In 1906, a towering elm tree in Swindon Lane, Cheltenham, was felled, leaving behind only a stump. While trees are often cut down without much notice, this particular elm was no ordinary tree. Known locally as Maud’s Elm, it is steeped in legends—tales of tragedy, injustice, and the supernatural—that have echoed through the centuries.
One year after the tree’s removal, the Cheltenham Chronicle recounted the legend that had made Maud’s Elm infamous. The story centers around a tragic night near the bridge connecting Cheltenham and Swindon Village. A distressed mother, Margaret Bowen, awoke the village with her frantic screams—the village’s pride, her daughter Maud, had gone missing.
Searching through the night, villagers discovered Maud’s lifeless body in the brook, her hours in the cold water marking a grim fate. Near the bridge, the body of Maud’s uncle, Godfrey Bowen, was found clutching the handrail. His heart was pierced by an arrow, and in his other hand, he held tatters of Maud’s dress.
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In those times, local lords appointed their own coroners. After the investigation, Maud was deemed to have committed ‘felo-de-se’—a term meaning suicide—and so was denied a Christian burial, her body buried at a crossroads. This verdict also allowed the lord of Swindon Manor to evict Margaret, leaving her homeless and destitute.
Margaret, however, remained devoted, tending daily to the elm tree that sprang from the stake driven through her daughter’s heart. One day, as the lord of the manor passed with a grand procession for his firstborn’s christening, he ordered his men to remove Margaret. When one attendant tried to move her, an arrow suddenly struck him down. No archer was ever found.
Margaret was arrested, charged with murder and witchcraft. Despite scant evidence, she was swiftly convicted—under the lord’s influence—and sentenced to be burned alive at the very spot where the manor’s attendant had died.
At her execution, the lord viciously taunted Margaret, accusing her of witchcraft. Suddenly, an unseen arrow pierced him, and he collapsed, dead at her feet. The flames engulfed Margaret, the stake fell, and all that remained were smouldering ashes.
Remarkably, the elm tree thrived, growing strong for centuries until its removal in 1906. In 2025, the site at 320 Swindon Road is set to be revitalized with 24 new affordable homes, marking a fresh chapter on this land steeped in history and legend.