#campden

Campden Wonder

The Campden Wonder refers to a notorious historical event that occurred in England in the 17th century. It revolves around the mysterious disappearance and subsequent reappearance of three individuals from the Campden family in Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire.

In August 1660, a prominent gentleman named William Harrison disappeared without a trace. Suspicion fell upon his servant, John Perry, who was known to have a contentious relationship with Harrison. Perry, along with his mother Joan and his brother Richard, were accused of murdering Harrison and disposing of his body.

During the trial, Joan Perry confessed to the murder and claimed that her sons assisted her. The three were found guilty and subsequently executed in March 1661. However, in 1662, William Harrison returned alive and well, creating a sensation and raising questions about the validity of the Perry family's confessions.

The reappearance of William Harrison created a legal conundrum known as the "Campden Wonder." An investigation was conducted to determine how the Perrys' confessions were obtained and whether they were coerced. It was discovered that the Perrys had falsely confessed under duress during their interrogations.

As a result, the posthumous pardons of Joan, John, and Richard Perry were granted, and their bodies were exhumed and given proper burials. The Campden Wonder became a notable case highlighting the importance of fair trials and the potential for wrongful convictions.

The exact circumstances surrounding the disappearance of William Harrison and his subsequent return remain unclear. The case of the Campden Wonder has captured the imagination of historians and has been the subject of books, plays, and discussions examining the legal and social implications of the event.

“Yes. I Remember . . .”

1914: Don’t be overly nostalgic about the summer of 1914, warned Paul Fussell in The Great War and Modern Memory. And yet, in almost the same breath, he described it as “the most idyllic for many years”: a time for strolling in the countryside, a time for sipping tea at wicker tables under shady trees, a time when books could be left outdoors all night without fear of rain. (more…)