Shot barmaid's memorial restored

A memorial to a barmaid who was murdered in Swindon in more than 100 years ago has been restored.

Esther Swinford was shot in 1903, by her jealous boyfriend in the Ship Inn, as it was known, in Westcott Place.

He was found guilty of her murder and sentenced to be hanged. The memorial was paid for by the people of the town but became derelict and overgrown.

It has now been returned to Radnor Street cemetery, having been cleaned by a local memorial company.

'Totally black'

Roy Bacon from Co-operative Funeralcare said the monument took time and effort to restore.

"It was a pile of rubble and totally black," said Mr Bacon.

"The cross was lying down on top of the grave, all the posts and curves were in pieces.

"We brought the memorial back, scrubbed it up, removed all the grime until we're back to the original memorial."

Nineteen-year-old Miss Swinford had been engaged to her partner Richard Palmer, when she got "cold feet".

In response, Palmer told her that "if he could not have her, then no-one else could", before returning to the pub and killing her.

Esther's cousin, Jean Allen, who is also a member of the Swindon Society, said the story had become part of the town's history.

"Esther's mother talked about it throughout my childhood," she said.

"When she was ill and about to die, she talked about it more. It had a really big impact on her life."

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The Swindon Society
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