Latest news with #WilliamCorder
Irish Times
6 days ago
- Irish Times
Murder most vulgar: Frank McNally on an infamous case of the 1820s
That there is nothing new under the sun is well illustrated by an entry in the Faber Book of Diaries from 197 years ago this week, in which a Somerset clergyman laments the vulgarisation of public tastes by clickbait media, although not in those exact terms. 'Still the same dreadful weather,' Rev John Skinner begins his account of August 14th, 1828. Then his mood darkens further as he surveys a two-page newspaper spread on the notorious 'Red Barn Murder' of a year before. In an earlier entry, he had deplored the grisly tourist industry that had since arisen, whereby 'people of all kinds and classes flocked to the barn' in Suffolk where one Maria Marten had been killed and buried by her lover, William Corder. Now he was appalled by news that 10,000 people had turned up to watch 'when [that] detestable wretch was launched into eternity'. READ MORE In the short-term, the Suffolk murder scene attracted tourists 'from as far afield as Ireland' Rev Skinner was especially depressed to read of 'well-dressed and delicate females' jostling to be close to the gallows where the hangman had to supplement the basic procedure by himself hanging out of the condemned man 'for two minutes' to finish the job. But he was in no doubt about where the blame for such bad taste lay. Of the newspaper coverage, he summarised: 'There needs not any other proof of the deplorable state of depraved feelings in which this country has gradually arrived through the instruction of novelists and fatalists ...' In a famous essay of 1946, George Orwell mock-lamented the 'Decline of the English Murder'. He was satirising British tabloids, especially the now late and little lamented News of the World, for their sensationalist (and very popular) reporting. But he cut the irony so fine you could easily mistake the essay as nostalgia for a golden age of homicide, whose practitioners included Dr Crippen, Mrs Maybrick, and Jack the Ripper. By Orwell's calculation, England's 'Elizabethan period' of murder occurred 'between roughly 1850 and 1925'. Since then, he suggested, the crime had become too commonplace and banal to merit the dramatic journalism and fiction of old. Recalling the 'most talked of English murder of recent years', he wrote: 'It is difficult to believe that this case will be so long remembered as the old domestic poisoning dramas, product of a stable society where the all-prevailing hypocrisy did at least ensure that crimes as serious as murder should have strong emotions behind them.' Whatever about 1925 being the endpoint, the Red Barn Murder suggests Orwell should have predated the start of his golden age by a generation at least. Certainly, the crime had no lack of strong emotions. And its infamy inspired many ballads, books and stage adaptations, one as recently as the 1990s. On the gallows, prompted by the prison governor, the murderer did indeed confess In the short-term, the Suffolk murder scene attracted tourists 'from as far afield as Ireland'. But blame for the murder had a similarly reach, and for long afterwards. In a 1996 column for the Belfast Telegraph, for example, Sam McAughtry recalled the anti-Catholic propaganda of his 1930s childhood in Tiger's Bay, Belfast: 'The accusation that sticks in my mind from those far-off days was to the effect that the Micks were at the back of a famous case which was dramatised under the name of Maria Martin [sic] and the Red Barn Murder.' In fact there was no known Irish angle in the 1827 case, although it has similarities with the 1940 one involving Moll McCarthy, which was still haunting Tipperary as recently as last year. Marten was an attractive, unmarried young woman who had children by different local men, including Corder, a known corner boy. She hoped he would marry her and the pair had discussed elopement, which was assumed to have happened when they both disappeared. When he turned up again and could not produce her, however, worse was suspected. Then came the big breakthrough in the investigation, when Marten's stepmother had a supposed dream in which Corder confessed guilt, leading to a search of the barn where the couple often met. On the gallows, prompted by the prison governor, the murderer did indeed confess. But among the competing theories during his trial was that the stepmother had been having an affair with him too and the 'dream' was cover-up for her own involvement. In any case, as was the way then, the saga also spawned a lucrative trade in memorabilia. Pieces of the barn door were stolen as souvenirs. The hangman's rope was sold in sections for a guinea each. After the usual public dissection of the body, the skeleton was displayed for a time in a hospital, with a tasteful mechanism attached that caused one of the arms to move, drawing visitors attention to a collection box. There's an old saying in publishing that 'everyone has a book in them'. This was more than usually true of Corder, who had part of a book on him, at least. Earlier this year, British newspapers reported the find in a Bury St Edmonds museum of a 200-year-old account of the Red Barn trial, one of two volumes now known to be bound with the murderer's skin.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Yahoo
She Vanished After Meeting Her Lover. A Stepmother's Dream Led to Her Body — and the Killer
Curators at Moyse's Hall Museum in Suffolk, England, found that a book on their office shelf was bound in the skin of William Corder, a 19th-century murderer Maria Marten's remains were discovered nearly a year after she vanished, following a dream her stepmother had about her death Corder confessed and was executed in front of a crowd of thousandsIt was a skin-crawling revelation. Staff at a museum in Suffolk, England, recently learned that an unassuming old book sitting in their office was actually made from human skin — believed to be that of a 19th-century murderer who was hanged nearly 200 years ago. The killer, William Corder, was convicted in 1828 of murdering a woman named Maria Marten in what became known as the Red Barn Murder. According to the BBC, the book was donated decades ago by a family member of the surgeon who anatomized Corder's body. Curators at Moyse's Hall Museum in Bury St. Edmunds realized what the book was — and how it was made — about a month ago. It's now on display. Corder was from a middle-class family of farmers and lived in the village of Polstead when he met Marten when he was 22. The two subsequently became lovers, per the outlet. In 1827 Corder came up with a plan for him and Marten to elope. He told her to meet him at the Red Barn on the Corders' farm so they could run away together. But Marten was never seen again. Corder swiftly left Suffolk and wrote to the Marten family that he and Maria had eloped. In reality, he was hiding out just outside of London after shooting Maria in the neck and burying her at the Red Barn. Almost a year later, Maria's stepmother, Ann Marten, had a dream that Maria was dead and at the Red Barn. Per the outlet, Maria's father dug with his 'mole spud' — a type of spade — and found Maria's remains at the barn. A manhunt ensued for Corder. When authorities found him, he denied any knowledge of what had happened to Maria. But he had a letter in his possession informing him that her body had been found. Corder was tried on 10 counts of murder, each based on a different theory on how Maria was killed, the BBC reported. Corder initially claimed Maria had died by suicide, but he was ultimately found guilty after a two-day trial, which included a confession in which Corder said he accidentally shot Maria during an BBC reported that an estimated 7,000 to 10,000 people came to see Corder hanged outside the prison on Aug. 11, 1828. There are currently two books about the trial — both of which are bound with Corder's skin, the BBC reported. Popular Mechanics reports that the practice of binding books in human skin — known as anthropodermic bibliopegy — dates back to at least the 13th century. By the 19th century, some doctors were using the skin of their own dissected patients to bind medical texts. According to The Times, Corder's skeleton remained at London's Hunterian Museum for more than 70 years — until it was released in 2004 following a campaign by a relative who had researched her family tree. Subsequently, Corder's remains were cremated. Read the original article on People
Time of India
26-04-2025
- Time of India
This book is made from the skin of a murderer behind one of England's most infamous crimes
History is full of artifacts that have been discovered over time, some of these are displayed in a museum for public display, others might be in the possession of the archaeological authorities, while some of these artifacts give the most valuable information, others just gain the public attention for all the eerie reasons. One such strange piece from history has gained limelight in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, which is a book not made of some paper, but it is bound in the actual skin of William Corder , the man hanged in 1828 for the infamous Red Barn Murder , is now back on display at Moyse's Hall Museum . Surprisingly, a long-forgotten second book was recently found on a shelf in the museum's office and these books tell about how justice, punishment, and memory were handled in 19th-century Britain. William Corder was convicted of the murder of Maria Marten , a case that captivated public attention in 1827. After his execution in 1828, parts of his body were used for anatomical study, and his skin was tanned to bind books detailing his trial. One such book has been part of the museum's collection since the 1930s. The second book, believed to have been donated around 20 years ago, was recently found on a bookshelf in the museum's office, and shockingly, it was not kept in storage. Dan Clarke, heritage officer at Moyse's Hall Museum, defended the display, saying that the books have "incredibly important" historical value and that he had never had a complaint about the first being on display. He emphasized that the museum does not treat these items as mere curiosities but as tools for historical reflection. "We see human remains in every museum across the country," Clarke noted. He further explained that the items are placed to help the discussion about the "Bloody Code," the harsh legal system of the time, and the practice of anatomizing executed criminals, as reported by the Guardian. Some authors criticise this! However, not everyone agrees with this approach. Terry Deary, author of Horrible Histories, criticized the display as "sickening artefacts," likening them to a "freak show." He argued that Corder was "misunderstood" and convicted on circumstantial evidence, suggesting that the display forwards a disrespectful story. Deary, who portrayed Corder in a theatrical production, expressed his discomfort by stating, "These are two books I'd like to burn." Despite his objections, Deary is releasing a novel inspired by his portrayal of Corder next year, further contributing to the ongoing reexamination of the case. What is this eerie practice of making books from skin? The practice of binding books in human skin, known as anthropodermic bibliopegy , was not uncommon in the 19th century. Such books were often created as mementos by doctors or as a form of punishment for executed criminals. The discovery of the second book at Moyse's Hall Museum adds to the collection of artefacts related to the Red Barn Murder, including Corder's death mask and scalp, which have been subjects of public fascination and scholarly interest. What is the Red Barn murder? The Red Barn Murder is one of the most haunting true crime stories from 19th-century England. In 1827, William Corder lured his lover, Maria Marten, to the Red Barn in Suffolk under the promise of eloping. Instead, he murdered her and buried her body beneath the barn floor. Her remains were discovered nearly a year later after Maria's stepmother claimed to have visions revealing the crime. Corder was caught, tried, and publicly hanged. The case became a media sensation, inspiring books, plays, and songs and it still grips imaginations today with its eerie mix of love, betrayal, and justice.
Euronews
18-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Euronews
Lost book bound in skin of notorious murderer on display at UK museum
ADVERTISEMENT Talk about a morbid read... A book bound in the skin of one of the UK's most notorious murderers is about to go on display at Moyse's Hall Museum in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, UK. The tome, reportedly made using the skin of William Corder, who was convicted of killing Maria Marten in the Red Barn Murder in 1827, was found on a bookshelf in the museum's office. Unlike the previously known copy of the book, "An Authentic and Faithful History of the Mysterious Murder of Maria Marten" by James Curtis, which was completely covered in human skin, the new find only has skin inserts on the spine and corners. The first book was put on display at Moyse's Hall Museum in 1933 and it wasn't until recently that curators realised, after looking through the museum's catalogue, that there was a second book that had been overlooked... Scene of the Red Barn Murder Public Domain - For those of you not familiar with the bleak tale, Maria Marten was shot dead by William Corder. Her body was discovered in a local landmark, the Red Barn, after her stepmother Ann Marten reported disturbing dreams pointing to the burial site. It is believed that Corder and Maria Marten were lovers and that he lured her to the Red Barn, saying they would run away to Ipswich to get married. Corder was arrested in London, tried in Bury St Edmunds, and publicly hanged in 1828. After the execution, the criminal's body was anatomized, and his skin was used to bind the report of the murder and the story of his trial. The Red Barn Murder has provoked numerous songs, plays and TV series. Most recently, a 1971 song recorded by folk singer Shirley Collins and the Albion Country Band was performed by Florence Pugh in the (brilliant) 2018 TV adaptation of John Le Carré's spy novel 'The Little Drummer Girl'. The two books Moyse's Hall Museum 'The murder continues to be interpreted and reinterpreted in popular culture to this day,' said Daniel Clarke, heritage officer at West Suffolk council. 'Do we think all books bound in skin should be on display? That would be debated on a case-by-case basis,' said Clarke. 'In this instance, it is a stark and emotive set of artefacts that give us the chance to discuss the anatomising of the criminal corpse. Uncomfortable history, yes, but if we are to learn from history we must first face it with honesty and openness.' Clarke added that the museum does not 'deal with this as a salacious artefact but as a window into the past'. An Authentic and Faithful History of the Mysterious Murder of Maria Marten Facebook - Moyse's Hall Museum The rather gruesome book binding practice was a common procedure in the 19th century, known as anthropodermic bibliopegy. Famous examples of anthropodermic bibliopegy include editions of Holbein's 'Dance of Death' and the French book 'La pluralité des mondes habités' by astronomer Camille Flammarion. Legend has it that a female admirer of Flammarion bequeathed her skin to bind his book – which is stamped 'reliure en peau humaine, 1880 ('human skin binding, 1880'). Due to containing human remains, books bound in human skin are considered by many to be problematic. ADVERTISEMENT Last year, Harvard University removed the human skin, stolen post-mortem off an unidentified female hospital patient, from 'Des destinées de l'âme," due to 'the ethically fraught nature of the book's origins and subsequent history".
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Lost book bound in skin of notorious murderer on display at UK museum
Talk about a morbid read... A book bound in the skin of one of the UK's most notorious murderers is about to go on display at Moyse's Hall Museum in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, UK. The tome, reportedly made using the skin of William Corder, who was convicted of killing Maria Marten in the Red Barn Murder in 1827, was found on a bookshelf in the museum's office. Unlike the previously known copy of the book, "An Authentic and Faithful History of the Mysterious Murder of Maria Marten" by James Curtis, which was completely covered in human skin, the new find only has skin inserts on the spine and corners. The first book was put on display at Moyse's Hall Museum in 1933 and it wasn't until recently that curators realised, after looking through the museum's catalogue, that there was a second book that had been overlooked... For those of you not familiar with the bleak tale, Maria Marten was shot dead by William Corder. Her body was discovered in a local landmark, the Red Barn, after her stepmother Ann Marten reported disturbing dreams pointing to the burial site. It is believed that Corder and Maria Marten were lovers and that he lured her to the Red Barn, saying they would run away to Ipswich to get married. Corder was arrested in London, tried in Bury St Edmunds, and publicly hanged in 1828. After the execution, the criminal's body was anatomized, and his skin was used to bind the report of the murder and the story of his trial. The Red Barn Murder has provoked numerous songs, plays and TV series. Most recently, a 1971 song recorded by folk singer Shirley Collins and the Albion Country Band was performed by Florence Pugh in the (brilliant) 2018 TV adaptation of John Le Carré's spy novel 'The Little Drummer Girl'. 'The murder continues to be interpreted and reinterpreted in popular culture to this day,' said Daniel Clarke, heritage officer at West Suffolk council. 'Do we think all books bound in skin should be on display? That would be debated on a case-by-case basis,' said Clarke. 'In this instance, it is a stark and emotive set of artefacts that give us the chance to discuss the anatomising of the criminal corpse. Uncomfortable history, yes, but if we are to learn from history we must first face it with honesty and openness.' Clarke added that the museum does not 'deal with this as a salacious artefact but as a window into the past'. The rather gruesome book binding practice was a common procedure in the 19th century, known as anthropodermic bibliopegy. Famous examples of anthropodermic bibliopegy include editions of Holbein's 'Dance of Death' and the French book 'La pluralité des mondes habités' by astronomer Camille Flammarion. Legend has it that a female admirer of Flammarion bequeathed her skin to bind his book – which is stamped 'reliure en peau humaine, 1880 ('human skin binding, 1880'). Due to containing human remains, books bound in human skin are considered by many to be problematic. Last year, Harvard University removed the human skin, stolen post-mortem off an unidentified female hospital patient, from 'Des destinées de l'âme," due to 'the ethically fraught nature of the book's origins and subsequent history".
