The Hauntingly Excellent Range
Eleanor Beare
Back in 1732 Eleanor Beare was known in Derby for three reasons - she was the domineering landlady of a pub called the Crown Inn, she was a woman who performed illegal abortions, and she was a concocter of poisons that people could purchase to help them commit murder.
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It was in 1732 that Eleanor served poisoned pancakes in her Inn to Hannah Hewitt. Hannah was the wife of a pub regular called John Hewitt and he was having an affair with one of Eleanor's serving girls - Rosamund Olleranshaw. Both John and Rosamund wanted rid of Hannah so they could officially be together.​ After Hannah died the poisoning was uncovered and although Eleanor managed to get away with being convicted of murder, both John and Rosamund were hanged.
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Shortly after Eleanor was again arrested and charged with performing illegal abortions and procuring poison. She was sentenced to gaol time and two sessions in the Pillory in Derby Market Place.
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Eleanor's ghost is said to haunt Derby Market Place - the scene of her greatest humiliation.
Related places to visit in Derby
LOCATION: Derby Market Place, Derby, DE1 3AE.
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CONNECTION: Derby Market Place was once the location of many of Derby's public punishments including whippings, brandings and sessions in the Pillory. The Pillory held a criminal in place by securing their hands and head through three holes in a wooden frame. They were then confined there whilst people threw rotten fruit and vegetables at them. At Eleanor's first session in the Pillory the crowd also threw dog excrement from nearby kennels.
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DIRECTIONS: Click Here.
LOCATION: Friar Gate, Derby.
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CONNECTION: Friar Gate, and other streets such as Nuns Street, Brook Street and Mill Street, now stand in the area that was once known in Derby as Nun's Green. It was this area where Eleanor's pub stood. Her personality was said to be so domineering that nobody ever spoke out about her, and when in her presence her husband was said to be very meek and as quiet as a mouse.
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DIRECTIONS: Click Here.
Derby History Walks
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Come and join us for a 90-minute walk full of revelations, curses, deaths, superstitions, evil doers and much more!!
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VARIOUS DATES
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5.30pm to 7.00pm - walk commences from the Derby Uncovered Heritage Centre at 11 Sadler Gate, Derby.
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Tickets are £10 per person.
Learn all about Derby's most notorious murders and murderers on Derby's murder walk - not for the faint-hearted!!
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VARIOUS DATES
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5.30pm to 7.00pm - walk commences from the Derby Uncovered Heritage Centre at 11 Sadler Gate, Derby.
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Tickets are £10 per person.
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True, but weird, Derby history including frogs falling from the skies, ghouls roaming the town, historic hot dogs, mummified cats & more.
VARIOUS DATES
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5.30pm to 7.00pm - walk commences from the Derby Uncovered Heritage Centre at 11 Sadler Gate, Derby.
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Tickets are £10 per person.
A walk full of tortured spirits who met a grisly end including both the murderers and their victims
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VARIOUS DATES
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5.30pm to 7.00pm - walk commences from the Derby Uncovered Heritage Centre at 11 Sadler Gate, Derby.
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Tickets are £10 per person.
