Hi,
By now PDMHS members should have received their latest copies of Mining
History. Unlike most Bulletins, it contains just one article.
This is written by Roger Flindall, and is entitled "Mines, Quarries and
Murders in the Peak District: A Study of Suspicious Deaths and Human
Remains Associated with Past Mineral Working Activities".
Abstract: Local Newspapers dating from 1714 to date have been searched
for references about people who had mysteriously disappeared or of
bodies or other human remains that were discovered in suspicious
circumstances around mines and quarries, initially for near Matlock,
Cromford and Bonsall. Those isolated finds were previously never linked,
and so all the known incidents are here gathered together for the first
time. Thirty or more skeletons were recorded, some of which can now be
deduced to be of prehistoric origin, bit others were contemporaneously
suggested to be murder victims and this still seems a likely
explanation. Nationally, the era from 1650 to 1800 was one of extensive
robberies by highwaymen and footpads. Evidence of such activity around
the Peak District is considered, including contemporary manuscript
references to the presence of Dick Turpin at Bonsall, and a brief
overview is given of the use of local mines by criminals.
Should non-members be interested in purchasing a copy, enquiries should
be made to Mike Luff, The Coppins, Wash Lane, Ravenstone, Leicestershire
LE67 2AZ.
Personally, I would be interested to hear comments about the article
from other mining historians.
--
David Williams
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