Thomas Hughes, the author of "Tom Brown's Schooldays", was born in the village of Uffington and wrote about the White Horse and the village. He described how the villagers cared for the White Horse by "scouring the horse" every seven years or so.

This project is investigating the relationship between the village and the White Horse. Successive generations of the village have cared for this ancient monument since its creation over 3,000 years ago.

There are two phases to this project. The first phase is gathering evidence as to how the community has cared for the White Horse over the years. This involves researching records, maps and aerial photographs. Two exhibitions at the museum are being produced from the findings of the group's research.

The second phase of the project is also establishing the origins of the village. It is doing this through community field walking, and the implementation of three investigative trenches on the site of the possible Iron Age settlement, which was possibly the original location of the village.

Two boxes of artefacts are being created, and these are being made available for handling by school children as part of an educational pack.

The White Horse is of national importance. All work is being carried out with the expert advice of the Oxford Archaeological Unit and under a Watching Brief by the County Archaeologist.