Remembering mystery of 1821 murder victim

THIS month marks the 190th anniversary of the death of a mystery woman by an unknown man.

It was August 15, 1821 when the body of a woman was found in Blackgrove Woods in the parish of Tilsworth.

She was the unfortunate victim of a brutal murder – battered and bruised with her throat slit twice.

To this day her tombstone sits in the Tilsworth churchyard marked ‘To The Memory Of A Female Unknown’.

The death could not be explained, there was no identification of the wretched victim and the only clue left was a gentleman’s handkerchief marked ‘TS’.

Despite the many rumours surrounding this mystery, even one that she was royalty, the only known details surrounding it come from The Northampton Mercury newspaper.

The victim was described as: “About five feet, four inches high, dark hair, with false curls in the front, of a lighter colour than her own hair, dark complexion, hazel eyes, small teeth, which appeared to be decaying; rather thin made, about 30 years of age, and the little finger on the right hand crooked.”

As time went by the plot thickened.

It was discovered that the woman had last been seen on Monday, August 13 accompanied by: “A healthy-looking man, about 30 years of age, round face, sallow complexion, brown hair, dark whiskers, and had generally the appearance of a gentleman’s servant.”

This man could well have been her killer.

Those that visit her grave today will see on the tombstone a beautiful poem which begins ‘Oh pause my friends & drop the silent tear, Attend & learn why I was buried here.’

It has been said that a man named Evestaffe confessed to the murder on his death bed but it has never been possible to prove he even existed.

The woman in Blackgrove Woods came to rest before her time was due but her mystery lives on.

For the full account of the story visit www.bedfordshire.gov.uk.