THE mysterious death of John Perryman is the subject of a new book to be launched by the Branscombe Project later this month.
THE mysterious death of John Perryman is the subject of a new book to be launched by the Branscombe Project later this month.
Written by Barbara Farquharson and John Torrance, the new who-dunnit/social history book 'The Shooting at Branscombe Project Old Pits: a Nineteenth Century Devon Mystery' will be on sale at the village hall from 7pm on Monday, November 30.
Barbara said: "It reconstructs the story of the shooting of 'good old John Perryman', a farm labourer and staunch Methodist; the arrest and trial of William Dowell, a village carpenter who had gone away to seek his fortune and had been radicalised in the new industrial cities, and his sister Eliza Williams, and neighbour Amos French."
Using William Dowell's own impassioned pamphlet, detailed newspaper accounts and other material, the authors paint a picture of the village as it was 150 years ago, the drama of the shooting and the inquest- and then go beyond the contemporary accounts to offer a new ending to the story.
There will be a short reading from the book and a free glass of wine to celebrate its launch.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here