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Helsby Hill

Promontory Fort

Link

Lowndes Family History


I'm surprised a story like this hasn't been made into a film. William Lowdes abandoned his young wife and child, remarried illegally, and went off on a crime spree round the country. He got so good at stealing the mail, he got the nickname 'The Postmaster'. Eventually they caught up with him and in 1791 he was hanged at Gallows Hill in Boughton (now known as 'Barrel Well Hill'). His body was taken to hang from a gibbet on Helsby Hill (no doubt because of the smell), but according to Joseph Hemingway's 'History of the City of Chester' (1831) "the gibbet pole was in a short time after cut down by some people in the neighbourhood, and was not again erected." Just something gruesome to think about when you visit the fort.
Rhiannon Posted by Rhiannon
12th October 2007ce
Edited 12th October 2007ce

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