The Red Barn industry

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The market for souvenirs relating to the Red Barn Murder knew no bounds. While Corder was still in custody plays were being performed before eager audiences. Ballard singers were performing songs connected with the murder. Corder's mother even lodged a complaint about an exhibition depicting scenes of the murder put on at Polstead Fair less than a month before her son's trial. Curtis comments that these references to Corder's name were unfair, considering that he was still awaiting trial.

The Red Barn was plundered by souvenir hunters, and even souvenir makers, who removed the boards to a height of five or six feet. The results can clearly be seen in the drawing of the barn reproduced in the Essex Herald of August 12 1828. The only known remaining relics are a wooden shoe-shaped snuff box (now in Moyse's Hall collection) and an iron stay from the barn doors, (in a private collection).

Maria's grave also suffered at the hands of souvenir hunters. After the inquest of 1827 her body was laid to rest in Polstead Churchyard, but was exhumed and used as an exhibit at Corder's trial. Even after she had been returned to her grave, Maria was not left in peace. Large numbers of visitors took away chips of the headstone as souvenirs until it completely disappeared. Nowadays the only indication of the grave is a wooden plaque nailed to a shed at the side of Polstead Church.

Other souvenirs such as Staffordshire pottery models and printed broadsheets were made. Drawings of scenes relating to the murder were sold, in black and white as 'Penny dreadfuls' or at twopence for the coloured versions (known as 'tuppence coloureds'). Some (Hope's Scenes) depicted well-known actors portraying the roles of Corder and Maria in the various plays. Many books about the murder have been published - several of them plagiarised and unacknowledged versions of Curtis. The 20th century saw the famous black-and-white film Murder in the Red Barn by Todd Slaughter. Although in late middle age, Slaughter himself played the 24 year old Corder. A set of 78 rpm records based on the film was also issued. The film is occasionally broadcast on late-night television. Even today, there is considerable interest in the Red Barn. People fascinated by the story still visit Polstead and St Edmundsbury museums to see the locations and the relics. Television series, radio programmes - and even web-sites! - are still being produced.