Neighbour Problems? Lady Meux got a Tiger

Valerie Meux had fairly consistent relationships with her neighbours, whether in Wiltshire, Hertfordshire or London. They did not like her and she was happy to reciprocate the feeling.

And at Dauntsey, near Royal Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire, where the Meuxs had a large country house, Valerie’s ire was directed at the parson of the village church, St. James The Great, which was built on Meux land, virtually next to the house.

The quickest way from the village to the church was via a door in the estate’s wall and then along a small path from the church. Otherwise, there was a circular walk of four miles.

The vicar, understandably, preferred the shortcut. Valerie, perhaps not so understandingly, objected to it.

She had the door closed, locked and bolted. Furious and bubbling with anger, the vicar protested: ‘You can’t do that; it is a public footpath.’

Unfortunately for the vicar, he was wrong. It was not a public footpath and Valerie knew there was no right of way. But, just to make sure that the vicar was left in no doubt, she bought a tiger and had it tethered on a chain where it could guard the path. The parson had to take the long route to the church in the future.