as proud as peacocks

The story goes that in 1704 a gentleman of the parish asked the hand in marriage of one lady and she refused. So he asked her sister who also refused. so spurned in love he commissioned the cutting of these two yew trees into peacocks to remind the parishioners that these two spinsters were too proud and haughty to marry him. The trees were recut in the 1800's and again in 1990 and are kept trim today.


Bedfont was an important village for many years. It was on the main route from London to ascot and during Ascot race week a fairground settled on the green to provide amusement for the race going gentry to celebrate ,or not, their winnings at the races. A tradition that is still in existence.

The truth could be that the estate opposite the church. David henry waring. kept pea-hens and peacocks.

a poem was written about the peacocks. if you want to trawl through it I have added a link poem