Old Sutton
5 Church of St.Mary Magdalene5 Church of St.Mary Magdalene
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The most notable outward feature of the church is its spire built around 1391. It is 90ft high. From the tower (45ft high) it is possible on a clear day to see Lincoln Cathedral 40 miles away.
The earliest churchwarden (1573) was one Christopher Brandreth. A nineteenth century descendent, Jeremiah, had a rather different claim to fame. He was sentenced to be hung, drawn and quartered at Derby for High Treason on November 7th 1817, for his leadership of England's last revolution.
Jeremiah Brandreth was born in Wilford, Nottingham in 1790. Brandreth became a stockinger by trade and later moved to Sutton-in-Ashfield where he lived with his wife and three children. It is believed that in 1811 he took part in Luddite activities (destroying 'new technology' that threatened the livelihood of stockingers and other textile workers).
In May 1817 Brandreth met William Oliver from London. Oliver claimed that a large group of Radicals were planning an armed uprising in London on 9th June and asked Brandreth to persuade local workers to join the rebellion. This was untrue and it is now believed that Oliver was working as an agent provocateur for Lord Sidmouth, the Home Secretary.
On June 9th 1817 Jeremiah Brandreth led a band of 300 armed with pike and a few pistols with a plan to march first on Nottingham and then on to London where they would proclaim a Republic. They expected to gain support on the way, but this did not happen and a troop of horse cavalry easily stopped them at Kimberly, near Nottingham.
Thirty Five of the men were charged with High Treason. The three
ring leaders were sentenced to be hung, drawn and quartered in Derby and another eleven were transported for life to Australia.
The men were called 'The Pentrich Plotters' because they had formed their plans in the Derbyshire village of Pentrich, not
far West of Ashfield.
The quartering was remitted but the leaders were still hanged and beheaded as this grisly eyewitness execution record relates:
1817 November 7
Brandreth, Ludlam, and Turner,
the "Pentrich Plotters", executed at Derby. The last instance of the old penalty of high treason, hanging, drawing
and quartering. (Cavalry stood on guard during the execution).
The prisoners were first dragged round the prison yard on hurdles, were then hanged for half an hour, and their bodies afterwards cut down. The executioner then struck the heads off the bodies and seizing the head of Brandreth by the hair, showed the ghastly countenance to the multitude, exclaiming: "Behold the head of the traitor, Jeremiah Brandreth!". The crowd, "as if under the impulse of a sudden frenzy," separated in all directions, but equanimity was restored, "and the separation and exhibition of the remaining heads was witnessed with the greatest order and decorum".
The executioners were masked and their names were kept a profound secret.
The poet Shelley witnessed the scene.
The block is still to be seen in Derby Prison, where its wood hangs damp always damp - so it has been averred - it has given rise to the tradition that the block of the unhappy men has not dried and never will).
(information taken from The Derbyshire Police Memorabilia Museum external Web-site)
Jeremiah Brandreth
Pictured before his hanging
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