Betty Mundy's Bottom is a wooded valley in the South Downs of Hampshire.

Betty Mundy's Bottom is the valley to the right of the picture

There are various folk tales about the name, dating back centuries. One theory is that it is from the Latin beati mundae, meaning the most beautiful place in the world. Another has it that Betty Mundy lived in a cottage there and that she would waylay discharged sailors walking along the Sailor's Lane, murdering them for their wages or leading them to a press gang. Other stories are that she was a witch or fairy that would curse or trick people.[1][2][3]

In 1941, there was building work to renovate two cottages owned by Major Pelly.[4] In 2012, a substantial country house known as Mundy's House was rebuilt there.[2]

References

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  1. ^ Vanessa Harvey (2018), "Are you familiar with Betty Mundy's Bottom?" (PDF), Downland Thymes
  2. ^ a b Mundy's Haunted Past, K2, 30 May 2013
  3. ^ Michael O'Leary (2011), Hampshire and Isle of Wight Folk Tales, History Press, pp. 61–65, ISBN 9780752477541
  4. ^ Betty Mundy's Bottom, Preshaw, Exton, National Archives, 1941

50°59′48″N 1°10′26″W / 50.99679947°N 1.17394469°W / 50.99679947; -1.17394469