Welcome To Derby Ghost
Capital Of England --Fish Market - Cornmarket
Fish Market
Cornmarket - looking towards
St. Peters Street
Fish Market - Cornmarket
Gerald Mannering was the
son of a gentleman but was no gentleman himself. Indeed Gerald was the
perpetrator of the murder of the only policeman to be killed whilst on
active duty in Derby.
Mannering had travelled
to Derby after arguing with his father and embarked upon a drinking
spree. He was spotted by the police driving a pony and trap whilst
drunk and was arrested in the yard of the Traveller's Rest public house
on Ashbourne Road.
He was taken to the
police lock-up that stands where the Derby Fish Market is now situated.
Unbeknown to the police who had not searched him he was carrying a
loaded pistol and whilst in the Charge Room he drew the gun and began
to fire wildly. He wounded one Inspector and shot dead PC Moss.
Although found guilty
Mannering escaped the death sentence when it was discovered that the
jury had been split 50-50 over whether it had been murder or
manslaughter, and had drawn lots to decide which jury member would have
the casting vote.
Although Mannering had
escaped with his life PC Moss hadn't. Maybe it is because of this
reason that the soul of PC Moss has never been able to rest. Many
people who have worked at the fish-market have seen a policeman in a
"Victorian-style uniform" watching them and have heard phantom
footsteps patrolling the yard.
Perhaps PC Moss will
forever patrol the old Lock-Up until his spirit can find peace.
Derby's
Cornmarket Adjacent to
the CMarket Place is the historic Cornmarket area. Now, it is a
bustling shopping street and leads to the many other shopping areas in
Derby city centre.