Mystery of Cromwell's Body

The burial site of Oliver Cromwell, the prominent leader of the English Civil War, has long been shrouded in myth and speculation. According to the Wombwell family, who have resided at Newburgh Priory in North Yorkshire for nearly 500 years, Cromwell's headless body was brought back to their Tudor estate by his daughter, Mary, in 1660. Stephen Wombwell, the current custodian, acknowledges the story's intrigue but emphasizes the impossibility of proving it without disturbing the burial vault, which he deems disrespectful. Mr. Wombwell recounts that Mary allegedly bribed someone in London to retrieve her father's body, though she could not recover his head. The narrative suggests that she concealed the body in the attic of the Priory, a location he describes as an unceremonious resting place for such a significant historical figure. He firmly opposes any excavation of the site, citing both respect for the deceased and familial ties to Cromwell. Cromwell expert Stuart Orme, affiliated with a museum dedicated to the leader, notes the plethora of stories surrounding Cromwell's burial. He posits that the most plausible scenario is that Cromwell's remains were discarded in a communal burial pit in London, leaving the true location of his body uncertain. Orme concludes that while Newburgh Priory is a potential resting place, the mystery of Cromwell's final resting spot may never be resolved.