I accompanied a friend and her dog on a walk around Black Dog Woods on the outskirts of Westbury this afternoon. The woods got this name because around 300 years ago there were two local men both rivals for the affections of a young maid of the parish. They decided to fight a duel in the woods to see who would win her hand in marriage. One of the suitors was slain by his rival. His pet dog was so enraged to see his master killed that he attacked the victor and mauled him to death. When the young lady learned of this tragic outcome, she was so distraught she also took her own life. It is said that the ghost of the black dog haunts the woods to this day. I must say that this particular walk does have a quite lonesome eerie atmosphere, especially on a cold January afternoon. I was glad to have a companion with me, although I appreciated the exercise and the fresh air.
No comments:
Post a Comment