About the Whitehorse

High on a hill overlooking Weymouth Bay is a carving of King George III riding his favourite charger Adonis. The figure was carved out of the hillside in 1808 in honour of the King’s many visits to the locality, and it is the presence of the royal rider that makes this figure unique amongst its kind across the United Kingdom.

Unfortunately, due to ill health, the King was unable to return to Weymouth ever again, and consequently never saw this mark of loyalty by his subjects.

The carving which is 280 feet long and 320 feet high took three months to complete. It was carried out by a group of local people working under the technical guidance of James Hamilton, a local architect who had also designed the plinth on which the King’s Statue on Weymouth seafront stands.

It is believed that this initiative was led by two local worthies, James Wood, who owned the land on which the horse was carved, and John Ranier brother of Admiral Ranier. It was John Ranier who paid for the project.