Fisherman Mike Posted April 17, 2014 Report Share Posted April 17, 2014 (edited) In response to the "would you shoot this" topic under general shooting matters I thought I would post this little story up.... There’s an old fable around these parts concerns a road side grave which is mysteriously tended each year with flowers……tis the grave of a Witch.! One story passed down through generations was of the young men of the village out coursing with dogs when one of them put up a hare from cover. The dogs gave chase and one of them got as close as to nip the Hare on the foot and draw blood which sent the other dogs into a frenzy. The chase ensued a winding route over field and hill until all sight of the beast was lost and the dogs collapsed dead, exhausted. One of the men noticed in the muddy lane, the print of hare had changed into that of a young child and on entering a nearby cottage came upon a young local girl Betty, bathing a bloodied ankle in a bowl. No one shoots Hares round this way…!!! Extract from work by local historian. June Lewis. Cirencester is very old and it has among its attractions many areas that are haunted. Many of the pubs are haunted by both humans and animals. This is not just stories either. But my favourite is not a pub but a crossroads. Just outside Cirencester is one of the "oddest" stories. I am sure that some of you are interested in the more unusual places of interest as well as any other places. Something that does not take long to visit if you are in the area yet it is a curiosity. One such place is just outside Cirencester between Cirencester and the village of Quennington in Gloucestershire. It is called Bettys Grave. No you are not visiting a graveyard but a crossroads for Betty was a witch. so she could not be buried in a churchyard. You will spot it by seeing a signpost at the crossroads and the sign Bettys Grave is literally on the post for this is where Betty was buried. The story is that Bettys grave is seldom without some form of flowers but who and why are they left there. They say it was the deddicoys but they pass by (Gypsies). No one has actually seen who has left them. Even with an all-night watch on the place. Betty was Elizabeth Bastoe. She took a bet to cut a field of hay in a day but the day was so hot and although she did the job by herself she collapsed and died on her way home. she was accused later of the cattle dying and anything that was wrong she got the blame and called a witch so she could not be buried in the church. But no one is absolutely sure who Betty was, only her name and why she is buried at this spot. In folk lore it is in fact said that she died "no less than 7 times", put to death by several means, which were suitable for a witch in the eighteenth century. Edited April 17, 2014 by Fisherman Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davyo Posted April 17, 2014 Report Share Posted April 17, 2014 Thats the story of the Easington Village witch in County Durham. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted April 17, 2014 Report Share Posted April 17, 2014 Interesting, if you believe in old wives tales. We used to have regular Hare drives some years ago, but no longer as the land in question is now grazed by sheep and the two don't get on so numbers are now nowhere like they were.. Also, the land is in a stewardship scheme so the landowner would prefer we left what few there now are. Personally I don't shoot them because I don't like the meat and they're too bloody heavy to cart about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fisherman Mike Posted April 17, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 17, 2014 Thats the story of the Easington Village witch in County Durham. Yes its similar and there are several more I know off..Easington was an old woman though and she was apparently buried in consecrated ground. I wonder if the stories were spread countywide by word of mouth like we are using the internet now. There are certainly entries in the earliest village census of migrant workers from this particular area moving to and form other counties. Interesting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harnser Posted April 17, 2014 Report Share Posted April 17, 2014 I think that's a lovely story . Harnser Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old farrier Posted April 17, 2014 Report Share Posted April 17, 2014 Hi Great story Similar one here they say witches travel as hares and one particular hare evaded being shot many times until one gun was loaded with the silver buttons from his waistcoat he shot and killed the hare and the lady witch was never seen again Great stories I don't shoot hares anymore But I once rescued a tiny Leveret from a buzzard and had it as a pet for about 4 years most endearing creature And now I like to see them All the best Of Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted April 17, 2014 Report Share Posted April 17, 2014 dont shoot hares as you have to carry em ! had jugged hare and it was toooo rich for me had hare wrapped in porc fat done over a embers from grape vine in france and it was the mutts nuts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Konnie Posted April 17, 2014 Report Share Posted April 17, 2014 spent several years controlling them for a large farming company not the highlight of my shooting portfolio but thought if its got to be done make sure its done properly, nothing worse than a wounded hare an exceptional creature love seeing them when they come past when I'm in the pigeon hide Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Therealchucknorris Posted April 17, 2014 Report Share Posted April 17, 2014 I grew up in Tetbury and Betty was nearly as popular a story as our Headless Horseman from Chavenage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
washerboy Posted April 17, 2014 Report Share Posted April 17, 2014 Don't shoot them but enjoyed coursing them,never owned a great hare dog so they were safe unless pegged in rough cover etc...all in the past sadly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malkiserow Posted April 17, 2014 Report Share Posted April 17, 2014 (edited) That looks like the junction where AckAck had a sump-on-noggin moment to a pheasant, it got up and legged it into some scrub diagonally opposite but we could not find it even thought we knew Hendersons was going to **** us for not bringing it back to the camp. I am now thinking AckAck whacked the reincarnation of Betty the Witch. That VW camper had a curse after that. Edited April 17, 2014 by malkiserow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fisherman Mike Posted April 17, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 17, 2014 I grew up in Tetbury and Betty was nearly as popular a story as our Headless Horseman from Chavenage. Chavenage....I do a bit of shooting round there on Aston Farms Estate Land... It certainly is a spooky place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fisherman Mike Posted April 17, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 17, 2014 That looks like the junction where AckAck had a sump-on-noggin moment to a pheasant, it got up and legged it into some scrub diagonally opposite but we could not find it even thought we knew Hendersons was going to **** us for not bringing it back to the camp. I am now thinking AckAck whacked the reincarnation of Betty the Witch. That VW camper had a curse after that. The locals wont walk past there after Dark some wont even drive past and will do a detour. When I was a teen I used to date a Girl in Cirencester. Didnt have a car so I went everywhere on foot or bike... I thought nothing of spending the evening in the Crown or Kings Head and ten jogging the 8 miles home it used to take me about an hour ( I was on the books at Swindon Town then and as fit as ive ever been ) When I got to Bettys Grave i used sprint past the cross roads singing "He who would valiant be" quicker than Alan Wells. ! A farmer asked me to shoot some Pigeons on the feild to the left of the picture one year...... it had just been seeded.. when I set up the hide a flock of Rooks, Crows and Daws turned up about 6 - 700 strong and just circled overhead for 30 minutes cawing before flying off in the direction of Bibury....never saw a pigeon all day.... but one solitary Hare which just sat in the middle of the feild. Is that spooky or what.! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malkiserow Posted April 18, 2014 Report Share Posted April 18, 2014 I see a hare sometimes in the fields up here, Betty certainly gets about. Probably a saga day out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mungler Posted April 18, 2014 Report Share Posted April 18, 2014 dont shoot hares as you have to carry em ! This. We have the same rule here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Therealchucknorris Posted April 19, 2014 Report Share Posted April 19, 2014 Chavenage....I do a bit of shooting round there on Aston Farms Estate Land... It certainly is a spooky place. Yep, lived down Chavenage Lane and used to go down the woods and passed the house at night. Always more than a little jumpy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
studley Posted April 21, 2014 Report Share Posted April 21, 2014 This sounds like a good evening out, I'll be sure to head over to have a look after Easter break Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.