Not sure if you mean Thomas Hughes, The Scouring of the White Horse (1859)?

It was based on Hughes returning to Uffington to witness the village feast and scouring and was published after the success of Tom Brown's Schooldays, which led to it being one of those great illustrated Victorian books of that period. It is more a light adult's book than an out and out childrens' book, not sure modern kids would think much of it.

Perhaps it is some other more modern book you were thinking of?

VBB