Digital panopticon

https://www.digitalpanopticon.org/

Ideas welcome

Back down in London at the end of the month. Any ideas for research or any questions you have I could research, please let me know. Contact me via Facebook or the website. DawnLBruetonresearch-historian.com

murder at eridge castle!

whilst researching at eridge castle I came across a murder in 1925. 

sadly a young girl girl of 13 years was killed by a 15 year old boy who worked in the gardens.

when the little girl went missing Lord William beauchamp Nevill who happened to be staying at tis family seat was involved in looking for the child. sadly it ended in tragedy. 

the young gardener was convicted of the crime. Finding out about the people involved and understanding more about their lives is the privilege of the research historian. I look forward over the coming months to carry out this process and find answers that have been lost in the mists of time

the murdered girl

the convicted gardener

newspaper clippings from the trial

Researching Victorian history

I love researching Victorian history and feel that history is in my DNA. I consider it a real privilege to research the life of Lord William Beauchamp Nevill. He had such an interesting life from his service as and aide de comp in Ireland to his twice being sentenced to prison.

He used these experiences to campaign for prison reform at a time when such thoughts were considered unfashionable.  He said that it was wrong to send children to prison for minor offences and that food should not be used as a tool of punishment.

Question

Do the aristocracy have a place in today's society ?

Penal servitude

Lord William Beauchamp Nevill anonymously written book on prison reform entitled 'Penal Servitude' the symbol on the front was his prison identifier :comprising his prisoner number (5y = 5 year sentence)

a single star to signify his first offence.

Always double check everything!

A lesson well learned today. While carrying out so.e research on another historical topic came across this old photograph. I initially though it was an ideal example of a resource that helps illustrate how Birmingham has changed. Luckily I spotted the meerkat someone has photoshopped in  before I used it !!!