CIRCA 1830

See Oliver, p. 40, fig. 46 for similar group attributed to Sherratt; Also see Sharp, p. 245 and 246. This sublimely innocent looking locale was the infamous site of the murder of Maria Marten. Promised marriage and perhaps threatening her fiance over the matter of their out-of-wedlock child, Maria met William Corder at this barn in May of 1827. In order to escape his promise, he shoots and strangles her, later burying her under the floor of the barn. Corder leaves for London, where he places an advertisement for a new bride in the London Sunday Times of November 25th. His new spouse is chosen from roughly one hundred applicants. Meanwhile Maria's parents unearth their daughter. Corder was later tried and convicted at Polstead before vast crowds.