Outlaw
Maid Marian's Tomb
She refused a king, and he sent her poison.
Stand where it happened
- What's there
- Fragment of a priory church with an alabaster lady
- Legend from
- Medieval, King John's reign
- Tone
- Curious
Little Dunmow: legend says Maid Marian lies here, poisoned by a jealous King John.
Little Dunmow's church is all that survives of a 12th-century Augustinian priory, the founding house of the Fitzwalter family. On an altar-tomb in the north arcade lies an alabaster effigy of a lady in a sideless gown. In 1848 Lewis's Topographical Dictionary said tradition held this was Matilda Fitzwalter, 'famous in legendary story' as Robin Hood's wife or mistress. Her tale says King John desired her and had her poisoned when she refused him. Wikipedia repeats that local legend makes the priory Maid Marian's resting place. The effigy is in fact of much later date, so this tale is unlikely to be true.