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Bathpool Park
Bathpool Park is a public park in a rural area between Newcastle-under-Lyme and Kidsgrove, Staffordshire (near the border with Cheshire Cheshire ( ) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in North West England. It is bordered by Merseyside to the north-west, Greater Manchester to the north-east, Derbyshire to the east, Staffordshire to the south-east, and Shrop ...). The park became notorious in 1975 as the location for the murder of Lesley Whittle. Lesley's body was found hanging from a steel wire at the bottom of a shaft in the park. Lesley fell or was pushed by a killer known as the Black Panther, Donald Neilson. Neilson was sentenced to life for Whittle's and four other murders, eventually dying as a prisoner in December 2011. In 1977, a feature film about Whittle's murder, entitled ''The Black Panther'', was released. Parts of the film were shot on location in Bathpool Park. Bathpool Park is owned and managed by Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lesley Whittle
The kidnapping and murder of Lesley Whittle occurred on 14 January 1975. Whittle, a teenage heiress, was kidnapped at gunpoint from her home in Highley, Shropshire, by Donald Neilson; a notorious burglar and murderer known as the Black Panther. Whittle was driven 65 miles from her home to an underground drainage shaft of a reservoir at Bathpool Park in Kidsgrove, Staffordshire, where she was tethered, naked, upon a narrow platform below ground by a wire noose affixed around her neck and with a hood placed over her head as Neilson made several unsuccessful attempts to collect a £50,000 ransom from her family over the following days. She is believed to have either fallen to her death from this shaft, or been pushed to her death by Neilson, on or about 17 January, causing her to die of vagal inhibition. Her emaciated body was discovered hanging from this shaft on 7 March 1975. The kidnapping and murder of Lesley Whittle dominated national headlines for eleven months; the inv ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Public Park
An urban park or metropolitan park, also known as a city park, municipal park (North America), public park, public open space, or municipal gardens (United Kingdom, UK), is a park or botanical garden in cities, densely populated suburbia and other municipal corporation, incorporated places that offers open space reserve, green space and places for recreation to residents and visitors. Urban parks are generally Landscape architecture, landscaped by design, instead of lands left in their natural state. The design, operation and maintenance, repair and operations, maintenance is usually done by government agencies, typically on the local government, local level, but may occasionally be contracted out to a park conservancy, "friends of" group, or private sector company. Depending on size, budget, and land features, which varies considerably among individual parks, common features include playgrounds, gardens, hiking, running, fitness trails or paths, bridle paths, sports fields and c ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Newcastle-under-Lyme
Newcastle-under-Lyme is a market town and the administrative centre of the Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme in Staffordshire, England. It is adjacent to the city of Stoke-on-Trent. At the 2021 United Kingdom census, 2021 census, the population was 75,082. Newcastle grew up in the twelfth century around the castle which gave the town its name, and received its first charter in 1173. The town's early industries included Hatmaking, millinery, silk weaving, and coal mining, but despite its proximity to the Staffordshire Potteries, Potteries it did not develop a ceramics trade. Toponym The name "Newcastle" is derived from a mid-12th century motte and bailey that was built after Stephen, King of England, King Stephen granted lands in the area to Ranulf de Gernon, 4th Earl of Chester, Ranulf de Gernon, Earl of Chester; the land was known for his support during the civil war known as The Anarchy. The element ''Lyme'' is found throughout the locality, such as in Lyme Brook and the Fore ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kidsgrove
Kidsgrove is a town in the borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, England, on the Cheshire border. It is part of the Potteries Urban Area, along with Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme. It has a population of 26,276 (2019 census). Most of the town is in the Kidsgrove ward, whilst the western part is in Ravenscliffe. History From the 18th century, Kidsgrove grew around coal mining, although the pits have now closed. Clough Hall Mansion in the town is now demolished. The engineer James Brindley cut the first Harecastle Tunnel on the Trent and Mersey Canal near the town; Thomas Telford cut the second. Kidsgrove also marks the southern extremity of the Macclesfield Canal. There is a legend regarding a headless ghost that is said to haunt the Harecastle Tunnel. The ghost is said to be that of a young woman who was murdered inside the tunnel. She is referred to as the ''"Kidsgrove Boggart"''. R.J. Mitchell, the designer of the Spitfire fighter aircraft, was bor ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Staffordshire
Staffordshire (; postal abbreviation ''Staffs''.) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the West Midlands (region), West Midlands of England. It borders Cheshire to the north-west, Derbyshire and Leicestershire to the east, Warwickshire to the south-east, the West Midlands (county), West Midlands county and Worcestershire to the south, and Shropshire to the west. The largest settlement is the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The county has an area of and a population of 1,131,052. Stoke-on-Trent is located in the north and is immediately adjacent to the town of Newcastle-under-Lyme. Stafford is in the centre of the county, Burton upon Trent in the east, and the city of Lichfield and Tamworth, Staffordshire, Tamworth in the south-east. For local government purposes Staffordshire comprises a non-metropolitan county, with nine districts, and the Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority area of Stoke-on-Trent. The county Historic counties of England, historical ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cheshire
Cheshire ( ) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in North West England. It is bordered by Merseyside to the north-west, Greater Manchester to the north-east, Derbyshire to the east, Staffordshire to the south-east, and Shropshire to the south; to the west it is bordered by the Welsh counties of Flintshire and Wrexham County Borough, Wrexham, and has a short coastline on the Dee Estuary. The largest settlement is Warrington. The county has an area of and had a population of 1,095,500 at the 2021 United Kingdom census, 2021 census. The areas around the River Mersey in the north of the county are the most densely populated, with Warrington, Runcorn, Widnes, and Ellesmere Port located on the river. The city of Chester lies in the west of the county, Crewe in the south, and Macclesfield in the east. For Local government in England, local government purposes Cheshire comprises four Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority areas: Cheshire East, Cheshire We ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Donald Neilson
Donald Neilson (born Donald Nappey; 1 August 1936 – 18 December 2011), also known as "The Black Panther," "The Phantom," and "Handy Andy," was an English armed robber, kidnapper and murderer. Neilson carried out a series of sub-post office robberies between 1971 and 1974, killing three people. In 1975, he kidnapped for a £50,000 ransom Lesley Whittle, an heiress from Shropshire, who died in captivity. Neilson was arrested later that year, convicted of four murders and sentenced to life imprisonment in July 1976. He remained incarcerated until his death in 2011. Early life Donald Neilson was born Donald Nappey in Bradford, West Riding of Yorkshire, on 1 August 1936. Neilson reportedly had a difficult childhood, losing his mother to breast cancer when he was 10. He was also the target of bullying at school due to his surname's similarity to the word "nappy". Neilson served in the British Army and was posted in Kenya, Cyprus and Aden as part of the King's Own Yorkshire Light ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Black Panther (1977 Film)
''The Black Panther'' is a 1977 British crime film directed and produced by Ian Merrick, his first feature, and stars Donald Sumpter, Debbie Farrington and Marjorie Yates. Its subject is the real life ex-military criminal Donald Neilson, known as the "Black Panther".Chibnall & Petley p.225 Plot The story begins with Neilson's robbery at Heywood Post Office in Greater Manchester on 16 February 1972. Neilson loses his black-hooded mask after a fight with the owner, but manages to escape. He later travels home to his wife and teenaged daughter, who are unaware of his criminal activity. Neilson is a strict family man, expecting complete obedience from his wife and daughter, while planning his next robberies and future kidnapping. On 15 February 1974, Neilson robs the Post Office in New Park, shooting the sub-postmaster in the process. A reward in set for Neilson at £5,000. While collecting newspaper articles on his activities, Neilson reminisces on his time in the army, and prepa ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council
Newcastle-under-Lyme is a market town and the administrative centre of the Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme in Staffordshire, England. It is adjacent to the city of Stoke-on-Trent. At the 2021 census, the population was 75,082. Newcastle grew up in the twelfth century around the castle which gave the town its name, and received its first charter in 1173. The town's early industries included millinery, silk weaving, and coal mining, but despite its proximity to the Potteries it did not develop a ceramics trade. Toponym The name "Newcastle" is derived from a mid-12th century motte and bailey that was built after King Stephen granted lands in the area to Ranulf de Gernon, Earl of Chester; the land was known for his support during the civil war known as The Anarchy. The element ''Lyme'' is found throughout the locality, such as in Lyme Brook and the Forest of Lyme. This ultimately derives from a Brythonic word related to the modern Welsh "llwyf", meaning elm. Elm trees co ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Parks And Open Spaces In Staffordshire
A park is an area of natural, semi-natural or planted space set aside for human enjoyment and recreation or for the protection of wildlife or natural habitats. Urban parks are green spaces set aside for recreation inside towns and cities. National parks and country parks are green spaces used for recreation in the countryside. State parks and provincial parks are administered by sub-national government states and agencies. Parks may consist of grassy areas, rocks, soil and trees, but may also contain buildings and other artifacts such as monuments, fountains or playground structures. Many parks have fields for playing sports such as baseball and football, and paved areas for games such as basketball. Many parks have trails for walking, biking and other activities. Some parks are built adjacent to bodies of water or watercourses and may comprise a beach or boat dock area. Urban parks often have benches for sitting and may contain picnic tables and barbecue grills. The l ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
