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Silverstealth
09-05-2009, 06:56 PM
I acquired these postcards today.

http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff74/silverstealth_bucket/hindheadmurderarrestsm.jpg

http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff74/silverstealth_bucket/hindheadmurdergibbetsm.jpg


The Devil's Punch Bowl and the adjoining Hindhead Commons cover an area of 1,600 acres and consist of some of the most extensive areas of lowland heath in the country, and as a large expanse of underdeveloped countryside is listed as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB)

A dominant prominence of sandstone overlooking the Punch Bowl was named Gibbet Hill (1) in the 18th century marking the hanging of three 'footpads' (2) who in 1786 murdered a sailor travelling alone along the Portsmouth to London road through what was then a wild and remote area, and who they had befriended in an inn in the area. Such was the public outcry at this cold blooded act on a sailor trying to return to his ship at Portsmouth that a memorial stone, which became known as the Sailor's Stone (GR: SU899359), was erected on the site of the murder in the same year. The murderers' bodies were tarred and hung in chains from a gibbet on the hill alongside the old road to serve as a warning.

The inscription on the stone reads:

Erected
In detestation of a barbarous Murder
Committed here on an unknown Sailor
On Sep. 24th 1786
By Edwd. Lonegon, Mick Cagy & Jas. Marshall
Who were all taken the fame day
And hung in Champs near this place

Whofe theddeth Man's Blood by man thall his
Blood be thed. Gen: Chap 9: Ver 6

http://weyriver.co.uk/theriver/wey_south_B.htm about a quarter of the page down.

Silverstealth
09-23-2009, 12:33 PM
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff74/silverstealth_bucket/hindheadsailorsstonesm.jpg

http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff74/silverstealth_bucket/VintageHINDHEADPostcardROYALHUTSHOT.jpg

George Hutchinson
09-28-2009, 03:42 AM
This is close to where I live. Besides the series of cards, there's plenty of others to the still anonymous memorial and others connected to the execution. The memorial stone was moved many years ago and can no longer be seen from the road. It's still a case that local historians discuss.

PHILIP