Sunday 25 December 2011

25th December 1811: Burglary at South Wingfield Park

Late into the evening of Wednesday 25th December, a Derbyshire Hosier - Mr Topham of South Wingfield Park - got a surprise he hadn't bargained for.

Several men entered his house that night, all in disguise. They demanded to examine his stocking frames. Having done so, they then proceeded to search the house for money, eventually taking away £62. Topham was also the Poor Law overseer for the Parish, and the men took away the poor records with them.

As recorded in the Nottingham Review of 3rd January 1811. It is not clear if Topham is the same individual whose frames were destroyed at Pentrich nearly 3 weeks beforehand on the 7th December. £62 in 1811 is the equivalent of £3,430.00 (using the retail price index) or £41,400.00 (using average earnings) today.

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