In 1849 a gang of young men from Armitage and Handsacre set out to poach pheasants on a neighbouring estate, only to become involved in a violent confrontation with police and gamekeepers. Drawing on contemporary newspaper reports and court records, this article reconstructs the events of that November night and follows the fate of the men involved, revealing the harsh realities of poverty, the Game Laws and Victorian justice.
Tag: Handsacre
William Conway 1817-1901
William Conway was known throughout Handsacre as a quiet, respectable village blacksmith. Yet in 1862 he stood trial for manslaughter after a single punch led to the death of another man. Set against the contrasting fortunes of his troubled brothers, this remarkable family story explores crime, justice, reputation and how history sometimes remembers the least likely person for the most dramatic event.