Long Man of Wilmington
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Long Man of Wilmington is a hill figure located in Wilmington, East Sussex, England on the steep slopes of Windover Hill, 9.6 kilometres (6 mi) northwest of Eastbourne. The Long Man is 69.2 metres (227 ft) tall and designed to look in proportion when viewed from below.
The Long Man is one of two human hill figures in England; the other is the Cerne Abbas giant, north of Dorchester.
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[edit] Origins
The origin of the Long Man remains unclear. Archaeological work done by the University of Reading suggests that the figure dates from the sixteenth or seventeenth century AD.[1] Originally, the earliest record was in a drawing done by William Burrell when he visited Wilmington Priory, near Windover Hill. However, an earlier record has been found, made by the surveyor John Rowley in the year 1710. The 18th century drawing suggested that the original figure was a shadow or indentation in the grass with facial features, rather than an outline of a human figure. The staffs were not depicted as a rake and scythe as was once thought, and the head was a helmet shape. Sir William Borrow's drawing of 1766 shows the figure holding a rake and a scythe, both shorter than the staves.[2]
Before 1874, the Long Man was only visible after a light fall of snow in certain light conditions (such as in early morning or evening). In that year Reverend W de St Croix[3] marked out the outline with yellow bricks cemented together[4] though it is claimed that the restoration process distorted the position of the feet, and removed the Long Man's genitalia (there is no historical or archaeological evidence which supports the latter claim).[citation needed]
[edit] 20th and 21st centuries
In 1925, the site of the Long Man was given to the Sussex Archaeological Trust (now the Sussex Archaeological Society) by the Duke of Devonshire. During the Second World War it was painted green to avoid it being used as a landmark by German aircraft.
In 1993 a book, The Druid Way by Sussex author Philip Carr-Gomm, drew attention to the supposed significance of the Long Man as a sacred site for the modern world.
[edit] Modern users
At dawn on May Day, the Long Man Morris Men dance at the foot of the Long Man.[5]
The Long Man plays host to neo-pagan rituals on the Sunday closest to the eight Pagan Festivals through the year, the most noticeable of these being Beltaine, (May Day) and Lughnasadh (Lammas). The maximum recorded attendance for the rituals for the Wheel of the year and handfastings is 112 people.[6]
On 2 July 2007, the Long Man of Wilmington was used for Trinny Woodall and Susannah Constantine's television fashion show Undress the Nation. The stunt involved Trinny, Susannah and 100 women giving the Long Man a temporary female form by adding pigtails, breasts and hips. A statement made by ITV stated that they were given permission for the event by Sussex Archaeological Society and that they took "the utmost care... to protect this historical site".[7] The Long Man was not permanently changed or affected, according to the owners, the Sussex Archaeological Society. The stunt prompted 22 Pagans to protest at the historical site during filming and the Sussex Archaeological Society, later apologised for any offence caused to any "individuals or groups" by the filming.[8] The site is thought of as sacred by the Council of British Druid Orders, who said the stunt would "dishonour an ancient Pagan site of worship".[9] The footage was shown on 20 November 2007 on ITV.
[edit] Popular culture
The Long Man features in Neil Gaiman's The Sandman comic book series in the episode titled "A Midsummer Night's Dream". In the comic, the Long Man is named Wendel and guards a gate between the real world and the world of Faerie.
There is a reference to the Long Man in Terry Pratchett's Lords and Ladies, although only in name.
The Long Man features in two novels by Kevan Manwaring: The Long Woman and Windsmith.
The Long Man is a character in a Belgian comic strip from the series Spike and Suzy, in the album "The Circle of Power". The Long Man is an evil man of clay who helps the villains against Spike and Suzy.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Derbyshire, David (2 October 2003). "Prehistoric Long Man is '16th century new boy'". Daily Telegraph (Telegraph Media Group). http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1443003/Prehistoric-Long-Man-is-16th-century-new-boy.html. Retrieved 8 February 2009.
- ^ The Modern Antiquarian, Julian Cope, Thorsons 1998
- ^ The Unknown, Issue Jan 1986
- ^ The Modern Antiquarian, Julian Cope, Thorsons 1998
- ^ "BBC reference to the Long Man Morris Men performing at the Long Man every May Day". 29 April 2007. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/sussex/6591483.stm. Retrieved 6 January 2010.
- ^ "www.anderidagorsedd.org/". http://www.anderidagorsedd.org/.
- ^ "'We won't wear it' - Pagans Furious with Trinny and Susannah" — independent.co.uk. Retrieved 6 July 2007.
- ^ ""— Sussex Express 18/7/07
- ^ "Pagans object to Long Man filming" — news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 6 July 2007.
- Brandon-Evans, Tira (2005). "The Seer of Wilmington". Earthsongs (Sardis, British Columbia: Elder Grove Press) 9 (3). ISSN 1499-0482. http://www.faeryshaman.org/es93/es93art5.htm. Retrieved 2009-03-02.
[edit] External links
- The Long Man of Wilmington at the Sussex Archaeological Society website
- Long Man is at coordinates 50°48′36″N 0°11′17″E / 50.810°N 0.188°ECoordinates: 50°48′36″N 0°11′17″E / 50.810°N 0.188°E
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