Wig & Pen, Northampton

Back in 1892 when the Wig & pen was known as The Black Lion it shared a wall with a butcher’s warehouse. This warehouse was the scene of a murder, when Andrew MacRae killed Annie Pritchard and her infant child. The torso and legs of Annie Pritchard were discovered in an old sack near Althorp Railway Station on 27th August 1892. Andrew MacRae was found guilty of the murder and was hung on 10 January 1893 at Northampton Gaol.

Annie Pritchard’s young baby was never found and there have been reports of people hearing an infant’s crying coming from the back wall of the Wig & Pen. For a link to an article that appeared in the New York Times 18th November 1892 concerning the case click here.