Jon Woolcott - The Tattooed Hills

About

The Bookery is delighted to welcome Jon Woolcotton Thursday 7 May at 7pm for an evening exploring the mysteries, histories and enduring imaginings of Britains chalk landscapes. Jon will introduce his new book The Tattooed Hills: Journeys to Chalk Figures, a captivating blend of travel writing and cultural history that uncovers the stories behind the striking white horses, giants, crosses and other remarkable carvings etched across southern England.

Drawing on folklore, archaeology, art, music and the shifting meanings we inscribe on the land, Jons book traces how these figuressome ancient, some surprisingly recenthave shaped local identity, stirred collective imagination and reflected the changing values of the communities around them. From Iron Age hillforts to regimental carvings, from the Cerne Abbas Giant to the Westbury White Horse and the curious lost panda, The Tattooed Hills reveals a landscape alive with stories, contradictions and unexpected connections.
A captivating exploration of landscape, culture and belonging, The Tattooed Hills reveals how the chalk beneath our feet connects us to our past and continues to shape who we are today.

'Woolcott is the most splendid company on this intoxicating, immaculately researched tour of chalky weirdness. He has a keen ear for the murmuring voice of Deep England, and the wisdom to know that the more one knows about a place or a person, the more profound the mystery.' Charles Foster, author of The Edges of the World, Being Human and Being A Beast

This event offers audiences the chance to journey with Jon through these chalklands, hearing the anecdotes, discoveries and surprising histories that underpin the books rich sense of place. The evening will include an audience Q&A, followed by a book signing and opportunity to meet Jon.

Jon Woolcottis a writer from Dorset whose work has appeared in The Observer, Slightly Foxed, Caught by the River, and The Clearing, and he writes regularly for The Guardian. His previous book, Real Dorset, was published in 2023, and he is also the editor of Going to Ground, an anthology of writing about nature and place. Jon works with independent publisher Little Toller Books, and his writing is sparked by a deep interest in how landscape shapes who we are.
Ysella Sims is a writer, poet and performer whose work explores identity, belonging and our relationship to place. Her work has appeared in The Guardian, The Clearing, Caught by the River, Spelt, Ink Sweat & Tears and The Blue Nib where she was a contributing editor. Ysella is currently developing an Arts Council England-funded project exploring migration, colonial legacies and family heritage - asking what it means to belong, who gets to stay, and what we leave behind when we're uprooted from a place.

This event forms part of The Bookerys vibrant programme of author and community events, proudly supporting the National Year of Reading 2026.