SIR: I read with great interest the article by Doreen Crowther concerning the skull of the Earl of Derby's executioner, entitled "Book Your Place with the Ghost of George" in the BEN (October 23). I must, however, draw your attention to an inaccuracy in the book by John Timpson on which the article is based.
The surname of the Earl's executioner was in fact spelt WHOWELL and not Whewell. Barton's Historical Gleanings, a copy of which is held in the Reference Library, clearly shows the surname spelled with an "O" and not an "E". You may also remember that the semi-factual book "John O'God's Sending" referred to the executioner as WHOWELL and the farm at Edgworth still bears the name "Whowell's Farm". As recently as January, 1987, the BEN asked its readers to check their attics and cellars to see whether Whowell's original axe had found its way there, following its disappearance from the Chadwick Museum.
The body of Jack Whowell (minus skull of course) would turn in its grave if it knew that its name had been wrongly spelt!
Margaret Whowell,
George Street, Horwich.
Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article