A NEW book details the grisly murder that took place in 18th century Northwich.

Horrid Crimes of Bygone Cheshire, written by former Guardian journalist Derek Yarwood, explores tales of murder and mayhem in 18th and 19th century Cheshire.

Drawn from long-forgotten assize court files, judges’ notes, inquest depositions and contemporary newspaper reports, the book’s 12 chapters contain the most comprehensive, authenticated accounts of the cases ever published.

The book tells the story of Mary Pemberton, a 21-year-old farmer’s daughter who was slain at her Leftwich home on a cold winter’s night in December 1833.

The chapter, titled A Jilted Suitor’s Bloody Revenge, explores the relationship between the victim and Samuel Thorley, a successful businessman who murdered Mary in a jealous rage.

Derek called upon deposition statements from the time, fleshed out with the extensive media coverage the case attracted, to piece together the sequence of events.

Derek, who was journalist for more than 40 years, told the Guardian: “The Northwich case was probably more sensational because of the people involved.

“The man was well respected, people never would have though he would have done something like that.

“They do say there is a fine line between love and hate, this is demonstrated quite forcefully.

“In many respects it was a tragedy to all concerned – he lost his livelihood and she ended up dead.”

The third in the author’s Cheshire true-crime series, the book, which comes with more than 100 illustrations, is mainly about murder, although lesser crimes are explored.

Horrid Crimes of Bygone Cheshire also features a marital row in Handbridge that ended in the death of a local constable; a drink-fuelled axe murder at Hyde and the Macclesfield man who stabbed his partner with a red-hot poker.

It also features the grim tale of the Smallwood crime that was regarded at the time as one of the most cold-blooded and mercenary double-homicides ever committed in the county.

Derek said the murder of Mary Pemberton ranks among one of the most gruesome tales covered in the book, which took five years to complete.

“One of the witnesses said he (Thorley) almost took her head off,” Derek said. “He was very angry at the time, it was a real rage he had.

“It is certainly one of the more gruesome cases covered in the book for sure.”

Horrid Crimes of Bygone Cheshire is available from July 1 via Amazon or by direct order from major book-sellers.