Stilton Data

History of Stilton

In Cambridgeshire Crimes, John Bell  writes about the case of Martha Crewe. In 1857 her father, Edward, and two sisters, Eliza and Rebecca, were convicted of unlawfully imprisoning Martha and of assault by deprivation of food and clothing.

In 1851, Martha, aged 14 had been visited by a doctor who described her condition as ‘not serious.’ From that time on she was held prisoner at home on a diet of bread and water.

In 1853 a neighbour, Susan Smith, answered a knock at her door. It was Martha begging for food. She was described as looking like a ghost. But her sister Eliza came up and snatched the food away. The Parish Council were told but no action taken.

In 1854 the local baker, Mr Wood, also reported the condition of Martha to the Parish Council. In 1856, Constable John Abbot forced his way into the house and found Martha in a cupboard under the stairs. Another villager, Mr Drage, helped the officer take Martha to The Bird in Hand Inn. She was too weak to walk and looked ‘like a skeleton’. A doctor thought she was unlikely to survive.

In August 1856 the other three in her family appeared in the magistrates’ court. Because Martha took so long to recover enough strength to give evidence the case was not heard at the Huntingdon Assizes until March 1857. The three were convicted. Edward sentenced to 3 months imprisonment, the two sisters to 1 month each.