CROMWELL’S HEAD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20591, 14 December 1928, Page 18

CROMWELL’S HEAD.

STILL PRESERVED IX LONDON, A correspondence regarding the facial I appearance of Oliver Cromwell recently ran in the columns of the Sunday Times, London, having been initiated by a gentleman who wishe'd particularly to learn'the truth about the shape of the Protector's nose. Later Evelyn L. Few wrote as follows:—‘None of your correspondents seem to know that the ‘ Embalmed Head of Oliver Cromwell ’ is in existence and m the possession of the family of the late Horace Wilkinson. I have myself scon it on more than one occasion. It is never publicly shown, but ns a friend of the Wilkinson fafaiily I have taken people to sec it from time to time. Cromwell’s hair never turned white. The brown chestnut hair is still seen and the growth of beard on the chin, as for the last few months he went in fear of his life and refused to ho shaved. All the documents about this relic are with the head, and some time next year I am hoping to he allowed to arrange for a lecture on the subject, when they will be read in full and pictures of the head shown. The head fell down from Westminster Hall 25 years after it had been there, and was taken home by a sentinel. It shows the iron spike on which it had been put, as it broke off below the bead. It shows also two cuts where it was backed off at Tyburn, which tits in with the historical accounts of the time.’’