Would you buy this house? đź—ˇ

How Norwich's most handsome murderer really messed up.

Alright?

I write this in Ibiza airport, of all places, scarcely able to contain my excitement at the prospect of Norwich Airport’s arrivals lounge (update since landing: it exceeded even my wildest expectations).

But today’s newsletter isn’t about Norwich’s airport (trust me, I had a look. The best thing I could find was that the original airfield used to be near Mousehold Heath). In keeping with the typical themes of this newsletter, we’re returning to Norwich’s colourful assortment of murderers.

It’s time you met James Bloomfield Rush. Despite all of the gruesome events that have unfolded in our fine City over the centuries, James is perhaps the most famous perpetrator of them all.

This story could’ve been plucked from an Agatha Christie novel, but unfortunately, Aggie wasn’t available to tell it, so you’ll have to make do with me.

It’s also told on the Norwich Pub Tour. If you want to book onto our next one at the end of August, tickets are on sale here.

The cast of characters.

It’s the 1840s in Wymondham. Or at least, it was back then. Norwich is right in the midst of industrialisation, but the surrounding towns and villages are still very much dependent on the land. Wymondham is no exception.

James Rush - Our protagonist. James is a farmer who rents his land from the wealthy owners of Stanfield Hall. He has 9 (!) kids, a pregnant mistress, and two days left to pay a significant debt to his landlord.

Isaac Jermy (Senior) - The owner of Stanfield Hall and James Rush’s landlord. Isaac was the Recorder of Norwich, which meant he could play “Three Blind Mice” on the recorder better than anyone else in the City. Not really - it was a legal title bestowed upon the most senior judge in Norwich. So yeah, he was important. And rich.

Isaac Jermy (Junior) - Isaac Jermy Senior’s son. If his Dad is the Recorder of Norwich, Isaac Jermy Junior is more of a piccolo.

Emily Sandford - James Rush’s Governess. Also, his mistress. Also pregnant.

There are a few extra characters that you’ll meet shortly, but these four are the main ones.

James’ plan.

James was in a spot of bother. He’d borrowed money from Isaac Jermy Snr to buy a new farm, and was days from eviction if he couldn’t pay the money back. He had nine kids to support from a previous marriage, with another child on the way, courtesy of his pregnant mistress, Emily Sandford.

Meanwhile, his landlords, the Jermys, were having problems of their own. They were being hassled by a Londoner named John Larner, who claimed the house belonged to him and his cousin, Thomas Jermy, and should be returned to its rightful owners.

I mean, you can see why people were fighting over it…

In the turmoil, a desperate James Rush spots an opportunity.

What happened next is elaborate, and involves forged documents, 19th-century legalese and too many people called Jermy. But I’ll try to summarise it thus:

James Rush decides he’s going to kill Isaac Jermy, and forge documents - supposedly signed by Isaac before his death - that clear him of his debt. To get away Scot-free, he’s going to frame John Larner’s cousin, Thomas Jermy, for the murder. After all, Thomas has a really clear incentive to get rid of Isaac Jermy.

Step 1 of that plan means getting Thomas Jermy to Norfolk. After all, he can’t be framed for a murder in Wymondham if he’s chilling in London.

So, with the help of his pregnant mistress, Emily, James pretends to side with John and Thomas’ claim for Stanfield Hall, and asks the latter to come to Norfolk to sign some declarations.

It works. Thomas Jermy comes to Wymondham, presumably armed with a biro. The trap is set. Still with me?

The murders.

Naturally, James Rush couldn’t just stroll into Stanfield Hall and start killing people. Remember, his plan was to frame Thomas Jermy, so if anyone saw him (and survived to tell the tale), his plan would be foiled.

So James invests in a disguise - a wig and a false beard. That’ll do it, right? Under the cover of darkness and a cloak, he’s hoping it’ll be enough.

On the evening of 28th November, 1848, he finished a distracted dinner with Emily, put on his disguise, and headed to the mansion, pistol hidden under his cloak.

First, he encountered Isaac Jermy Senior and shot him twice. He died instantly. Next, he met Isaac Jermy Jnr in the hallway and killed him too. So far, so good. Then it all started to go wrong.

Upon hearing the commotion, Isaac Jermy Jnr’s wife came to investigate, and she too was shot. But unfortunately for Rush, not fatally. Around the same time, a servant was shot in the leg, but she got a good look at the disguised murderer before managing to escape.

All in all, a bit of a botched job.

Rush fled, but not before leaving a note that said the following:

“There are seven of us here, three of us outside and four of us inside the Hall, all armed as you see us two. If any of the servants offer to leave the premises or follow us, you will be shot dead. Therefore, all of you keep to the servants’ hall, and you nor anyone else will take any harm, for we are only come to take possession of the Stanfield Hall property.”

It was signed by a Mr. Thomas Jermy.

The aftermath.

I hope you’re sitting down for this, because you’ll be shocked to hear that Rush’s disguise didn’t work, nor did his misleading note. Whilst he had tried to disguise his face, he was recognised by the surviving women because he’d done nothing to disguise the other 90% of his body.

He planned to use Emily Sandford (his pregnant mistress) as an alibi, but she refused to support his claim that he was at home all along.

So, in 1849, after a very public trial, he was hanged in front of an “immense crowd” at Norwich Castle.

James Rush’s legacy.

This story garnered significant media attention, capturing the imaginations of plenty. One such woman who enjoyed the drama of it all was Anna Maria "Marie" Tussaud.

Madame Tussaud created a waxwork of James Rush - one of the last works before her death a year later. It would be displayed in the London museum for over 100 years, until the 1970s.

Some extra tidbits.

James’ fame was explained in part because he was considered a very handsome man, as is plainly obvious from this drawing of him:

Phwoar.

His death mask is still on display at the Wellcome Collection in London. They also have the full report of the trial, which they’ve published for free online. You can read all 106 pages, complete with illustrations and incredible detail about all the characters you’ve met today, right here.

Oh, and if you’re interested, you can actually buy Stanfield Hall right now. It’s on the market for just £4.5m. Here it is on Rightmove.

Just watch out for any disgruntled tenants, yeah?

See you next Sunday,

Secret Norwich.

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