HeroHidden
The Berkshire Lady
Wed me or fight me, sir. Choose.
Private, don't visit
- What's there
- Golf course in former deer park
- Legend from
- Ballad / local romance
- Tone
- Light-hearted
A masked heiress, a drawn sword, and a choice: fight me or marry me.
Royal Berkshire History tells the story of the Berkshire Lady. In 1707 a London lawyer, Benjamin Child, went to a society wedding in Reading hoping to find a rich wife. A masked young woman later challenged him to fight her with swords or marry her at once. He chose marriage, was taken to St Mary's in Reading, and then driven to a great house in a deer park, where he was left waiting. The bride turned out to be the heiress Frances Kendrick of Calcot Park. The tale was made into a popular ballad.
One sourceOnly one written account of this legend has been found so far.