The "Killer" Cows of Honington Hall

Close encounter with the U.K.'s most dangerous beasts

While we were visiting the Cotswolds, a beautiful part of England known for its rolling hills and buildings made of golden and honey coloured stone, we stayed just outside the tiny village of Honington. One evening we went for an after-dinner walk along the quiet country road that leads to Honington from our AirBnB. We had seen fields of sheep and lambs when driving past earlier in the day and decided to get a closer look. We eventually came to a field gate and stopped to admire the view across a vast area of pasture with Honington Hall, an impressive privately owned manor house that was built in 1682, off in the distance.

As we were watching a large flock of sheep peacefully grazing, a herd of cattle appeared from behind some trees and bushes about a hundred yards from us in the same pasture. They were moving slowly across the field towards the sheep until two of them spotted us standing by the gate. They broke away from the herd and headed towards us. The other cows, apparently not wanting to miss out on whatever it was the other two found so interesting, came trotting after them.

Before long we had a herd of cattle standing before us, each jostling for a position closest to the gate.

Most of the cows were cautiously curious and backed away if we tried to touch them or make quick movements. However, others were much braver and would even allow us to scratch their heads or tickle their noses.

That evening, I started reading ‘Til The Cows Come Home by highly esteemed farmer and cattle expert Jeremy Clarkson of Diddly Squat farm (and Top Gear) fame. Apparently, cows in the UK kill an average of 5 people per year thus making them the U.K.’s most dangerous animal (not including humans of course). A dive into the depths of Google led me to an article in the Daily Mirror quoting unnamed “experts” that claimed cows attack three to four thousand people a year in the U.K.. Holy cow, Batman! In fact, it appears there has been such an increase in aggressive behaviour by cattle (finally had enough of being slaughtered for meat or having their udders mechanically sucked?) that the “experts” suggest new laws are required to protect the public from “killer cows” (their term, not mine). I’m not sure the cows would obey any new laws though (sheep, on the other hand, seem to be much more law abiding). Maybe they should start wearing warning notices around their necks? Anyway, it all sounds very disturbing and I am grateful that the very strong gate was able to protect us from the “killer cows” of Honington Hall.

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