The Legend of the Boar
The Crest of the City of Bradford depicts a boar's head sat on top of a well. The legend of the boar originates from Mediaeval times and has become part of local folklore.
Legend has it that there was a ferocious boar that lived in a wood on the outskirts of Bradford, and frequently drank from a well in the wood. The boar terrorized the populace and caused much damage to land and property; so much so that the Lord of the Manor offered a reward for anyone brave enough to slay the boar and bring its head to the Manor House.
A hunter took up the Lord's offer, and lay in wait near the well, ready to catch his quarry and thereby claim his reward. The boar duly arrived, and was shot by the hunter, who cut out the boar's tongue as proof of his victory and set off for the Manor House.
A little time later, another hunter who had heard of the Lord's offer, was passing through the woods and saw the slain boar lying near the well. Thinking of the reward, he cut off the boar's head and he too set off for the Manor House. Arriving there before the true victor, he claimed his reward for having disposed of the ferocious creature, but was unable to account for the boar's absent tongue.
Soon afterwards, the first hunter arrived and explained how he had despatched the beast - showing the boar's tongue as evidence of his veracity - and received his rightful reward; a plot of land called Hunt Yard just outside the town.
