A SINGULAR REVENGE.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 2280, 29 September 1899, Page 5

A SINGULAR REVENGE.

Some curiously-shaped trees may be seen in the Bedfont Churchyard, which is close to the highway between Hounslow and Staine9. Two large and exceedingly old yew trees have been brimmed to resemble peacock?. They bear upon them the date '• 1704," and the initials of the churchwardens who held office when these curious ornaments were first outlined. The trees are regularly trimmed, and are objects of much wonder and -peculation to the people who pass along the highway. Local tradition says that they originated in a desire to east ridicule upon two handsome hut exceedingly proud and reserved ladies who lived m the neighbourhood. An estimable and wealthy man who resided at Bedfont offered his hand in marriage to the sisters in turn, but his matrimonial advances met with no corresponding response. He was rejected by each lady, and mortified beyond measure, he resolved to publish their anogance and pride to the world. The sisters were in the habit of attending Ihe village church, and he chose a curious but ctuel method of revenge. He had trie venerable yew trees in front of the church cut to resemble peacocks, and when asked the reason for this strange proceeding, he proclaimed that they were intended to tep resent the two sisters, who were "as proud as peacocks." Such a novel revenge had the result which the disappointed lover hcped to accomplish. The ladies refused to attend the cliurcii.