Jill Evans
LightNews LightNews
banner
jillrevans.bsky.social
Jill Evans
@jillrevans.bsky.social
620 followers 460 following 260 posts
I research and write about the history of crime and punishment in Gloucestershire, England. Author of 5 local history books. Website: www.gloscrimehistory.uk. E-mail jevans.gloscrime@btinternet.com
Posts Replies Media Videos
Pinned
jillrevans.bsky.social
Jill Evans @jillrevans.bsky.social · 20d
At the Tree: Executions in Gloucestershire, 1722-1790, by yours truly, is available from:
Amazon (www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1806054086)
eBay (www.ebay.co.uk/itm/38944928...)
Me! I can take payments by bank transfer or via PayPal. Message me on here or email jevans.gloscrime@btinternet.com.
Front cover of book, text 'At the Tree' in top half, in large bold black type, subtitle and author in bottom half, 'Executions in Gloucestershire, 1722-1790' and 'Jill Evans' in smaller bold black type. Background beige, image spread over whole cover, from an 18th century engraving depicting view of Gloucester looking across Alney Island, with buildings and hills at the top, fishermen on the River Severn at the bottom, and Over causeway on the right. The county gallows is shown, placed just to left of the word Executions'.
Reposted by Jill Evans
justsmudge.bsky.social
🌿☕ Cheltenham, the most complete regency town in England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

Birthplace of Brian Jones (Rolling Stones) Richard O'Brian(Rocky Horror) Wurzel(Motorhead) Eddie the Eagle(ski jumper) FKA Twigs(singer) Robert Hardy(Harry Potter) & of course Gustav Holst(composer)

@englishheritage.bsky.social #blooms
January 29, 2026 at 6:33 AM
Reposted by Jill Evans
drangelabuckley.bsky.social
In my latest post on Substack (for paid subs) I share my tips and advice on tracking a convict through the labyrinthine paperwork of the Victorian penal system 🔗 drangelabuckley.substack.com/p/how-to-tra...
How to track a convict
An introductory guide to criminal records
drangelabuckley.substack.com
January 26, 2026 at 9:49 AM
Reposted by Jill Evans
atticusfinch-105.bsky.social
22 January 1858

Beatrice Webb was born in Standish, Gloucestershire.

She was one of the founders of the London School of Economics and played a crucial role in formation of the Fabian Society.

#History #HistoryMatters #HistoryFacts
January 22, 2026 at 11:09 PM
jillrevans.bsky.social
A sketch of the old Booth Hall in Westgate St, Gloucester, which held the county quarter sessions and assizes until the Shire Hall was built in 1816. From the Illustrated London News, 23 Jan 1847. (Image from British Newspaper Archive.)
Black and white sketch, captioned 'THE BOOTH HALL, GLOUCESTER.' Shows a tall, heavily timbered building, 3 storeys high, plus one gabled attic room. Open gallery across length of second floor. 3 doors on ground floor, the one on the right showing a male in breeches coming out carrying something, possibly a tray. A man in a smock and breeches leads a horse along the lane in front of the building. On his left there is another dilapidated-looking building.
January 22, 2026 at 11:38 AM
Reposted by Jill Evans
sabrinariverfolk.bsky.social
In 1858, the Victorian architect William Burges designed plans for this extraordinary Sabrina water fountain for Gloucester city centre, my home town. However it was never made. I am campaigning for a Sabrina statue to be made for Gloucester docks 200 year celebration in 2027! ⛲🧜🏼‍♀️⛵
#gloucester
January 21, 2026 at 10:48 AM
Reposted by Jill Evans
fotofacade.bsky.social
✨Deerhurst, Gloucestershire. A kitchen in the nave and a bedroom in the chancel hid within plain sight an Anglo-Saxon chapel built by Earl Odda (a relation to Edward the Confessor). Re-discovered in 1865, it is the most complete surviving Saxon church in England.
January 20, 2026 at 7:00 AM
Reposted by Jill Evans
pastpostcard.bsky.social
Yesterday I bought some trousers & last night I went to the Atlantic (the local disco). There was some nice blokes there, about 3 or 4 Punk blokes & lots of punk girls. My zip broke while I was pogoing & no one seemed to have any safety pins, even the punks.
January 14, 2026 at 8:30 AM
Reposted by Jill Evans
stroudstory.bsky.social
Peekin' in for #MonumentsMonday to the tomb of Richard de la Bere, d. 1636, at Bishop's Cleeve, #Gloucestershire. Possibly made by Samuel Baldwin of Stroud, it cost £400, although it's more ornate than the tombs here: stroudlocalhistorysociety.org.uk/people-places/…
View of a C17th male tomb effigy seen through bars of tomb framework. He has curly hair, a beard and curling moustache, and an enormous ruff!
January 19, 2026 at 9:40 AM
jillrevans.bsky.social
Gloucestershire Family History Society has lots of lovely local history books for sale in its shop - including my latest! Any profits they make from sales go towards keeping the society going, so they're well worth a look if you're interesting in Gloucestershire history.
gfhs.org.uk/shop/
Screenshot of page from Gloucestershire Family History Society website, online 'Shop' page. Red banner at top. Front covers of 3 books shown in full: Historical Monuments and Genealogical Collections Relative to the County of Gloucester, £8.00; At the Tree: Executions in Gloucestershire, 1722-1790, £10.95; Cradley - the Victoria History of Herefordshire, £15.00. Top half of 3 works shown below. Shopping cart on right, with product categories below.
January 18, 2026 at 10:25 AM
jillrevans.bsky.social
At the Littledean Petty Sessions in Jan 1881, a man was summoned to prove why he shouldn't pay towards the maintenance of his son, who had been sent to an Industrial School for stealing money - from his father. From The Forester, 20 Jan 1881. Image from British Newspaper Archive. #Gloucestershire
AN INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL CASE Joseph Sergeaunt was summoned by Supt. McRae to show cause why he should not contribute to the maintenance of his son, who some time ago was sent to an Industrial School by these justices on a charge of stealing money from his father. Ordered to pay 5s. per week.
January 17, 2026 at 11:01 AM
Reposted by Jill Evans
gloucesternews.bsky.social
An ambitious project to restore nature-rich wetlands along the River Severn is inviting local people to find out more about its plans later this month.

gloucesternewscentre.co.uk/eelscapes-pr...
January 17, 2026 at 8:00 AM
Reposted by Jill Evans
kpw1453.bsky.social
Part of the ‘Great Pavement’ from Woodchester Roman Villa in Gloucestershire. Dating to the 4th century, the mosaic fragment is now part of the collections at the British Museum. 📸 My own. #MosaicMonday #RomanBritain #Woodchester
January 12, 2026 at 7:32 AM
jillrevans.bsky.social
Prinknash Abbey, Gloucestershire
January 11, 2026 at 9:58 AM
jillrevans.bsky.social
A sad case heard at Gloucester's Epiphany Quarter Sessions in Jan 1908. Suicide was a criminal offence until 1961 and those who survived an attempt often found themselves in court.
(Gloucester Journal, 11 Jan 1908. Image via British Newspaper Archive.)
ATTEMPTED SUICIDE William George Rowles (25), clerk, pleaded guilty to attempting to commit suicide by throwing himself into the Docks at Gloucester on Nov. 30th.- Mr. Porter prosecuted, and prisoner having promised not to repeat the offence, and his father undertaking to take care of him, he was bound over to come up if called upon.
January 10, 2026 at 11:18 AM
jillrevans.bsky.social
At the Tree: Executions in Gloucestershire, 1722-1790, by yours truly, is available from:
Amazon (www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1806054086)
eBay (www.ebay.co.uk/itm/38944928...)
Me! I can take payments by bank transfer or via PayPal. Message me on here or email jevans.gloscrime@btinternet.com.
Front cover of book, text 'At the Tree' in top half, in large bold black type, subtitle and author in bottom half, 'Executions in Gloucestershire, 1722-1790' and 'Jill Evans' in smaller bold black type. Background beige, image spread over whole cover, from an 18th century engraving depicting view of Gloucester looking across Alney Island, with buildings and hills at the top, fishermen on the River Severn at the bottom, and Over causeway on the right. The county gallows is shown, placed just to left of the word Executions'.
January 9, 2026 at 12:27 PM
Reposted by Jill Evans
simoninsuffolk.bsky.social
Don't even think about it. A woman grabs the beard of a man who is lifting the lid of her cooking pot. An early 16th Century misericord carving in Bristol Cathedral.
January 8, 2026 at 8:58 AM
jillrevans.bsky.social
Drunk in charge of a horse and trap on Christmas Day - Gloucester City Petty Sessions, reported in the Gloucestershire Chronicle, 2 January 1909. (Image from British Newspaper Archive)
CITY PETTY SESSIONS, WEDNESDAY.- Before Messrs Trevor Powell (in the chair), A. Woodward, T.Blinkhorn, and A.J. Evans. A CHRISTMAS DAY OFFENCE John Bateman, 3, Station-road, pleaded guilty to being drunk while in charge of a horse and trap on December 25th. P.C. Davies said on Christmas Day while he was on duty at the Cross, he saw defendant driving a horse and trap up Eastgate-street. He was swaying about in the trap, which was stopped by the police. Fined 1s. and costs, or seven days.
January 1, 2026 at 11:00 AM
jillrevans.bsky.social
Need an antidote to all that sugar, spice and goodwill? How about a book concerning 203 people executed in public over 69 years? 'At the Tree: Executions in Gloucestershire, 1722-1790', available from Amazon, paperback £10.99, eBook £3.99, or message me if you'd like to buy pb direct from me.
Front cover of book, wording in black: At the Tree, Executions in Gloucestershire, 1722-1790, Jill Evans. Background picture largely beige, is old engraving of view towards Gloucester, buildings and hills in background, river in foreground with two men fishing, Over causeway to right, gallows just left of word 'Executions'.
December 30, 2025 at 12:20 PM
Reposted by Jill Evans
stephlawrence75.bsky.social
The most horrific incident has occurred in #Gloucestershire on Boxing Day.

Please give whatever you can to help support Tom (dad & husband) rebuild. 💙 gofund.me/84344dbb2

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Mother and two children die in Boxing Day house fire in Stroud
One man, a serving police officer, escaped the fire but his wife and their two children died in the blaze.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 30, 2025 at 9:13 AM
Reposted by Jill Evans
durotrigesdig.bsky.social
Oceanus, with lobsters emerging from his forehead, vomits up two dolphins

Was he *being sick on porpoise*?

(apologies)

Detail from a 4th century floor found at Withington #Roman villa #Gloucestershire and lifted in 1812

📷 © The Trustees of the British Museum

Happy last #MosaicMonday of the year
Mosaic depiction of Oceanus, a male, bearded figure with long flowing hair and carrying a trident, facing forward whilst lobster claws appear from his head and two dolphins emerge from his mouth with two more dolphins in the foreground
December 29, 2025 at 8:09 AM
Reposted by Jill Evans
arrivalists.bsky.social
In 1937, Charlton played Chelsea in heavy fog. By the 60th minute, visibility was gone and the match was abandoned.

Charlton’s goalkeeper, Sam Bartram, didn’t know. For fifteen minutes, he stood alone in his goal,waiting—while the referee, players, and crowd had already left.

The Ghost Keeper.
December 25, 2025 at 10:47 AM
jillrevans.bsky.social
Merry Christmas everyone! Illustration is from the Tewkesbury Register, 19 December 1903. (Image via British Newspaper Archive.)
Black and white sketch, headed at top with words, 'We Greet Our Readers With The Wish Sincere, A Merry Christmas And A Glad New Year.' In the foreground, Santa, wearing a hooded coat and black boots, with a sash or big scarf over one shoulder and across his body, helps a nervous-looking young woman forwards, over the snow. She wears a fur-trimmed long skirt and jacket and has a fur muff. '1904' is written on the front of the fur edging of her jacket. In the background is the outline of a sleigh and two reindeer, and a rising sun on the horizon. Signed on bottom right, first name unclear, possibly Frank, surname Wright.
December 24, 2025 at 9:54 AM
jillrevans.bsky.social
My Dad, who was about 11, was evacuated to somewhere safe in the countryside. When his mother found out that he's picked up head lice there, she went and fetched him back to London. Better to face bombs in her opinion!
chiddickstree.bsky.social Paul Chiddicks @chiddickstree.bsky.social · Dec 21
Starting on 1st September 1939 and in the space of just three days, over 1.5 MILLION children were sent to rural locations considered to be safe. Some were fine, others had terrible stories to tell on their return…

youtu.be/E4mC4HdjJwQ?...
The Great Evacuation of 1939: Children Flee Britain | War Archives
YouTube video by War Archives
youtu.be
December 21, 2025 at 9:51 AM
Reposted by Jill Evans
chartresfi.bsky.social
Playing hide and seek in a church is so much fun!
A pointy snouted something (fox?) thinks they've found the perfect spot at St Nicholas, Hatherop.
#SundayStonework
December 21, 2025 at 8:45 AM
Reposted by Jill Evans
ancestralenq.bsky.social
73 bodies now uncovered at a medieval cemetery for executed criminals at West End Farm, Brackley Road, Buckingham. 👇
BBC News - More remains uncovered at Buckingham 'execution' cemetery - BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
More remains uncovered at Buckingham 'execution' cemetery
Archaeologists believe the site in Buckingham was a burial ground for executed criminals.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 21, 2025 at 9:19 AM