Wicked Lady - B651, Nomansland, Hertfordshire, UK
N 51° 47.974 W 000° 17.778
30U E 686422 N 5742203
The Wicked Lady was a real person.
Waymark Code: WMATKB
Location: Eastern England, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 02/23/2011
Views: 8
Lady Kathleen Ferrers, 'the Wicked Lady of Markyate Cell' was born in 1634, at the age of 18 she took to highway robbery along Watling Street now known as the A5. Eventually she was fatally wounded attempting a robbery and made her way to her home, Markyate Cell, a mansion nearby where she died at the age of 26.
She had been married at the age of 14 to a 16 year old aristocrat. It seems that she took to highway robbery as an antidote to the boredom that she experienced in this marriage. Eventually she was wounded carrying out another of her notorious robberies and attempted to reach the safety of a secret room at Markyate cell that she used to conceal her activities.
The family, who seemed to be aware of her activity attempted to conceal the cause of death and buried her in a manner befitting her social status as a noblewoman.
Or at least this is what local legend says.......
It is said that her ghost, wearing a black cape, has been seen on Watling Street and has been blamed for three fires that severely damaged Markyate Cell.
There is a local rhyme known, "In the Cell there be a well, by the well there be a tree, under the tree the treasure be".
Name of Artist: Not known.
Date of current sign: Not known.
Date of first pub on site: Not known.
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