Image ID: 20776

Elizabeth 'Bessie' Shepherds Stone

Courtesy of North Notts. Newspapers Ltd.

Nottingham Road
Mansfield
England

Memorial stone to 17 year old Bessie Sheppard (or Shepherd) of Papplewick, Erected at the spot where she had been murdered on July 7th 1817 by Charles Rotherham. He was an opportunist highway robber who attacked the poor unsuspecting girl as she returned after successfully finding work in Mansfield, beating her repeatedly about the head with a hedge stake, before throwing her body into a ditch and robbing her of of her umbrella and a pair of shoes; he also tried to take off her gown, but could not accomplish it. She was found by quarrymen who noticed odd coins on the ground and an immediate search for the perpetrator was undertaken. He had proceeded to the 3 Crowns at Redhill where he had disposed of the shoes, and sung 2 songs. He had already tried to dispose of the shoes at the Ginger Beer House near the Seventh Mile Stone. He was captured on route to Loughborough looking over a canal bridge into the water. He was found guilty and duly hanged on the 28th July, 1817. Stone erected Feb. 1819, at the spot, between Thieves Wood and Rickets Lane, paid for by Mr Buckles and other Mansfield residents.

Date: 1988

Organisation Reference: NCCW000058

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