Oliver Cromwell's Head?

By Crusader1307

Perhaps no other late 17^th Century Tale (or perhaps, Urban Legend) – is not as fascinating as The Tale of Oliver Cromwell’s Head. Cromwell, was the impromptu Leader of The Parliamentarian Military Movement which overthrew England’s Monarchy in what was known as The English Civil War. After the abolishment of The Crown, The Commonwealth was established and headed by Oliver Cromwell. While History still debates the merits of The Commonwealth over The Monarchy, The Commonwealth was short lived. With Cromwell’s death in 1658 – His Son Robert had no stomach for continued leadership and as a result, The Monarchy was re-established in 1661. But Our ‘’History Lesson’’ has a much more darker side. The re-established Parliament decided that Cromwell was a Traitor. As for being in rebellion against His King, was ordered to be executed…..by beheading. Quite a feat, considering Cromwell was already several years dead! He was exhumed and placed on The Execution Dock – His decomposing corpse decapitated. His Head was ‘’spiked’’ and placed on Westminster Hall – were it remained for several years. Legend states that several storms ‘’knocked’’ The mummified head to the ground numerous times and that even relative retrieved it finally and hid it for Centuries.

Cromwell’s Head ‘’appeared’’ in 1960 in the ownership of Sidney Sussex College, but naturally Historian seriously doubt if it was in fact, the ‘’real’’ Head or a ‘’substitute’’ crafted in the 18^th Century as a means of making monies. The College however, deemed the gruesome ‘’collector’s item’’ too much for display – and it was secretly buried in 1962 (with most citing it was given a burial somewhere on The College Grounds). As One can expect, several ‘’Ghost Stories’’ have arisen from the Urban Legend. Students have claimed to have ‘seen’’ the image of Oliver Cromwell – roaming The Grounds, in both ‘’full form’’ and ‘’beheaded’’. In some versions, it is just ‘’The Head’’ which makes a regular ghostly appearance.