no-one can agree on much where the Long man is concerned; although he looks ancient there are many who believe him to be a relatively modern creation. There is controversy over whether his outline was changed during a restoration attempt, and whether he is a war god wielding weapons or a man standing in a doorway. Even up close he is not as he seems; as we descended the hill and approached the white outlines which we had assumed were scratched directly into the chalk hillside they resolved into a kind of narrow stone pavement laid into the turf.
Whoever made him, he was designed to be seen from below and at a distance, and this is the best way to look at him and make your own mind up. He is an astonishingly powerful presence even if, as we agreed, it did look as if someone had botched up his feet a bit. I couldn’t see the war god in him at all, preferring the interpretation of someone standing at an entrance, hands on either side as if flinging open a set of doors, paused before entering or emerging. Of course no-one really has a clue or ever will, and therein lies the Long Man’s true secret… he makes you see what you want to see, we are all free to interpret him as we wish.
At a distance the sinuous curves of Windover Hill took on the aspect of a sleeping woman, curled up on her side. “He’s being born!” D exclaimed, and once he’d said that we could all see it too.
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Oh Bird! This is so cool! I love this kind of stuff. I tend to think (and hope that) this is a depiction of a being entering our world from another.
My silly side says he’s ready to ski down that hill, but has forgotten his skis. Hey wait, all my sides are silly!
)
Beautiful pics…the panoramic view is just gorgeous!
I just snorted my tea out through my nose – he does look like he’s forgotten his skis! I can’t believe that none of us noticed it on the day!
I also like the idea that he’s emerging in to our world perhaps? I like to think of him stepping out of the side of the hill on midsummer night with all the stars shining…
Hi Bird ~ He doesn’t look like a war god to me either. More like a gatekeeper. I think your Wikipedia link is most interesting…there is is a gatekeeper to the world of Faerie.
It sound a wonderful day you all had.
henry
It was lovely Henry, and when I get the chance I want to learn more about the subject. I like the idea of a gatekeeper.
So cool! I’ve got to get across the pond one of these days…
The Long Man will be waiting for you if you do
Hi you beautiful little Birdie!!
I’ve missed you and seeing what you are up to. I’ve had little time for blogging due to work, but had to drop in. These photos are SO lush and green. It’s lovely there. Looks much like Maine where I grew up.
The Long Man looks more like a gatekeeper to me as if he stood in the portal between two words. A reminder of some other world/reality. This is fascinating. I would LOVE to see this someday. I find things like this very intriguing. It’s why I love the many many petroglyphs here in New Mexico. But this one is especially potent as it is so big. I can’t get over how it feels like an invitation to another world. OR maybe he guarding one world or the other. Fascinating post.
I’m sending you lots of hugs and love,
Robin
Lovely to see you Robin! I’m in the same boat when it comes to blogging, feels like there isn’t enough time in the day right now. It’s funny how busy not having a conventional job can make you
I’m coming over to your place for a visit some time next week when I can get a bit of real time to sit down and absorb what I’m reading instead of just skimming, which is what would happen if I came to read today 
The Long Man was truly fascinating, such a powerful presence. I like to fantasise that at night when no one is around he really DOES step out from that portal and soothes his hot feet in the cool wheat fields. And when the crop is ripe, he wears a garland of it on his head… one night he’ll forget to remove it and and we’ll be able to see it on his head the next day