Crowning glories

Standing proudly on the county’s rolling green hills, Kent’s manmade chalk landmarks have caught the eye for generations, but not everyone knows the history behind them. Dan Wright takes a look at their stories...

Wye Crown

Nestling at the foot of the North Downs, Wye lies under the crown, a huge emblem cut into the chalk hillside by students of Wye College in 1902 to commemorate the coronation of King Edward VII.

The carving - which was lit up at night to mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day last month - can be seen for miles. Its story started when Lord Abergavenny, Lord Lieutenant of Kent, called for the county to respond with lively patriotic support after it was announced the coronation of the new monarch would be on June 26, 1902.

It was suggested that on Coronation Day a ring of bonfires should line the crest of the North Downs.

In Wye, a parish meeting to decide how to mark the occasion was held in the Board School.

The college principal suggested an ambitious and permanent reminder of the occasion. It involved digging out a large design of a crown above a chalk pit to serve as a landmark for miles around. The Kentish Express of that year observed ‘one of the most suitable commemorations in the county’.

The work, contrary to the principal’s original notions, occupied a team of volunteers comprising 35 college students. It took them almost a week but the huge task was finished on time.

A few days before June 26, the King became gravely ill with appendicitis and the coronation ceremony could not be held until August. But the King asked for events planned for June to go ahead.

Not many students who had created the crown were still at Wye College when the King saw across the valley a second bonfire on the crown on July 4, 1904, which was named in his honour and illuminated. During the last 100 years, the crown has been a focal point for the celebration of other royal occasions.

At about 180ft tall, it underwent a major restoration between 1991 and 1995 and is still white-washed when it gets grubby, ensuring the bright white landmark continues to stand out.

Folkestone White Horse

The controversial Folkestone White Horse was finally completed in the summer of 2003 despite opposition from environmentalists. Originally it was hoped the figure would mark the millennium, but the plans proved divisive and were delayed by a public inquiry. Although the landmark was given planning permission by Shepway District Council, an inquiry was held as the government advisory body English Nature - now Natural England - objected. Friends of the Earth and a Welsh MP then took the case to the EU, claiming the white horse contravened European laws which sought to protect the environment. Opponents claimed the area of rare chalk grassland should have been left alone, raising fears tourists might flock to the horse and damage the flora and fauna. But in March 2002, then transport and local government secretary Stephen Byers approved the project. The following summer, the figure was completed on

An archive photo looking across to the Lenham Cross