Historic Chalk Figure Defaced with St. George's Cross

In a concerning incident, the historic Westbury White Horse, a 180ft chalk figure carved into the landscape in Wiltshire, has been targeted with a red fabric cross. According to English Heritage, the fabric was pinned across the landmark, forming a St. George's cross.

The organization has confirmed that they will be removing the fabric as soon as possible and examining the site to determine if any damage has been caused by the pegs used to attach the cross. The Westbury White Horse, which is believed to have been created in the late 1600s, is a much-loved historic landmark visible for miles around.

The motive behind this act of vandalism remains unclear, though there has been an online campaign involving the flying of Union and St. George's cross flags in recent times. While some have celebrated this, others have claimed it is a result of xenophobia or racism.

Wiltshire Police have stated that no criminal offenses are suspected, and they are not investigating the incident. Westbury Town Council has also been made aware of the situation and is working with English Heritage to address the issue.

This is not the first time the Westbury White Horse has been the target of such an act. In 2018, red plastic was used to transform the landmark into an England flag, which was subsequently removed by English Heritage.