The Cockatrice

The legends of Wherwell are numerous, the best being that of the Cockatrice, of which there are several versions. Here is one.

 

A duck laid an egg in the crypt of the Abbey, which was hatched by a toad, and turned into a Cockatrice, a kind of dragon (pictured).

It grew to an enormous size and had an insatiable appetite.

 

It flew from the Abbey in search of food and many of the villagers were snatched and taken to the Abbey lair to be eaten.

 

This state of affairs could not continue and a reward of four acres of land was offered to anyone who would kill the cockatrice.

 

A man named Green polished a piece of steel until it gleamed like a mirror and lowered it down to the beast's lair. On seeing its reflection the cockatrice fought until it was exhausted, and then Green ran the beast through with a javelin and claimed his reward.

 

Today in Harewood Forest there is still an area known as "Green's Acres” where no trees grow, reputedly this is the land given to Green