It’s interesting how certain names have remained constant in Rye’s long history. Lambs, for instance, were long part of the local economic and political scene, frequently serving as jurats and mayor.
Fortunately, only one Lamb has been the intended victim of illegal killing. On March 16 1743 Mayor James Lamb was expected as a guest at a dinner celebrating his son John being appointed as an officer of the Customs Service and his first visit to France. The dinner was on board John’s ship, moored near the fish market.
Feeling unwell, he asked his brother in law, Allen Grebell, to be his deputy. The night was cold, so Mr Lamb lent Grebell his coat. Whilst passing through the churchyard of St. Mary’s on his way home to West Street in Rye, sometime after two in the morning, the unfortunate Grebell was attacked by a local butcher, John Breads, and stabbed viciously several times. Two of the wounds passed through his ribs and into his lungs. Grebell staggered to his nearby home; Breads threw his knife into some bushes and fled the scene.
Once home, Grebell collapsed into a chair, telling his servant that he had been attacked in the churchyard. The servant just thought his master was drunk and went to bed. His brother in law was having a disturbed night. His deceased wife, Martha, appeared to him in a dream, thrice warning him that her brother was in danger.
Finally, Lamb went to Grebell’s house and woke the sleeping servant. They then found Grebell, still collapsed in his chair, his blood spreading across the floor. Surgeons were summoned, but were too late. Allen Grebell was dead. He was buried three days later in a vault under the Clare Chapel at St. Mary’s.
A search of the scene of the crime soon uncovered the murder weapon. The identity of the killer was easily established; his name was carved into its handle. Breads was a regular at the Flushing Inn and he had been heard there to promise revenge on Mayor Lamb for convicting him of selling meat using false weights. He had a previous conviction for violence after stabbing a man in the arm. According to Breads, ‘Butchers kill Lambs!’
Breads was brought before the court, where, surprisingly, given his personal involvement in the case, Mayor Lamb presided. Even more controversially, Lamb also acted as Chief Prosecutor. If that wasn’t enough, he also gave evidence to the Grand Jury. It was all contrary to the tenets of Common Law. It was clear that Breads was the killer. He shouted at Mayor Lamb: “I did not mean to kill Grebell. It was you I meant it for and I would murder you now if I could.”
He would possibly be spared by reason of insanity today. During the trial he had reconsidered his motive, with a report in the Kentish Messenger claiming: “If he had committed the fact, he knew nothing of it, for it was done when he was in Distraction.” Was he claiming insanity or was it perhaps just a ploy?
Naturally, Breads was convicted of murder. On June 8 he made his final journey, stopping for one last drink at the Flushing Inn. He was hanged at Gibbet Marsh,
opposite Rye Windmill. The execution cost £11 and 11 pence, which also covered the last drink for the condemned, the executioner and the executioner’s assistant.
As an added refinement, after death, Breads’ body was exposed in the gibbet, an iron cage, to serve as an example. His remains stayed there for almost 20 years. This was a curious thing to happen. Normally gibbeting was only imposed on the most terrible murderers, ordered by Royal Prerogative. Mayor Lamb certainly made sure that his revenge was complete.
There was some local disquiet at the conduct of the trial. Henry Dodson, a local lawyer, wrote: “How fair a trial the prisoner had, I leave the Reader to determine, after he is informed the above Mr Lamb, was Mayor, Coroner, Party Prosecuting, Judge, Witness and Sheriff, in Presenting, Trying and Executing the said John Breads. I suppose he was Mayor, Coroner and Sheriff, as essential to the office of Mayoralty; Party and Prosecutor, as Brother in Law to the unfortunate good Gentleman that was killed; and Judge, and Witness out of Zeal, in getting the Prisoner proved Sane.”
Image Credits: Kt bruce , James Stewart .
Lovely little film about this in Rye Heritage Centre, down on The Strand. Well worth watching, local residents used to portray the character’s. Maybe drop a couple of quid in the donation box after, or even stay and see the Rye Town Model.