Foul Deeds Around Crewe

by Peter Ollerhead, Susan Chambers

True accounts of crime and conspiracy over the centuries in this English railway town, from highway robberies to modern-day homicides—includes photos.  Foul Deeds Around Crewe takes the reader on a fascinating journey through centuries of local crime and conspiracy, meeting villains of all sorts along the way—casual killers and robbers, murderous husbands and lovers, prostitutes and poisoners. This revealing book recalls many grisly events and sad or unsavory individuals whose conduct throws a harsh light on the history of Crewe and the surrounding countryside.   Among the many acts of wickedness the authors recall are shocking crimes from the recent past—the daughter who poisoned her father, a murder in a stately home, two brothers who conspired to kill their father, a mysterious ritual drowning, and the killing of a policeman. But they also cover in vivid detail the early criminal history of the area—the theft of sheep, cattle, and horses, crop-wrecking, rural assaults, land disputes, poaching, and highway robbery. The ruthless punishments meted out to convicted criminals—public humiliation, imprisonment, the death penalty—are an essential part of the story. This chronicle of Crewe’s hidden history—the history the town would prefer to forget—will be compelling reading for anyone who is interested in the dark side of human nature.

221 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 6, 2010

Reviews

[Paula Corregan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating book!

This book details crimes that occurred in and around Crewe, Cheshire County, England, mainly murder but also lesser crimes. The time period for the crimes was from the 1700s to the Twentieth Century. It also gives some history of the area. This is a must read for true crime buffs and history readers, as well. I highly recommend it to other true crime readers.

[Faye Sirs · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some stories were quite interesting, others not so much. The good thing is they’re broken down into different chapters so you can read the ones that interest you and skip any that don’t. All crime from the 1800s.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book about local history around Crewe. Book focuses on the dark and criminal past of Crewe from before the railways to its heyday as the central railway hub and largest train workshops in Europe. As you can imagine this attracted not just the workers but criminals too.