A second book bound in the skin of William Corder, a notorious 19th-century murderer executed for killing his lover Maria Marten in 1827, has been discovered on an office bookshelf at Moyse’s Hall Museum in Suffolk, joining another similar volume that has been on display since 1933.
Macabre Literary Discovery
The second book bound in William Corder’s skin was discovered during a routine catalog review, sitting inconspicuously on a bookshelf in the museum’s office. Unlike the first book which is entirely covered in human skin, this newly found volume only has Corder’s skin on its spine and corners. The book was donated approximately 20 years ago by a family with close connections to the surgeon who anatomized Corder’s body after his execution.
The discovery has sparked mixed reactions. Heritage officer Dan Clarke considers the books “incredibly important” historical artifacts, noting that in his 11 years at the museum, there have been no complaints about the first book on display.1 Meanwhile, Terry Deary, author of Horrible Histories, expressed strong opposition, calling them “sickening artefacts” that he would like to burn, viewing them as an extension of the posthumous punishment Corder endured. Despite this controversy, both books are now displayed together at Moyse’s Hall Museum, offering visitors a rare glimpse into the macabre judicial practices of 19th-century Britain.
William Corder’s Red Barn Murder
In 1827, William Corder murdered his lover Maria Marten in what became one of England’s most notorious crimes. The pair had arranged to meet at the Red Barn in Polstead, Suffolk, where Corder shot Marten dead before burying her body under the floor.1 After the murder, Corder maintained the pretense that Maria was alive, sending letters to her family claiming she was well.1 The crime was only discovered when Maria’s stepmother had recurring dreams about her murder, leading her father to search the barn where he found his daughter’s decomposed body.
Corder’s trial at Shire Hall in Bury St Edmunds became a sensational event, with tickets required for entry due to overwhelming public interest. Despite his claims that Maria had committed suicide, the jury took just 35 minutes to find him guilty. Following his execution on August 11, 1828, witnessed by thousands of spectators, Corder’s body was publicly dissected as part of his sentence. The case’s macabre fascination extended beyond his death—his skin was used to bind at least two books, one of which remains on display at Moyse’s Hall Museum in Bury St Edmunds.
Anthropodermic Bibliopegy Practice
Anthropodermic bibliopegy—the practice of binding books in human skin—emerged in the 17th century but peaked during the 19th century. The practice was particularly popular among physicians and surgeons who had access to cadavers through their profession.2 Books bound this way included anatomical texts, judicial proceedings, and even literary works, with the skin often coming from executed criminals, deceased patients, or occasionally willing donors.
The Anthropodermic Book Project has examined 31 books purported to be bound in human skin, confirming 18 as genuine while disproving 13 others. Modern authentication relies on peptide mass fingerprinting, as earlier visual identification methods and DNA testing proved unreliable. While contemporary viewers might find the practice macabre, it served various purposes in its time—from memorializing loved ones similar to keeping locks of hair, to punishing criminals posthumously, to creating what doctors considered “fitting” bindings for medical texts. Despite ethical reconsiderations leading some institutions like Harvard University to remove such bindings, many museums continue to display these artifacts as historical curiosities.
Moyse’s Hall Museum Collection
Housed in a Grade I listed 12th-century building that has served as a gaol, workhouse, and police station before becoming a museum in 1899, Moyse’s Hall Museum showcases an eclectic collection spanning nearly 900 years of Suffolk history. Beyond its infamous anthropodermic books, the museum features:
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The Gershom Parkington Clock Collection – a world-class horology collection featuring rare timepieces bequeathed by musician Frederic Gershom Parkington
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Crime and punishment artifacts including gibbet cages designed to display executed criminals
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Exhibits on local witchcraft trials and superstitions
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Fine art by renowned local artists including Mary Beale, Sybil Andrews, and Angelica Kauffman
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Medieval relics and items potentially linked to St. Edmund, the King of East Anglia
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Military memorabilia related to the Suffolk Regiment
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Regularly changing exhibitions in the Great Hall, including both historical displays and contemporary collections
Heritage officer Dan Clarke notes that while some visitors might find certain artifacts like the human skin-bound books disturbing, the museum approaches its collection as educational material similar to human remains displayed in museums across the country.
