The Darker Side of Wiltshire –Tales of Murder ,Witches, Ghosts, Highwaymen and more!
The speaker at our March meeting was Clare Dimond Mills, a local historian and we knew from previous experience that she is lively and engaging. All her stories are based on thorough research of contemporary documents, court proceedings and eyewitnesses accounts.
In 1841 a man accused of killing Anne Little defended himself: “I beat her many times before and she didn’t die”. Found guilty, he was deported for life to Norfolk Island, “a hell on earth”. Florrie, a farmer’s wife, was thrown down the well for being unfaithful. The well has a glass cover in what is now The Red Lion, Avebury. If a bearded man sits by the well, Florrie is reputed to rise up, looking for her lover! A hand clutching playing cards was found in the wall of The Haunch of Venison in Salisbury. Was it a ‘Glory Hand’ to ward off evil? There is a long history of witches in the City. The Cherhill Gang of Highwaymen in the mid-18th century eventually came to a bad end after a successful career, betrayed by their leader. Sally in the Woods, a road into Bath, is reputedly the most haunted place in Wiltshire.
We then celebrated the founding of Edington WI in 1938. Delicious home-made cake, copies of minutes and programme of that first meeting, and slides of contemporary Edington photos rounded off a memorable evening.
It had been an enthralling talk, but as Edington didn’t feature, we had no qualms in walking home, torches in unwavering grasp.
Next month’s speaker will be Fiona Frise on The Military Life. Visitors are welcome.