HUNGERFORD ARCADE – “TYGER TYGER”

Hello Again,

 

A small point, but have you noticed how many times you see tigers when walking around the Arcade?

 

This is not to say that one of Blake’s pals will jump out on you when you pass quietly along the passages with your purchases in hand.

 

But they are there hidden away and watching you.

 

You might find them made of china or the subject of a famous painting or up to a few years ago, as a rug to be placed in front of your fire.

 

They also watch you from the books under Rafters and can be found almost anywhere.

 

 

But you feel safe, as Hungerford is the last place that you expect to attacked by a bad tempered tiger.

 

You might die of old age waiting for a train or get lost looking for a  McDonald’s, but a tiger will not get you – you are tiger safe in Hungerford whether it be in the Arcade or on the mean streets outside Costa’s.

 

These might have been the thoughts of Hannah Twynnoy (1670-1703) as she went about her duties in The White Lion in Malmsbury.

 

But Hannah was about to make history.

 

Not that she enjoyed her fifteen minutes of fame.

 

For poor Hannah had the unfortunate distinction as being the first person to be killed by a tiger in the United Kingdom.

 

Lets face it. as she emptied the chamber pots and ensured that the WiFi was ready for the guests, the last thing that was on Hannah’s mind was tigers.

 

After all, Wiltshire or even West Berkshire was not renowned for anything more dangerous than butterflies.

 

Yet she met a tiger when a passing circus stopped in the town.

 

Even then she should have been safe as the creature would have been caged.

 

But something went wrong and William’s favourite creature found freedom.

 

Unlike most of the people in the town it did not pop down to the local for a pint or take in the clothes optional day at the Abbey Garden.

 

It for some reason attacked poor Hannah which is incredibly sad.

 

Why Hannah and the Tiger found themselves in the same space is open to interpretation.  Maybe out of ignorance Hannah entered the cage or at least opened it.

 

Maybe she just wanted to stroke the magnificent creature or get it to sign her Frostie carton.

 

We will never know and history records that Hannah was sent to meet her maker on that fateful day.

 

But, she is not forgotten, as a number of Wiltshire publications record the tragic incident and I am told that Hannah is remembered on a tablet in Hullavington church which is about five miles from Malmsbury.

 

Hungerford Arcade in 2019 is as safe as Malmsbury was in 1703 and as I have noted, you are very unlikely to be attacked by a tiger in the Arcade or elsewhere in our lovely town.

 

But I warn you, when you stroll around the ancient passages in the Arcade to exercise caution and not speak ill of tigers as you never know where they might be hiding.

 

I usually finish off by saying Happy Hunting but on this occasion, I think I will remain silent.

 

Bye for Now.

Stuart Miller-Osborne