The dark secret in the heart of the sleepy hamlet of Bledlow Ridge surfaced again last Sunday, when villagers relived a murderous part of their history.

Farmer John Kingham was found dead with his head smashed in and his throat slashed, at 3.30am. in Yewsdon Wood on September 29, 1893.

Local poachers, twin-brothers John and Richard Avery, were charged with the murder, but two trials and three inquests failed to convict them and they were released.

The Averys had a long running feud with the Brooks family, and blamed Patsy Brooks for Kingham's murder, but no-one has ever been found guilty of the foul deed.

Almost a century later, the descendents of John Kingham, the Averys and Brooks, got together to re-enact the trial at Bledlow Ridge Village Hall, to let the audience declare its verdict.

For weeks the village pub, The Boot, has buzzed with talk of the murder, and its re-enactment by the Bucks Family History Society.

Almost everyone in the village is related in some way to the families and wanted to know if their own family held a sinister secret.

The ghost of John Kingham is rumoured to walk the village at night. And the Smith family who live at Studmore Farm whioch encloses the murder spot, often blame Old John for doors opening and closing in the middle of the night.

Chris Kingham is the great great grandson of the murder victim whose story has been passed down the generations at grandparents knees, and has absolutely gripped him.

He said: "I am very intrigued by the whole affair - the murder itself, people's alibis, and the apparent conspiracy in the village to conceal the murderer's identity."

The idea of last Sunday's trial was Chris's idea, but the Family History Society secretary, Eve McClauchlin, wrote the script - an amalgamation of the trials and inquests from 1893.

The small village hall was packed out with Averys, Kinghams, Brooks and other villagers.

The cast dressed in costume and everyone put in a first rate performance.

The Averys, their family will be pleased to hear, were found not guilty, but the finger of suspicion pointed once again to Patsy Brooks, subsequently rumoured to have made a deathbed confession.

Chris said he was overwhelmed by the public involvement and thought the day was a tremendous success.

The Averys, Brook and the Kinghams are said to have long buried the hatchet over their feud but, said Chris: "We have had a few surprises recently and we shall see what happens now.

"It might not be over yet," he said, and winked.

• Chris's detailed account of the murder
• Back to Robert Avery's family
• Back to John Avery's family