The Murder
of
Uriah Womersley

Uriah Womersley was a warden responsible for watching the game of Sir George Armytage at Kirklees Park.

On the night of Friday 30th November 1827

during a fearful thunderstorm

he was killed during an incident near Robin Hood's grave at Kirklees Park.

A group of 10 watchers or wardens – including Womersley,

• Joshua Brook
• Abel Clayton
• George Clayton
• John Clayton who sustained gunshot wounds off Isaiah Bentley
• William Goldthorp or Gouldthorp
• John Green
• Henry Oldfield
• James Pearson
• John Stott

• Joseph Asquith
• Isaiah Bentley
• Joseph Bentley
• Joseph Brooke [a weaver from Wyke]
• William Chapman
• Joseph Jagger alias Wood
• James Scholes
• John Smith [a weaver from Wyke]
• Samuel Smith [a weaver from Wyke]
• John Stringer [a moulder from Low Moor]

and 3 others [from Cleckheaton].

Womersley died immediately from a fractured skull, another warden suffered gun-shot wounds, a third suffered head injuries from a bludgeon, and a fourth suffered contusions.

At the inquest,

Isaiah Bentley, Joseph Bentley, Joseph Brooke, James Scholes, and Samuel Smith and divers others were charged with Wilful Murder and were sentenced to be transported beyond the seas for 7 years

Sir George Armytage had hoped that His Lordship would show leniency towards Joseph Bentley, Joseph Brooke & Samuel Smith, but this did not affect the sentencing

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© Malcolm Bull 2017 / [email protected]
Revised 14:23 on 14th May 2017 / x36 / 6