Red fabric that had been draped over the Westbury White Horse has been removed and English Heritage said it will assess whether pegs used to secure the material caused damage to the 175ft (53m) chalk landmark.
The temporary alteration, which turned the hillside carving into a St George’s flag, was reported to English Heritage earlier and has prompted an inspection of the site. Westbury Town Council said it was aware of the incident, and Wiltshire Police said no criminal offences were thought to have been committed and the force was not investigating.
The Westbury White Horse, carved into a chalk hillside, is one of Wiltshire’s most recognisable hill figures. The horse is said to be the oldest in the county and was restored in 1778, though many local accounts suggest its origins may be older. English Heritage said teams would check whether the method used to attach the fabric had harmed the chalk surface or surrounding turf.
It was not immediately clear who placed the fabric on the monument or their motive. The alteration is not the first time the figure has been decorated in red: in 2018 red plastic was attached to the monument ahead of England’s men’s football World Cup semi-final match.
The episode comes amid a wider surge in displays of St George’s flags across England. Thousands of flags have appeared in recent months, with some supporters saying they were flown to cheer the Lionesses during the 2025 European Championship. Other groups responsible for placing flags have described their actions as expressions of pride and patriotism. At the same time, some residents and commentators have said the symbols can feel provocative while national debates over immigration and cultural identity remain sensitive.
English Heritage did not provide a timescale for its inspection but confirmed crews would act to remove anything that posed a conservation risk and would report on any damage identified. Westbury Town Council has been kept informed, and local officials said they would co-operate with any further inquiries by land managers or conservation bodies.
Wiltshire Police reiterated that, based on information currently available, it did not consider the incident to constitute a criminal offence, and no investigation was being launched. English Heritage and local authorities will decide on any remedial conservation work if the inspection finds harm to the chalk figure.