Cantiaci Hillfigures The Folkestone Horse
To start with the youngest... Kent, despite its equine symbol, never actually had a White Horse of its own.
This strange omission has now been rectified, thanks to an idea first mooted in 1998 as a Millenium project. Designed by the artist Charles Newington, the Horse galloped into trouble from the start.
The hillside upon which it stands is a Site of Special Scientifc Interest, so English Nature objected to the idea immediately. Even the EU vetoed the construction. However, the Government firmly stated that no laws were being broken and so, after a few years of legal wrangling, construction finally began in 2003.
The Horse was built by Gurkas stationed in the area. Trenches were dug, and slabs of chalk and limestone pinned into the trenches to create an outline which will endure. Building work took about two weeks. The figure is 100 yards long, and can best be seen from the Tesco car park off the M20 Junction 12.
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