the experience of reading in Britain, from 1450 to 1945...

Reading Experience Database UK Historical image of readers
 

 
 
 

Record Number: 24954


Reading Experience:

Evidence:

Witness statement in trial for murder: Henry Wignall: 'the 1st of January was Sunday�on the 1st of January I was in my own room, up stairs, reading the newspaper�he was in Mrs. Gale's apartment�I was reading the newspaper that morning to my wife, and a friend of mine, and my sister�I read of the trunk of a body being found in the Edgeware-road. Q. Did you read loud enough for the prisoners to hear you? A. They must have heard me read it�they had the door of their room ajar, and must have heard me�they staid there all day, and slept there all night�they did not say a word about this trunk that was found.'

Century:

1800-1849

Date:

1 Jan 1837

Country:

England

Time

morning

Place:

city: London
specific address: 56 Portland Street Walworth
location in dwelling: in his room

Type of Experience
(Reader):
 

silent aloud unknown
solitary in company unknown
single serial unknown

Type of Experience
(Listener):
 

passive in company unknown
single serial unknown


Reader / Listener / Reading Group:

Reader:

Henry Wignall

Age:

Adult (18-100+)

Gender:

Male

Date of Birth:

n/a

Socio-Economic Group:

Unknown/NA

Occupation:

n/a

Religion:

n/a

Country of Origin:

n/a

Country of Experience:

England

Listeners present if any:
e.g family, servants, friends

wife, sister and friend; accused may have been listening from room next door: James Greenacre and Sarah Gale


Additional Comments:

n/a



Text Being Read:

Author:

[n/a]

Title:

[newspaper]

Genre:

Law

Form of Text:

Print: Newspaper

Publication Details

n/a

Provenance

unknown


Source Information:

Record ID:

24954

Source - Manuscript:

Other

Information:

Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, 27 April 2009), 3 Apr 1837, Trial of James Greenacre and Sarah Gale (t18370403-917)

Additional Information:

n/a

Citation:

Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, 27 April 2009), 3 Apr 1837, Trial of James Greenacre and Sarah Gale (t18370403-917), http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/reading/UK/record_details.php?id=24954, accessed: 01 March 2026


Additional Comments:

None