Palmerston and Rugeley

     Sir, - With reference to Mr. Dewar's query concerning the authenticity of the story of the deputation from Rugeley asking Lord Palmerston to change the name of the town because of its association with palmer, the poisoner. I have had the opportunity of going into the matter and have also been in consultation with Mr. Walter N. Landor, J.P., an acknowledged authority on the history of the town and district.
    It seems certain that no deputation from Rugeley asked Lord Palmerston for permission to change the name of the town. It is believed that the story was originally coined by some jester and was so clever that it has been repeated as a fact by many writers of books and articles.
     In 1856 the leading firm of solicitors in the town was Messrs. Landor, Gardner and Landor, and after the jest became current this firm received several inquiries as to the authenticity, which they always denied, though they could not discover the name of the jester. This firm must have known had there been any truth in the story; but it is a fact that some of the inhabitants regretted that the town had harboured such a notorious criminal as Palmer, and one inhabitant wrote a short poem embodying this sentiment.
     It might be said that in these Victorian days the inhabitants held a great pride in their small native towns and felt that the presence of such a notorious villain besmirched its good name. Hence it is possible that some may have talked about changing the name of Rugeley, which became so well known through its association with the prisoner that 60 years after the execution (during the war of 1914-18 when 50,000 soldiers from all parts were camped on Cannock Chase, adjoining Rugeley) scarecely a week elapsed without some of them visiting the grave of the his last victim in the new churchyard as they had heard about Palmer and his 10 - 15 murders from their elders.
     It may be interesting to note that a special Act was passed so that Palmer should have a fair trial in London before three judges, as this would not have been possible in Staffordshire, and the Act is, I believe, still in force.

ARTHUR EVANS
Clerk of the Council, Rugeley.