I couldn't resist this piece from Derbyshire Times and Chesterfield Herald 9 June 1877. I am not sure who "A Listener" was but they certainly did not like the musical offerings of some people at the Chapel!

WHITTINGTON WEDDING 1897

Found this in the Derbyshire Times Chesterfield Herald 24 April 1897, and was amazed at the amount of detail in the description of the wedding.

TREPANNING

Found this in the Sheffield Register, Yorkshire, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Universal Advertiser 8 July 1791

Trepanning was a procedure to relieve pressure on the skull (or as some people believed to give a trapped demon a hole to escape from) a hole was drilled into the skull. I haven't found any evidence yet whether the poor boy lived or died, but it must have been a horrific experience for the young boy.

The picture and information on trepanning was taken from https://www.historyextra.com/…/what-trepanning-ancient-sur…/

Derbyshire Courier 8 July 1848

This cutting was taken from Derbyshire Courier 8 July 1848.

It surprised me that the report about the stolen sheep appears to have been given more newspaper space, than the fact that Smallpox was virulent in Whittington, and children had died!

Derby Mercury 4 December 1778

A guinea (21s) would be quite a lot of money in 1778 , wonder if they caught up with them!

"THE POISONING CASE AT OLD WHITTINGTON "

Found this whilst scouring the newspapers. A very sad incident taken from Derbyshire Times 5 January 1887. 

John Meakin was buried in Old Whittington churchyard, by order of the Coroner, as you can see from the Parish register entry (supplied by Elizabeth Pemberton).  The parish register suffered fire damage but luckily the entry can still be read.

CHILDRENS FETE AT WHITTINGTON

I have heard from different sources how kind and charitable the Swanwick family were to local children, opening up their gardens for summer parties and events. One such event was recorded in the Derbyshire Courier 17 July 1847. It sounds a splendid occasion and I can imagine that the local children had a thoroughly enjoyable day.