a double murder took place at christ church, todmorden on 2 march 1868. the victims' graves lie in the churchyard. miles weatherhill, a 23-year-old weaver from the town, was forbidden from seeing his housemaid sweetheart, sarah bell, by the reverend anthony john plow. armed with four pistols and an axe, weatherhill took revenge first on the vicar and then on jane smith, another maid who had informed plow of the secret meetings. miss smith died at the scene, while the vicar survived another week before succumbing to his injuries. weatherhill also seriously injured the vicar's wife. on 4 april 1868 weatherhill became the last person to be publicly hanged in manchester, at the new bailey prison. local legend has it that the face of a young woman is sometimes seen in the window of the vicarage, now in private ownership.