Murder at the farm: Who killed Carl Bridgewater?

by Paul Foot

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction

272 pages, Hardcover

First published September 11, 1986

Reviews

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was 15 years old when Carl Bridgewater was shot dead whilst delivering papers at Yew Tree Farm, near Storbridge. He had only being doing the papers for a couple of months when he was allegedly dragged into the house by burglars and shot in the sitting-room. The image of this description haunted me for years.

I recall seeing pictures of him in the local newspaper Express & Star in his Scout uniform and, as a fellow Scout, I think it was the first murder to ever affect me personally.

For what it's worth I'm certain the wrong people were convicted. Many locals are certain that they know who the guilty party was...[long-dead now]... so why on earth did the police never do anything about this information? It's a question that I fear will never be answered.

I drive past the spot where he was murdered every day, going to work. For many years Yew Tree Farm was left empty and was slowly falling down. But about 3 years ago someone started to do the old place up...and a superb job they have made of it too. This Christamas [2007] they even had a Rudolph, sleigh and Santa high on the roof [it's a very tall building].

I guess Carl would have liked it... indeed I think he probably does.

God bless you Carl.

[Jack · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's kind of in three parts. First part a fascinating setup, middle part dry forensic reporting of evidence and third part captivating analysis of the flaws in the trial and the campaign that eventually led to the acquittals of the men originally convicted of the murder. It's fascinating, if not always engaging (the middle third is hard going but worth persevering with).

[Lynda Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very fascinating book and I don't think we're ever going to know who murdered poor Carl....a total mystery it seems, sadly.