The William Salt Library in Stafford is a good place for researching local history:

Details of the William Salt Library can be obtained from their web site William Salt Library Thanks to the co-operation of Mrs.Thea Randall, Head of Archive Services. The William Salt Library have compiled a list of their numerous sources linked to the story of Palmer. Click here to see their list of resources.

The Staffordshire Record Office in Stafford is another good place for researching local history:

Details of the Staffordshire Record Office can be obtained from their web site Staffordshire Record Office Again thanks to the co-operation of Mrs.Thea Randall, Head of Archive Services the Staffordshire Record Office have compiled a list of their numerous sources linked to the story of Palmer. Click here to see their list of resources.

The Cannock District Library is another good place for
researching local history:

Details of the Cannock District Library can be obtained from their web site Cannock District Library Thanks to the co-operation of Mrs. Lisa Smith Community Librarian and ICT Co-ordinator. The Cannock District Library has compiled a list of their sources linked to the story of Palmer. Click here to see their list of resources.

Rugeley was the birthplace of William Palmer

Details of the Rugeley Library can be obtained from their web site Rugeley Library Thanks again to the co-operation of Mrs. Lisa Smith Community Librarian and ICT Co-ordinator we have a list of Palmer resources held at Rugeley Library. Click here to see the list of resources at Rugeley Library

Books used in the research for this Web Site:

• llustrated Life, Career, and Trial of William Palmer of Rugeley
  Pub. 1856 Ward and Lock
• Illustrated Life and Career of William Palmer of Rugeley
  Pub. 1856 Ward and Lock
• The Illustrated and Unabridged Edition of The Times Report of the Trial of William Palmer, for Poisoning John Parsons Cook of Rugeley. Pub. 1856 Ward and Lock
• The Life & Career of Dr. William Palmer of Rugeley, George Fletcher M.D.(Cantab)
  Pub. T. Fisher Unwin Ltd. 1925
• They Hanged My Saintly Billy, Robert Graves (First published in 1957 by Cassell & Company)
  Pub. Xanadu Books (paperback edition) ISBN 1 85480 004 3 (Due for reprint?)
• A Memorable Medley of Great Black Country Characters AristotleTump
  A Bugle Publication 1986 (For those who want more detail on the Dudley hangman George Smith)
• Lord High Executioner (An Unashamed Look at hangmen, Headsmen, and their Kind)
  Howard Engel, Pub. Robson Books Ltd. ISBN 1 86105 096 8
• Palmer the Rugeley Poisoner (1912) Reginald B. Jones
  Published by Daisy Bank Printing and Publishing Company
• Palmer The Rugeley Poisoner (1935) Dudley Barker
  Published by Duckworth (Loaned to me by Roger Butters)
• Trial of William Palmer (Part of the Notable English Trials Series) original edited by George H. Knott published by William Hodge and Company Limited in 1912, Second Edition revised by Eric R. Watson, published in 1923.
• The Verbatim Report of the Trial of William Palmer, published by J. Allen in 1856.
• The Pocket Palmer (1992) John Godwin, Published by Benhill Press Ltd.
  Sold with profits going to Katherine House Hospice, Stafford.
• A booklet - Stafford Prison, Sentenced to 200 Years, by A. J. Standley
• Gaols - Staffordshire Study Book 1, booklet by Staffordshire Education Department edited by R. A. Lewis 1974.
  

Newspapers from 1856 used for the study:

• The Rugeley Number of the Illustrated Times February 2nd 1856
• The Illustrated London News - various
• The Staffordshire Advertiser - various