White Mark Myth Debunked?

Hedley Thorne sets out to test a long-established local story about the mysterious Watlington Hill White Mark. Is there any truth in this tale - or is Hedley going to debunk it? Watch this, to find out.
Like all chalk hill carvings, the tales have grown over the years and the actual origin of the White Mark on Watlington Hill in the Chilterns, has become clouded. Watlington is an historic market town at the foot of the Chiltern escarpment - close to the historic ridgeway - often referred to (probably wrongly) as Britain's oldest road.
Other chalk hill carvings in the Chilterns include Whiteleaf Cross above Princes Risborough, and the now lost, Bledlow Cross. So, how does the White Mark of Watlington Hill fit into this scene and just what is Hedley going to discover with his massive drone, Alfred?
Hedley's channels:
‪@hedleythorne‬
‪@wessexways‬
Featuring the voice of James Thorne:
‪@James_Thorne‬
#hedleythorne #watlington #watlingtonwhitemark #watlingtonhill #whitemark #edwardhorne #stleonards #cuttmill #theglebe
Credits (Where due)
WC21 (UK) Productions Ltd theme tune: Keygenerator - Freesound
Roman Gazette theme tune: 8-bit Win - Velda - Epidemic Sound
For Serious Rambling Hikers & Scramblers theme tune: 514178 danlucas - Freesound
Compendium of Curiosities: Underbelly - Epidemic Sound
Coastal Catalogue theme tune: Just Like Magic - Epidemic Sound
The Time Tunnel theme tune: Micro - Epidemic Sound
The Almanac theme tune: Rush - DJI Mimo
All other music: Epidemic Sound
Main “Broadcaster”: Darren Spratt
Cameras
DJI Pocket 3 Creator Combo
GoPro Hero 12 Creator Edition
DJI Pocket 2 Creator Combo
HoverAir X1
iPhone 13 / DJI Osmo 6

[@hedleythorne]

I had the most fun writing this and especially working with Darren. I will look back on this fondly once he has gone off ti the BBC or something!

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Thanks Hedley and me too. I will never defect to one of those mainstream media mainstays! Well, depends what the financial offer was, I guess!

[@PaulTimlett]

Extremely disappointed to learn that you actually scripted this.

[@hedleythorne]

@@PaulTimlett all but the last few minutes as we didn't know the outcome!

[@hainanbob6144]

"I should have just brought a bloody tripod!| Loved it.

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Thank you Hainan - it was fun making this with Hedley. Hopefully the first of many!

[@hedleythorne]

@@WC21UKProductionsLtd hear hear!

[@chrish5319]

That was fun. Please do more of these. Your grip sounded a bit truculent at the end, perhaps a chocolate easter egg sweetener ?

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Thanks Chris! We had fun making this “pilot”! Hopefully more to follow.

[@davidberlanny3308]

Hi Darren and Hedley, so many unanswered questions.... Did Hedley's son get his pocket money? did you all go to McDonald's? Will there be another chance to see the furious Hedley resolve this investigation? All jesting aside it just goes to show how easy it is for a story to be misheard or misinterpreted and then taken as fact elsewhere. It seems strange that the manor is clearly not aligned at all, a quick glance at the map shows this. Be great if you can get access to see the alignment. Lets hope so. I'm sure there are plenty more mysteries for Hedley to investigate a great pilot episode!! Great video, very funny ending. All the best!!

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Cheers David! You’ll have to ask the boss about the pocket money and McDonald’s - but I suspect he gave in! Thank you for the encouragement on this pilot - I think it’s got legs.

[@hedleythorne]

I have one or two more in mind, I will discuss with Mr WC21UKProductionsLimited

[@MattMesserPics]

As someone down there wrote: These are getting better and better. Couldn't agree more! Cheers, Mate!

[@hedleythorne]

Darren is TV material in my opinion!

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Thank you Matt - very much appreciated! This was fun to make!

[@pwhitewick]

Cracking story well told gents. Loved it.

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Thank you Paul! It was fun making this and I think we did work out the likely place where that optical illusion works. In the end!

[@hedleythorne]

Really enjoyed it

[@nonsequitor]

I salute your dedication to the hallowed Mythbusters methodology: see if it's possible, and if not, see what you have to do to re-create the myth.... outstanding. You've more than "earned" another subscription 🙌🙏👌

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Thank you very much - much appreciated and welcome!

[@hedleythorne]

Thank you

[@tasmania1111]

Another excellent collab. Having also lived in Watlington, this was very informative and brought back fond memories. Thanks guys!

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Thank you Tasmania! All the best people used to live in Watlington!

[@hedleythorne]

Thank you so much

[@alexhajnal107]

It's clearly where the photomosaic images didn't quite overlap. For decades cartographers will be pleading with their local mapping agency to *please* take a plane up and get a photo of the spot.

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Yes. I think it aligns from the ground, somewhere in the proximity of the current Glebe Farm. Thank you.

[@AmblingMan]

so, if you sat at the bottom of the white mark with a telescope and looked across the top of the church tower would you be looking directly into someone's bedroom window?

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

I suspect you would in 1764! The current Glebe Farm looks to be an early 20th century build. Looking at the 1880s’ OS, it was a different shaped building - probably the one the vicar knew. Possibly the alignment is achieved at ground level in the garden. We need to get in there! Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@railnut9133]

Why not fly the drone so that top of church tower lines up with bottom of triangle and see what’s under drone location?

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

I think that is what we need to do in the follow up. Thank you.

[@sUASNews]

I've been there! Watching to find out right now. Enjoy egg day all.

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

It’s a great place. Hope you enjoy the video and Happy Easter to you!

[@philcollinson328]

Go for it Hedley, start a channel. Another fun vid. I look forward to these releases every Sunday. Personally, it struck me that said hill was merely displaying an exclamation mark of surprise at having Darren and Hedley rampaging across it. 🤣

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

It might well have been that! Thank you Phil, really appreciate your encouragement. We all need to badger Hedley to go for it!

[@hedleythorne]

Ooh I have a channel! But the latest video is this one

[@philcollinson328]

@@hedleythorne My apologies sir. Add a link please.

[@hedleythorne]

@@philcollinson328 thank you so much! I am here...youtube.com/@hedleythorne?si=W3_TOoXr_VHlbAMN

[@keithm603]

The quality of these vids just keeps going up and up.

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Thank you Keith - that’s very nice of to say that! Thank you!

[@hedleythorne]

Darren should be on the BBC I think.

[@keithm603]

@@hedleythorneYou, Darren and Paul could become the TopGear presenters of antiquity.

[@hedleythorne]

@@keithm603 oooh yes!! "Born to be Mild"

[@stuartbridger5177]

Nice one, interesting subject with some great humour mixed in.

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Thank you Stuart - glad you enjoyed it. It was interesting trying to work out how the alignment could work. Need to get permission to access that farm!

[@tweedyoutdoors]

Bravo chaps! This really does feel like a new discovery and no doubt a lot of work went into this. Was that an allusion to Columbo at the end with "Wait there's one more thing?" I look forward to more Hedley Thorne Investigates!

[@hedleythorne]

Ah now the "one more thing" was more of a nod towards Steve Jobs! Thoroughly loved filming this.

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Thanks Tweedy! Hopefully the owners of Glebe Farm are subscribers and we’ll get an invite onto their land to test Hedley’s vicar’s tea party theory! This a bit of a pilot for Hedley Thorne Investigates. If it does well we might get a full season!

[@barryconway]

There is a property somewhat North of Watlington that is well known amongst the flying fraternity for not being overly keen on things flying over their property (taps side of nose knowingly). No names, no court cases. Do your own due diligence (o;

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

@barryconway oops - did we go there? However, I’m not sure they have any rights to enforce a flight ban? Thanks for watching.

[@barryconway]

⁠@@WC21UKProductionsLtddid you go there? couldn't say! and as for enforcing a "flight ban" Hedley Thorne's your man on that! Bear in mind there's rules, regulations, and... right-oh, message received and understood (o;

[@tamasmogyorosi]

Just another hat in a church. (Fear, loathing and salvation in Watlington Hill. Brilliant collaboration again. Thanks.)

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Thank you! I realised my faux pas after the event. Again. I do apologise. Glad you enjoyed the collaboration!

[@jenniferharrison4319]

Great collaboration. Mystery solved maybe 🤔

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Thank you! I think we need to get into the garden of Glebe Farm to find out once and for all!

[@paulmurgatroyd6372]

It's an odd symbol: a thin arrow with a horizontal line below it. Does it resemble any kind of old fashioned map symbols or land markers?

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

It is. I’ve wondered about that line below it. Possibly an estate marker that was in use at the time and now it’s the only one left. That’s a very good question - thank you.

[@joedittman5360]

Thank you for enhancing my leisurely relaxing late evening excretion.

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Our pleasure - glad it helped! Thanks for watching!

[@DomingoDeSantaClara]

Looks like an exclamation mark to me. Watlington! 😊

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Yes it does! Signalling to people far away that Watlington is the place to be!

[@davidneal6920]

Cool video. LiDAR must be a great asset to your historical investigations 🇬🇧 🇳🇿

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Thanks David! Glad you enjoyed to video. Yes, LiDAR is a real asset to amateur KZbin antiquarians - we’d struggle without it.

[@starshipwonaprize-dronevideos]

Very entertaining!

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Thank you Starship! Much appreciated and glad you enjoyed it.

[@steveb1972]

Lol you guys are a great double act!🤣

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Thank you kindly! Hopefully the first of many!

[@liberty_and_justice67]

So much fun!

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Thank you - we had fun making it too!

[@liberty_and_justice67]

@@WC21UKProductionsLtd Looking forward to “super powers” once you hit 100K subscribers, like Paul Whitewick👍

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Me too! 10 years, I reckon!

[@TheGlassman63]

Very surprised to see you wearing a hat in church !

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Yes, that was a mistake, for which I apologise. I’m not a believer, but didn’t mean to disrespect those who are.

[@mark450]

If this had been in America the answer would have been simple..... an alien landing strip!

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Ha! Yes, I guess it would! Thank you for watching.

[@DeeFPV]

the White Mark on Watlington Hil mabey more for the Chalgrove Airfield and it lines up with the runway as well and may of been placed on the hill for aircraft navigation before gps navigation was a thing

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Thanks. We did consider a site near there - the Manor House that’s mentioned in accounts of the Battle of Chalgrove Field. For the spire illusion to work - it has to be nearer to Watlington. You raise an interesting alternative there. We may do a follow up!

[@Richnineteenseventyone]

Thats an excellent spot for a defensive castle or building. Makes me wonder if there was occupation there at some point in the distant past that path may be linked to.

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Hi Rich, it’s funny you should mention that. There is a cross ditch running above the white mark, and I’ve previously explored the other side of the hill where there are extensive earthworks. Maybe another video in this location!

[@Richnineteenseventyone]

@@WC21UKProductionsLtd like i said thats a perfect location for a castle, fort and or protected enclosure. High ground is where these are situated mostly. Will look forward to your findings. I would love to metal detect that. Theres bound to be occupational evidence.

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

@@Richnineteenseventyone yes and to my knowledge, no one’s ever really looked at it properly. National Trust owned - I imagine they’re tough on metal detecting?

[@Richnineteenseventyone]

@@WC21UKProductionsLtd well, detecting is a great way to discover things. I dare bet theres loads going on... In, on and around that hill..

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

@@Richnineteenseventyone I once had the fortune of meeting a detectorist whilst out filming and he had found a Roman dragon broach. You can see it in the video: Doorstep Roman Archaeology.

[@clangerbasher]

I tell you one thing, it is pointing the wrong way. Don't ask how I know...........👽

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Thanks clangerbasher - you’ve got me intrigued there with the little alien!

[@Devils-advocate78]

This is why you should always have a Quick Look in the mirror before you start filming yourself in hd 🙈

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Ha! Wouldn’t be the first time. I once smeared snot all over my face on camera and didn’t even notice until it was too late!

[@smallsleepyrascalcat]

Here too: you two together is just 🤌 And of course, I love Darren's outfit as well.

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Thank you kindly. On both counts!