The Frome Family History Group welcomed David Lassman to their October meeting.
David is a local historian, lecturer and author. His talk began with a description of Frome in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, together with several descriptions of murders and other foul deeds that took place in and around Frome.
David had many photographs of Frome, including ones of the Blind House in Vicarage Road, so-called because of the lack of windows, and the Guard House next to the Blue Boar, which replaced it as the town lock up.
The most notorious murder was retold in David’s book, “The Awful Killing of Sarah Watts” where he recounts the shocking details of this 1851 murder on an isolated farm near Frome, and the incredible events that transpired from it.
On Wednesday 24th September 1851, with her parents at market, Sarah Watts was alone at Battle Farm. Sometime during the afternoon, an intruder battered, raped and brutally murdered her. As the case gripped the nation, a London detective was sent to investigate. The result was three local men, all notorious felons with previous convictions, were arrested and charged. However, they were acquitted, but only after they had spent six months in Shepton Mallet jail awaiting trial. The men were William Maggs, William Sparrow and Robert Hurd. The family from Battle Farm are buried at Trudoxhill
David mentioned the Rode murder briefly as he was sure that the detectives investigating – Mr Whicher for Rode and Mr Smith for Battle Farm – were colleagues.
Finally from his book “Foul Deeds and Suspicious Deaths Around Frome,” David says “The very existence of Frome is down to acts of criminality; it has been said the reason Saint Aldhelm built his Saxon church in the first place, thus bringing the market town into being, was to ‘civilise’ the outlaws and bandits who roamed the interior of Selwood Forest, the huge tract of woodland which encircled the land that became the original settlement.”
If you thought that Frome was just a pleasant little market town, then think again! The programme secretary thanked David Lassman for a very interesting evening.
Our next meeting is on 27th Frome and will be led by the committee. We will commemorate the Armistice by investigating how it was celebrated in Frome and listen to some of the stories of the men who came home. Regular family history advice sessions will continue on the first Saturday in the month, in the library. Please book a computer with the library staff.
