Sir,—The discussion as to the significance of the “Long Man of Wilmington” is very interesting to us who live in the neighbourhood, and the variety of the views expressed is no less so. I should say, though not claiming to speak with authority, that the prevalent theory is that which considers it to be a representation of Baldyr, or Baldur, who is variously described as being another name for Odin, God of War, Odin being probably Danish. (Woden is generally taken as another form of the same name, Odin.) The suggestion, however, that Baldyr returned to life after death in winter, would be borne out if your correspondent J. L. Naimaster’s theory is correct that the sun does not shine fully on the extended arms from September 21 to March 21.
On the hill above are the remains of a large tumulus, and close by are what appear to be remains of sunken cliff dwellings, which (possibly) correspond, on chalk downs, to the hut circles of granite moors, as on Dartmoor.
The “early surveyor who was called Dodman” is a new theory to me.
May there not be some confusion in his name?
“Dodman” elsewhere means (according to Mr. Baring Gould) “projecting stone,”
from Dod or Tot (Saxon) and “man” or “maen” stone (Celtic).
Eastbourne College.H. F. MORRES.
Source info: Checked in library.