Latest news with #CerneAbbasGiant
Telegraph
42 minutes ago
- General
- Telegraph
Cerne Abbas Giant nearly lost his manhood to a grove of trees
The Home Office once suggested concealing the famously prominent genitals of the Cerne Abbas Giant by planting trees over them. In 1932, an official wrote to the National Trust proposing ways of hiding the Giant's 35ft penis after Walter Long, a Dorset resident, complained that the 'obscenity offended Christian values'. In response, Cecil Yates, a Home Office official, wrote that perhaps trees could be planted on the Giant to hide his appendage. However, the request was dismissed as it was deemed inappropriate to tamper with a 'national monument'. The 180ft tall hillside fertility figure has survived fully intact and can be seen in all its glory to this day on a hill above Cerne Abbas, Dorset. The attempt to preserve the Giant's modesty was uncovered by Karen Heaney, a writer and local historian , who discovered a reference to the Home Office letter in a 1930s edition of Antiquity magazine while she was conducting research for a forthcoming book The Giant was created by the Anglo-Saxons in the 8th century as a tribute to their god of health Helith. It is seen as a fertility symbol because of its phallus and courting couples have been known to visit under the cover of darkness in the hope of getting pregnant. Mr Long had written to the Home Office enclosing a sketch of the Giant: 'If this sketch offends, please remember that we have the same subject, representing a giant 27,000 times life size, facing the main road from Dorchester to Sherborne... 'It is its impassioned obscenity that offends all who have the interest of the rising generation at heart, and I, we, appeal to you to make this figure conform to our Christian standards of civilisation.' The complaint was taken seriously by Mr Yates, who highlighted 'the serious charge of indecency against a prehistoric national monument'. He wrote to the National Trust: 'What does the complainant want us to do? Plant a small grove of fig trees (on measurements hardly less would suffice) in a strategic position?' After consulting with the Chief Constable of Dorset Police, the Home Office decided they could not intervene. The Home Office wrote back to Mr Long explaining: 'I am directed by the Secretary of State to say that he has caused inquiry to be made and finds that the prehistoric figure of which you complain – the Giant of Cerne – is a national monument, scheduled as such, and vested in the National Trust. 'In the circumstances the Secretary of State regrets that he cannot see his way to take any action in the matter.'
The Irish Sun
16 hours ago
- General
- The Irish Sun
Famous UK tourist attraction almost had its massive penis COVERED up after complaint that it ‘offended Christian values'
THE Home Office once suggested covering up the Cerne Abbas Giant's manhood with shrubbery. It came after a prudish member of the public complained that the The whiner claimed that two bishops and other religious leaders supported his view — and it forced the Home Office to raise the 'serious charge of indecency against a prehistoric monument' with the National Trust. But Cecil Yates, an official at the Home Office, added in a letter in 1932: 'What does the complainant want us to do? 'Plant a small grove of fig trees in a strategic position?' And in an official response to the moaning prude — a man called Walter Long, he said: 'The Secretary of State regrets that he cannot see his way to take any action in the matter.' read more on Cerne Abbas Giant It was Mr Long's pre-war complaint was uncovered by writer and local historian Karen Heaney as she carried out research for a new book on the landmark. Karen, 64, of Netherbury, said: 'It made me smile to think the Giant was controversial even back then. Most read in The Sun "The Home Office official wasn't sure what they were expected to do about it.' In 2023, The Oxford Cheese Company caused upset by BALLS UP Residents disgusted after '20ft PENIS' monument is erected - 'ruining' their town Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme - Sun Club.
The Sun
16 hours ago
- General
- The Sun
Famous UK tourist attraction almost had its massive penis COVERED up after complaint that it ‘offended Christian values'
THE Home Office once suggested covering up the Cerne Abbas Giant's manhood with shrubbery. It came after a prudish member of the public complained that the 35ft chalk penis was an 'obscenity that offended Christian values'. The whiner claimed that two bishops and other religious leaders supported his view — and it forced the Home Office to raise the 'serious charge of indecency against a prehistoric monument' with the National Trust. But Cecil Yates, an official at the Home Office, added in a letter in 1932: 'What does the complainant want us to do? 'Plant a small grove of fig trees in a strategic position?' And in an official response to the moaning prude — a man called Walter Long, he said: 'The Secretary of State regrets that he cannot see his way to take any action in the matter.' The 180ft Giant — a bald, naked man with an erection and carrying a club — is etched in chalk on a hillside in Cerne Abbas, Dorset. It was created by the Anglo-Saxons in the 8th century as a tribute to god of health Helith. Mr Long's pre-war complaint was uncovered by writer and local historian Karen Heaney as she carried out research for a new book on the landmark. Karen, 64, of Netherbury, said: 'It made me smile to think the Giant was controversial even back then. "The Home Office official wasn't sure what they were expected to do about it.' In 2023, The Oxford Cheese Company caused upset by branding a vintage cheddar range with the Giant — but covering his appendage.
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Yahoo
Quiet side street becomes talk of the town after what appeared on road
A Merseyside community has had contrasting reactions after graffiti of two penises were daubed across a road. An image of the phallic images was first shared on a community Facebook group for the town of Heswall on the Wirral earlier this week, prompting a flurry of differing responses. The ECHO was able to geolocate the image to Castle Drive near its junction with Feather Lane, a road just outside of the town centre. We have chosen to blur the pictures slightly to leave something to readers' imagination, but the full pictures were shared online. In comments on the Facebook group, some people have found the drawings to be amusing - comparing them to the famous Cerne Abbas Giant, the Olympics logo, and the Easter bunny. One commenter compared the graffiti to the work of 'W**ksy', a professional artist and surveyor who launched a campaign against potholes in Manchester by drawing images of male appendages around them. READ MORE: Mum and child attacked and verbally abused on trip to the shops READ MORE: Family in 4x4 stranded on beach 'after ignoring warning signs' While some were offended, others defended the drawings and those behind them. One person said: 'We were this age once! I'm sure all lads did the same [...] it's bloody stupid. But we all were/are. What happened to the inner child. Being a kid is way more amusing than being an adult. No harm done. They probably had a laugh doing it and have gone home.' However another strongly disagreed and said: 'If my children had done this, I'd have been furious with them and incredibly disappointed that they were so lacking in awareness.' Wirral Council, which manages the 737 miles of road in Wirral, removes graffiti on any property it owns. It will also remove racist or offensive graffiti from most private property as well as most graffiti if it can be seen from the road. The local authority was approached by the ECHO for comment who directed it towards its graffiti reporting page. As for when the graffiti could be removed, the local authority said: 'We will aim to remove racist or offensive graffiti within 24 hours of it being reported (Monday to Friday). If the graffiti cannot be removed straight away, we will try to cover it until it can be removed. 'We will aim to remove all other graffiti within 15 working days.' Information on graffiti removal and how to remove it can be found here.
