This is the twelth in a series of events to bring us to some of the sites of correction used during the past in Derbyshire. This event is near to Petrus or Peter's Stone, also known as Gibbet Rock. It is close to the site of one of the last gibbetings in Derbyshire in 1815.
A gibbet was chains or a cage, used to hold the body of an executed criminal, which was hung in a prominent position. The public display of the rotting corpse was designed as an example to others of what became of serious criminals. The body displayed in 1815 in the shadow of Gibbet Rock belonged to one Antony Lingard, a 21 year old man from nearby Litton who was found guilty of the murder of Hannah Oliver, the toll-keeper at Wardlow Mires, in January 1815. For his crime, Lingard was hanged at Derby Gaol where he would have been measured for the cage, also known as his last suit! Once executed his body was tarred to preserve it before being transported to Wardlow Mires for its gruesome display. It hung in Gibbet Field for eleven years! The practice was abolished in 1834, primarily due to the public outcry caused by this case.
You can watch a half hour episode about this story & another nearby murder using the following link;
With this being the final event in the series, I have decided to have it as my Community Celebration Event. As the weather isn't always the best in December, I thought we'd spend the two hours in the warmth of the Yonderman Café at Wardlow Mires. There will be the usual geochat & an opportunity to swap trackables. It might be worth bringing your laptop or tablet in case a new puzzle cache is published... The café specialises in breakfasts, although there is no requirement to make a purchase. However, I have attached a link to their weekend menu below;
There is ample parking at the café & even a cache at the venue. There are also a few caches nearby & there may even be a new cache published for the occasion...
It would be helpful if you could post a Will Attend log & indicate whether you are likely to be eating, just so I can forewarn the café. Unfortunately, they do not take bookings so if it's busy you might have to wait for a table if you are eating, but we'll do our best to spread out!
Community Celebration Events - 2025
This Event is part of a limited release of Community Celebration Events to celebrate 25 years of geocaching. Geocachers hosted events between January 1, 2025 and December 31, 2025. Learn more about Community Celebration Events on the Geocaching Blog.