Bisterne
Encyclopedia
Bisterne is a hamlet in the civil parish
of Ringwood
in the New Forest
National Park in Hampshire
, England
. Its nearest town is Ringwood, which lies 3 miles to the north.
of 1086 as Betestre. It was possessed by the sons of Godric Malf in 1086, who had himself possessed it prior to 1066. The place was known as Bettesthorne in the 13th century, and gave its name to its early lords, the Bettesthorne family, who also owned lands in Minstead
. In the 15th century it passed by inheritance to the Berkeley family, and in the 16th century to the Compton family. In 1792, John Compton sold the manor to William Mills, and the manor house subsequently remained in the Mills family.
The church of Saint Paul, Bisterne, was built in 1842 of brick with stone dressings. It consists of a nave of five bays, aisles, north porch and tower with spire containing one bell.
. The local tradition is that a dragon
had his den at Burley Beacon, about 3 miles east of Bisterne, at Burley
. There are several local version of the tale. In one version, the creature "flew" every morning to Bisterne, where it would be supplied with milk
. In order to kill the dragon, a valiant man built himself a hut, and with two dogs lay in wait. The creature came as usual one morning for its milk, and when the hut door was opened the dogs attacked it, and while thus engaged, the dragon was killed by the man. The dogs were killed in the affray. The dragon slayer himself, says another version of the tale, only succeeded by covering his armour with glass.
The documentary version of this tradition is contained in the margin of a pedigree roll written prior to 1618, and preserved at Berkeley Castle
. It actually names the dragon-slayer as Sir Maurice Berkeley, lord of the manor of Bisterne in the 15th century:
The alleged scene of the fight in Bisterne is still called "Dragon Fields"; while over the front of Bisterne Manor in a carving of the Berkeley and Betteshorn arms dated 1652, the beacon and dragon may be seen. The village inn of Bisterne (closed 1873) was called the Green Dragon. Other local inns which may reflect this tradition include the Green Dragon at Brook, 11 miles to the northeast, and the Green Dragon at Alderbury
, 17 miles to the north.
It is possible the dragon had some foundation in fact, and that it was a wild beast (such as a wild boar) living in and around the New Forest
. The Bisterne Dragon is mentioned several times in the novel The Forest
by Edward Rutherfurd
.
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
of Ringwood
Ringwood
Ringwood is a historic market town and civil parish in Hampshire, England, located on the River Avon, close to the New Forest and north of Bournemouth. It has a history dating back to Anglo-Saxon times, and has held a weekly market since the Middle Ages....
in the New Forest
New Forest
The New Forest is an area of southern England which includes the largest remaining tracts of unenclosed pasture land, heathland and forest in the heavily-populated south east of England. It covers south-west Hampshire and extends into south-east Wiltshire....
National Park in Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Its nearest town is Ringwood, which lies 3 miles to the north.
History
Bisterne is listed in the Domesday BookDomesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
of 1086 as Betestre. It was possessed by the sons of Godric Malf in 1086, who had himself possessed it prior to 1066. The place was known as Bettesthorne in the 13th century, and gave its name to its early lords, the Bettesthorne family, who also owned lands in Minstead
Minstead
Minstead is a small village and civil parish in the New Forest, Hampshire, about north of Lyndhurst. There is a shop and a pub, the Trusty Servant. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's grave is under a large tree at the back of the 13th century All Saints' church.-Overview:Minstead is a small village and...
. In the 15th century it passed by inheritance to the Berkeley family, and in the 16th century to the Compton family. In 1792, John Compton sold the manor to William Mills, and the manor house subsequently remained in the Mills family.
The church of Saint Paul, Bisterne, was built in 1842 of brick with stone dressings. It consists of a nave of five bays, aisles, north porch and tower with spire containing one bell.
The Bisterne Dragon
Bisterne is notable in English folklore for being the supposed location of a dragon-slayingDragonslayers
Dragonslayers are people who slay dragons for various reasons. Dragonslayers and the creatures they hunt have been seen in many popular books and films. They also are generally portrayed as heroes. Most common among Dragonslayers would be the knights of Middle Ages fiction, who slew dragons to save...
. The local tradition is that a dragon
European dragon
European dragons are legendary creatures in folklore and mythology among the overlapping cultures of Europe.In European folklore, a dragon is a serpentine legendary creature. The Latin word draco, as in constellation Draco, comes directly from Greek δράκων,...
had his den at Burley Beacon, about 3 miles east of Bisterne, at Burley
Burley, Hampshire
Burley is a village and civil parish in the New Forest, Hampshire, England, with a wealth of tea rooms, gift shops, art galleries and a pick-your-own farm.-The village:...
. There are several local version of the tale. In one version, the creature "flew" every morning to Bisterne, where it would be supplied with milk
Milk
Milk is a white liquid produced by the mammary glands of mammals. It is the primary source of nutrition for young mammals before they are able to digest other types of food. Early-lactation milk contains colostrum, which carries the mother's antibodies to the baby and can reduce the risk of many...
. In order to kill the dragon, a valiant man built himself a hut, and with two dogs lay in wait. The creature came as usual one morning for its milk, and when the hut door was opened the dogs attacked it, and while thus engaged, the dragon was killed by the man. The dogs were killed in the affray. The dragon slayer himself, says another version of the tale, only succeeded by covering his armour with glass.
The documentary version of this tradition is contained in the margin of a pedigree roll written prior to 1618, and preserved at Berkeley Castle
Berkeley Castle
Berkeley Castle is a castle in the town of Berkeley, Gloucestershire, UK . The castle's origins date back to the 11th century and it has been designated by English Heritage as a grade I listed building.The castle has remained within the Berkeley family since they reconstructed it in the...
. It actually names the dragon-slayer as Sir Maurice Berkeley, lord of the manor of Bisterne in the 15th century:
Sir Moris Barkley the sonne of Sir John Barkley, of Beverston, beinge a man of great strength and courage, in his tyme there was bread in Hampshire neere Bistherne a devouring Dragon, who doing much mischief upon men and cattell and could not be destroyed but spoiled many in attempting it, making his den neere unto a Beacon. This Sir Moris Barkley armed himslef and encountered with it and at length overcam and killed it but died himself soone after. This is the common saying even to this day in those parts of Hampshire, and the better to approve the same his children and posterity even to this present do beare for their creast a Dragon standing before a burning beacon. Wch seemeth the rather more credible because Sir Morice Barkley did beare the Miter with this authentick seale of his armes as is heare underneath one of his owen deedes exprest bearing date ye 10 of Henry 6Henry VI of EnglandHenry VI was King of England from 1422 to 1461 and again from 1470 to 1471, and disputed King of France from 1422 to 1453. Until 1437, his realm was governed by regents. Contemporaneous accounts described him as peaceful and pious, not suited for the violent dynastic civil wars, known as the Wars...
. An Dni 1431.
The alleged scene of the fight in Bisterne is still called "Dragon Fields"; while over the front of Bisterne Manor in a carving of the Berkeley and Betteshorn arms dated 1652, the beacon and dragon may be seen. The village inn of Bisterne (closed 1873) was called the Green Dragon. Other local inns which may reflect this tradition include the Green Dragon at Brook, 11 miles to the northeast, and the Green Dragon at Alderbury
Alderbury
Alderbury & Whaddon are two small adjacent villages three miles south-east of Salisbury, Wiltshire, England with a population of about 2,000. They are bypassed by the A36 road, which links them to Southampton and Salisbury.-External links:****...
, 17 miles to the north.
It is possible the dragon had some foundation in fact, and that it was a wild beast (such as a wild boar) living in and around the New Forest
New Forest
The New Forest is an area of southern England which includes the largest remaining tracts of unenclosed pasture land, heathland and forest in the heavily-populated south east of England. It covers south-west Hampshire and extends into south-east Wiltshire....
. The Bisterne Dragon is mentioned several times in the novel The Forest
The Forest (novel)
The Forest is a historical novel by Edward Rutherfurd, published in 2000. Drawing on the success of Rutherfurd's other epic novels this went on to sell well and appeared in numbers of bestseller lists.-Plot summary:...
by Edward Rutherfurd
Edward Rutherfurd
Edward Rutherfurd is a pen name for Francis Edward Wintle known primarily as a writer of epic historical novels...
.