The downlands of southern England are home to several huge images cut into the chalk hillsides and dating from prehistory to modern times. A gigantic chalk cross measuring 80ft by 72ft towers above the village of Whiteleaf in Buckinghamshire. It rests on a triangular base measuring over 300ft across and can be seen from over 30 miles away. Both the date of origin and purpose of the cross are uncertain, but the first reference to it dates from 1742 and it is the twin of another cross at the village of Bledlow. They may have marked the path of a safe trade route to London.
