Queensway
Prehistoric or late-Medieval English Folk-Art?
The Cerne Abbas giant in Dorset and the Long Man of Wilmington in East Sussex
Prehistoric?–16th-17th century folk-art, Cerne Abbas, Dorset | South Downs near Alfriston, East Sussex, England.
It has always been a legend that Britain was inhabited by giants in prehistoric times.
'This giant figure is 180 feet tall, carved into a chalk hillside at Cerne Abbas in Dorset,' said Quintin. 'But the earliest record we have of it is for payment towards its re-cutting in 1694.'
'And there's another giant in southern England,' said Miranda. 'He’s carved into the chalk on the north-facing slope of the South Downs near Alfriston in Sussex. A figure of a giant striding down the hillside, holding a long stick in each hand.'
'Yes, that one was carved out of the chalk in the sixteenth century,' said Quintin. 'They did a very interesting archaeological study of it. It was shown on the TV.'
'Shows that traditions were still alive in the Elizabethan period then,' said Miranda.
'It does,' replied Quintin.
