Mormond White
Horse
Also known as Strichen White Horse
Strichen, Aberdeenshire
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Featured Location Guide |
Mormond or
Strichen white horse is the only white horse in Scotland, is constructed of
quartz on Waughton Hill which is contiguous
with Mormond Hill, overlooking Stricken. From the map it
would appear to face SW. Mormond Hill also has another hill figure, a stag cut
in 1870, also filled with quartz. The Stag
is said to be on the opposite, seaward side of the hill.
Probably best viewed from Strichen or the roads around.
The surrounding landscape is very flat, much
of it peat bog, the hill and the horse are a significant presence in the
landscape for some miles around.
The exact date of construction is unknown but is around the
late 1790's. It is 162' long by 126' high. The slope is not steep but the
design offers good views of the horse.
There are a number of different stories relating to why the
horse was cut including, two very similar,
- Cut by Captain Fraser, a relation of
the laird of Strichen whose horse was shot from under him in a Dutch battle in
1794. A Sergeant Henderson offered him his horse but he was shot dead during
this and upon his return Captain Fraser cut the horse as a memorial to him.
- The horse was "commissioned" by
Captain Fraser who succeeded to the estate in 1775. It was to be a
memorial to a selfless act that had inspired him during his service for
King and Country during the bitter years of the French Revolutionary wars.
He gathered the local populace on Mormond Hill and set them the task of
creating a horse. The horse is 164ft/50m from nose to tail and 146ft/44.5m
from head to hoof, filled with white quartz and is now a well known Buchan
landmark. While on campaign with the British Army in Holland Captain
Fraser was involved in a battle near the town of Gilzen, south of
Rotterdam. (The town is now known as Gilze). He was unfortunate to have
his horse shot from beneath him which left him vulnerable during the
fight. His faithful Sergeant, James Hutcheon, of New Pitsligo, dismounted
and offered his white horse to his captain saying, "Never mind Sir, I
shall soon find another riderless mount." Having uttered these words he
was shot dead. There was no time to mourn his loss during the heat of
battle but the memory of actions that day stayed with Captain Fraser until
his return to Strichen in 1820/1.
- Captain Fraser saw the Uffington White Horse and on his
return to Strichen he cut the horse.
- Cut in early 19th Century by the tenants of Strichen Estate to
commemorate the war horse of Lord Lovat (Scottish
gazetteer).
The Mormond Hill Stag was created 1869-70 by a Mr W. F. Cordiner
of Cortes, and decorates the east side of Mormond overlooking the village of New
Leeds on the A92. It is bigger than the horse.
On one of the highest ridges are ruins of a Hunting Lodge, built in 1779
by the same Captain Fraser. This was a two storey building with the
gamekeeper occupying the upper floor.
Read more
......
Partway up the hill between the White Horse and the Stag lies a flat
stone. It is said to have been a spot for resting coffins in distant ages
when there was no consecrated burial place at Strichen, and the dead had to
be borne over the hill to the graveyard at Rathen. Philologists translate
the farm name --Dencallie-- above which the stone lies as "the den of rest",
giving this some credence.
 Click on images on the
right to see larger versions
Top two images are of the white horse, the
bottom one shows the surface of the white horse in the foreground.
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Planning Grid
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Location: |
Mormond White Horse, Stichen, Aberdeenshire |
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Grid Reference: |
NJ 961566 |
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Getting there: |
Visible from Strichen, but see map for local
layout of lanes. |
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Access: |
No apparent footpaths to horse. There is a
track along the top of the hill. |
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Parking: |
Country roads, probably no problem |
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Facilities: |
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Things To Do,
See and Photograph: |
White horse, stag, stone circle and
interesting buildings nearby. |
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What to take: |
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Nature highlights: |
Country location |
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Address: |
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Postcode: |
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Telephone: |
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Opening times: |
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Charges: |
None |
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Photo Restrictions: |
None |
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Other Restrictions: |
None known |
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Special Needs Access: |
Unknown, but will be able to be easily seen
from the road |
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Special Needs Facilities: |
None |
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Children Facilities: |
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Dogs Allowed: |
None known |
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