In 871 a famous victory had been gained by Alfred at Reading, 4 days after King Ethelred and Alfred, his brother, fought against the whole army of Pagans at Ashdown, and it was in memory of this victory Alfred caused his men the day after the battle to cut out the White Horse, the standard of Hengist, on the hillside The name Hengist means in the ancient Saxon language "Stone Horse." "See here the Pad of Good King Alfry. Sure never was so rare a Palfry ; Tho earth his Dam, his Sire a spade. No Painter e'er a finer made ; Not Wootton on his hunting pieces Can show one such a Tit as this is" - Philalethes Rusticus. Measured 355 feet nose to tail ; 120 feet ear to hoof, and may be seen on the GWR Down Line between Uffington and Shrivenham. Copyright Tomkins and Barrett Swindon.