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Today, Burnham Market is an idyllic village on the North Norfolk coast full of chic, wonderful shops and places to meet, eat and relax.

This was not always so, however. As it is Halloween soon, it seems fitting to explore a darker side to this now very fashionable community.

 

 

On August 10th 1835, Fanny Billing, 46, and Kate Frary, 40, of Burnham Market were hanged for murder outside Norwich Castle. The story goes that death was mercifully quick for Fanny, whereas Kate choked to death slowly in front of the gathered crowds on onlookers. Their death masks, which apparently reflect the two extremes of the ways in which they died – one peaceful, while the other is savagely twisted, exist today in the dungeons beneath Norwich Castle Museum.

Not long after, Peter Taylor, also of Burnham Market, and friend and neighbour of Fanny and Kate met the same fate before another crowd. Originally cleared of any involvement, it seems that the law eventually caught up with him.

 

 

The three were charged with poisoning Kate’s husband and Peter’s wife (both from Burnham). Allegedly several other deaths occurred in suspicious circumstances and other murders were attempted.

The murderers and their victims lived in a row of three cottages that stood at right angles to what is now North Street. The arsenic used in the poisonings was purchased from the shop, which is still The Pharmacy today.

 

 

The origins of the murders seem to lie with Kate Frary, who was well known in Burnham for her extra-marital cavorting. She had attempted to take her Husband’s life on a prior occasion with the assistance of an old friend from Wells – Hannah Shorten, who was a ‘witch’ of sorts and an expert in love charms and other, deadlier potions, which contained her favourite ingredient, white arsenic. Bob Frary eventually died on February 27th, 1835. He was buried in Westgate churchyard, but not for long, as his body was exhumed less than one month later.

It transpired that the poison that killed Bob Frary had been administered by Blakeney-born Fanny Billing.

Following Bob’s death, Kate Frary discussed further killings with Peter Taylor, a part-time barber who was having an affair with Fanny Billing. Next to experience their deadly tendencies was Peter’s wife, Mary. After Mary, Fanny’s husband, Jim was to be ‘dropped’. An unsuccessful attempt on Jim’s life was abandoned when Fanny was arrested – for the murder of Mary Taylor.

Several witnesses ended up describing Mary’s last hours to the coroner and to the magistrates sitting in the Hoste Arms.

The flurry of interest in the Norfolk village (even mentioned in The Times at the time) soon died down after the conviction and hanging of the three murderers. Their web of lust, lies, and ultimately murder became part of the local folklore.