Liverpool Hidden History

Secret Pasts of Everyday Places

  • Home
  • About
  • Shop
  • Events
  • Get In Touch

MYSTERIOUS DEATH AFTER VISIT TO CHILDWALL ABBEY

June 5, 2015 By Steven Horton

One of Liverpool’s oldest pubs is the Childwall Abbey hotel in the heart of the old Childwall village, with parts of the building believed to be over 500 years old. A thriving local nowadays, it was once a popular rural retreat from densely populated Liverpool but one man’s trip out there in 1860 led to him dying in circumstances that were never explained.

On the evening of 1st August 1860 the body of 38 year old George Sumner was found in what was referred to by the Daily Post as a ‘house of ill fame’ in Hotham Street, which runs between London Road and Lord Nelson Street.  His life had taken a serious downturn since the death of his father, who ran a boot makers in Bold Street, the previous December. Although Sumner’s mother had continued the business, he had chosen instead to squander much of his inheritance on drink and prostitutes. This was in stark contrast to his brother Henry, who was an architect and practised in Colquitt Street.

The inquest into Sumner’s death took place before borough coroner Mr P F Curry two days later, the Post describing the circumstances as ‘of a very mysterious character.’ It first heard that he had spent much of the last week of his life with Elizabeth Stevenson, a prostitute who lived at Mr Carefull’s brothel in Hotham Street. Initially he told her he was a sea captain called George Hamilton, but this cover was blown when he went to a bank in Dale Street to get some money and was addressed as Mr Sumner. Admitting his real identity, he then proposed to leave Liverpool and go to Bristol, taking the lady with him.

The coroner was then told that the night before Sumner was due to go to Bristol, he took a cab with two other men to Edge Hill where they stopped for beer and champagne. They then went on to the Childwall Abbey,where they had tea and Sumner went to play bowls but fell over five feet from the wall onto Score Lane. William Grocott, a gardener, deposed that he had seen him fall from the wall but nobody else had. One of the two men he was with, Mr Trayor, went to look for a cab as the one which had brought them out there refused to take him back to Liverpool in that condition. It took about an hour to locate one whilst Sumner remained with his other companion Mr Matthews and it was during this wait that his eyes began to blacken.

Childwall Abbey

Other residents at the brothel said that on returning there Sumner told Mrs Carefull he had been given a good hiding and put his head on her shoulder. He said he knew who had beaten him up, but wouldn’t name them. His nose and chin had cuts, both eyes were both blackened and his arms were sore. He was quite tipsy and said he had been drinking brandy and champagne.  Soon afterwards Mr Carefull returned along with Elizabeth Stevens, both having been out looking for Sumner. The following afternoon they sent for Dr Rowe as he couldn’t hold his head up, but when he returned half an hour after first seeing the patient he had already died.

Dr Rowe told the coroner that Sumner had  a fractured arm and nose and he didn’t hold out much hope for survival. He had gone away for splints and told Mr Carefull to gather Sumner’s closest friends, but his death occurred even sooner than anticipated. A post mortem revealed a fracture to the skull between the eyes and this had been the result of either external violence with a weapon or a heavy fall. The injuries to the arm and wrist were also consistent with a heavy fall whilst drunk.

One crucial point that the inquest couldn’t establish was what had happened to Sumner’s money. He was known to have had £45 (equivalent to £5000 today) when he got in the cab at Edge Hill but when he died there was only £2 on his person.  Inspector Carlisle from the police was asked by the coroner if there was any further information he could gather that could justify an adjournment to the inquest, but he replied that he had investigated as far as he could. He said he had managed to trace everybody who had had any dealings with Sumner in the last few days of his life and there as no more he could do.

When Mr Curry summed up,  he told the jury that the mysterious circumstances meant no clear conclusion could be drawn. Under his instruction, an open verdict was returned meaning that the case could be reopened again if further evidence came to light.  No more information was ever forthcoming and Sumner’s death remains a mystery. The Childwall Abbey remains a thriving pub owned by Marstons Inns and is also a hotel.

Please share:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Google
  • LinkedIn
  • More
  • Reddit
  • Tumblr
  • Pinterest
  • Pocket
  • Email
  • Print

You may like to read these related posts too:

THE DUNBABINS OF CHILDWALL GHASTLY DISCOVERY AT JAMES STREET SCHOOLBOY’S PREMONITION OF HIS OWN DEATH TRAGIC DEATH OF YOUNG MINISTER

Filed Under: People Tagged With: Childwall, Edge Hill, inquest, P F Curry

About Steven Horton

I am a local history author and tour guide based the Liverpool region, specialising in bespoke tours tailor made to suit the individual or group. Whether it be football, Victorian murders or Liverpool sites connected to the US Civil War, I can arrange something that will suit the customers needs, not go where I want to take people.
I have published seventeen books, all of which are available via the shop page. As well as writing for the Liverpool Echo and Times, I have made guest appearances on local radio and TV. Local history is a real passion of mine, if you enjoy my site please feel free to share through facebook, twitter etc and maybe leave a comment.

Comments

  1. David Frodsham says

    November 28, 2016 at 10:20 pm

    Hi Steven,
    A very interesting tale about th Childwall Abbey.
    But could I point out a couple of errors.
    One in the second paragraph – you say 1960 when it should be 1860.
    Also in the fifth paragraph you say Me Carefull when it should be Mr Carefull.
    I hope you don’t mind pointing this out but I am sure you would like to correct it.
    Regards Dave Frodsham

    • Steven Horton says

      December 8, 2016 at 9:34 pm

      Thanks Dave appreciate this and rectified.

ABOUT

Steven Horton has been a freelance writer for 20+ years. He is the author of 7 books has written for the Times, Liverpool Echo, numerous fanzines and websites, and also appeared on Radio Merseyside/City Talk, ITV News and Sky Sports News. ..read more

Upcoming Tours

    No events

Subscribe to our mailing list for news and offers

FOLLOW ME

  • Facebook
  • Flickr
  • Google+
  • Twitter

Tags

Anfield Cemetery Blue Coat School Broadgreen Castle Street children Childwall cholera City Centre crime Dale Street derelict Dingle Edge Hill fire Football George's Landing Stage Ireland Lime Street Liverpool & Manchester Railway Liverpool city council Liverpool Corporation Liverpool Mercury Liverpool Roman Catholic Cemetery Liverpool Town Hall plaques Prescot pubs Queen Victoria Religion Renshaw Street River Mersey Royalty Station Statue St James Cemetery suicide Theatre Three Graces Toxteth Toxteth Park Cemetery transportation University of Liverpool Waterfront Wavertree William Brown Street

Past Posts

RSS Stevens Other Local History site – Liverpool Murders

  • Drunk Taxi Driver Guilty of Manslaughter
  • Cab Drivers Death Over Fare Argument
  • Harrington Dock Killing
  • Daughter Killer Insane
  • A Fatal Brick Throwing
PayPal Acceptance Mark

Recent Comments

  • Steven Horton on Get In Touch
  • Lynne McCarrick on Get In Touch
  • Margaret Mills on The Tragedy of T J Hughes
  • Jay C on The Tragedy of T J Hughes
  • Steven Horton on FANNY CALDER – DOMESTIC SCIENCE PIONEER
  • Website Shop Terms and Conditions
  • Cookie Policy
  • Shop

Copyright © 2021 Steven Horton 2014 - Web Development by Word-Shed Creative

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.
This site uses cookies More info