TWO OLD INNS IN THE VALE OF WHITE HORSE 
NUMBER THREE OF OI.D ENGLISH INNS, 
INTERESTING TO TRAVELERS IN SEARCH OF THE QUA I NT AND PICTURESQUE 
By Edward W. Gregory 
O NE of the most remarkable Saxon relics 
in existence has looked down for a 
thousand years upon the quiet little Berk¬ 
shire village in which “The Craven Arms” and 
the White Elorse Inn are situated. This curi¬ 
ous monument is cut deep in the side of a 
chalk hill and takes the form of a galloping 
horse. It can be seen at a distance of many 
miles quite distinctly on a fine day. The 
whole of the peaceful valley sleeping under 
the shadow of the downs has been the scene 
of scores of battles between Saxon and Dane; 
and plowboys whistling to their teams even 
today occasionally kick their heavy boots 
against ancient weapons which have touched 
leather before in sterner conflict. 
If you spend a morning in climbing White 
H orse Hill, besides the sweeping view you 
will obtain of undulating country dotted 
with old English homesteads and farms, a 
number of points of interest will be pointed 
out which will carry your mind back to the 
very font of the English-speaking races. 
There lies Ashenden (now Ashdown Park), 
the spot celebrated in history for King Alfred 
the Great’s memorable'defeat of the Danes 
in the year 871. You are actually standing 
upon an old Danish encampment, called 
Uffington Castle. A glance will reveal the 
fortifications and the inner and outer earth¬ 
works. Here the Danish host made its 
preparations before descending into the val¬ 
ley to attack Alfred and Ethelred. Legend 
and history get closely intermingled when 
searching out facts about a strange people 
like the Saxons of Alfred’s time. Here, for 
instance, just below you is unquestionable 
evidence of some long forgotten excavations 
in the hillside. There is a deep gully called 
the “ Manger,” and at the other side of it 
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