Uploaded February 2025 | Updated September 2026, 49 minutes ago
WHAT HAPPENED to Oliver Cromwell’s head? It’s a completely bizarre, not to mention gruesome tale spanning three hundred years and today on History Calling, I’m going to tell you all about it.
Oliver Cromwell died in 1658 and after being embalmed he was quickly buried in Westminster Abbey in the Chapel of Henry VII (something which had to be done before his elaborate funeral because his body had decayed so badly). Less than two and a half years later, he was disinterred on the orders of the newly restored Charles II, hung in chains, decapitated and his head set on a spike above Westminster Hall alongside those of his son-in0law, Henry Ireton and John Bradshaw. This was done in retribution for their part in the execution of Charles I in 1649. Cromwell therefore holds the dubious honour of having been buried first, then executed. The head remained on its spike until it was apparently blown down in a storm during the reign of James II (though the dates for its removal from the Hall vary). It then disappeared. It showed up again as a curiosity in the 1700s and was displayed many times over the next two centuries, being repeatedly drawn, painted and eventually photographed, though no one could be sure if this really was the head of Oliver Cromwell and no one really knows what happened to Oliver Cromwell’s body.
In this Oliver Cromwell documentary, I’ll tell you why I believe the head in circulation in the 20th century really was and is his and show you some pictures of the head of Oliver Cromwell. It’s no longer on view though, leading to the question where is Oliver Cromwell’s head now? The answer? It’s buried in a secret location which I’ll tell you everything we know about it in this video.
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Website (with 2 FREE DOWNLOADS): historycallingofficial.com
Patreon: patreon.com/historycalling
Amazon storefront: amazon.com/shop/historycalling
Instagram: instagram.com/historycalling
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE:
DEATH, MURDER AND CORPSES PLAYLIST
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLSjVq5Qtb0HqKJP-pwWUcP1OtH1hRvN4
HOW CHARLES II ESCAPED CROMWELL’S FORCES
youtu.be/DHlR7cVNHYM
WERE THOMAS AND OLIVER CROMWELL RELATED?
youtu.be/VvyBw6AP9Bk
DID CROMWELL DESTROY CHRISTMAS?
youtu.be/SpOlkJDtpCI
THE TERRIBLE TREATEMENT OF CHARLES I’S CORPSE
youtu.be/71HpXT1q0EU
SHOULD WE DISPLAY DEAD BODIES?
youtu.be/VEqvin_zMpQ
RICHARD III’S CORPSE
youtu.be/NpQZZanLaRM
READ MORE:
Antonia Fraser, Cromwell: Our Chief of Men (1973)
amzn.to/3ZchPPQ
Want to watch/hear/read more about history (and a whole host of other topics)? Then you might benefit from a free Audible or Prime video trial. They are available from the following links:
AUDIBLE
amzn.to/44MvlMi
AUDIBLE PLUS & AUDIBLE PREMIUM PLUS
amzn.to/42rh3PF
PRIME VIDEO
amzn.to/3LW7ykg
NB: Links above may be affiliate links. This means if you make a purchase through one of these links, I earn a commission. It in no way affects the price you pay.
Open Street Map copyright information
openstreetmap.org/copyright
Creative Commons licenses used see creativecommons.org/licenses
#OliverCromwell #OliverCromwellsHead
WHAT HAPPENED to Oliver Cromwell’s head? It’s a completely bizarre, not to mention gruesome tale spanning three hundred years and today on History Calling, I’m going to tell you all about it.
Oliver Cromwell died in 1658 and after being embalmed he was quickly buried in Westminster Abbey in the Chapel of Henry VII (something which had to be done before his elaborate funeral because his body had decayed so badly). Less than two and a half years later, he was disinterred on the orders of the newly restored Charles II, hung in chains, decapitated and his head set on a spike above Westminster Hall alongside those of his son-in0law, Henry Ireton and John Bradshaw. This was done in retribution for their part in the execution of Charles I in 1649. Cromwell therefore holds the dubious honour of having been buried first, then executed. The head remained on its spike until it was apparently blown down in a storm during the reign of James II (though the dates for its removal from the Hall vary). It then disappeared. It showed up again as a curiosity in the 1700s and was displayed many times over the next two centuries, being repeatedly drawn, painted and eventually photographed, though no one could be sure if this really was the head of Oliver Cromwell and no one really knows what happened to Oliver Cromwell’s body.
In this Oliver Cromwell documentary, I’ll tell you why I believe the head in circulation in the 20th century really was and is his and show you some pictures of the head of Oliver Cromwell. It’s no longer on view though, leading to the question where is Oliver Cromwell’s head now? The answer? It’s buried in a secret location which I’ll tell you everything we know about it in this video.
BUY MY BOOK (Find Your Irish Ancestors Online): amzn.to/3Z2ChnG
Website (with 2 FREE DOWNLOADS): historycallingofficial.com
Patreon: patreon.com/historycalling
Amazon storefront: amazon.com/shop/historycalling
Instagram: instagram.com/historycalling
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE:
DEATH, MURDER AND CORPSES PLAYLIST
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLSjVq5Qtb0HqKJP-pwWUcP1OtH1hRvN4
HOW CHARLES II ESCAPED CROMWELL’S FORCES
youtu.be/DHlR7cVNHYM
WERE THOMAS AND OLIVER CROMWELL RELATED?
youtu.be/VvyBw6AP9Bk
DID CROMWELL DESTROY CHRISTMAS?
youtu.be/SpOlkJDtpCI
THE TERRIBLE TREATEMENT OF CHARLES I’S CORPSE
youtu.be/71HpXT1q0EU
SHOULD WE DISPLAY DEAD BODIES?
youtu.be/VEqvin_zMpQ
RICHARD III’S CORPSE
youtu.be/NpQZZanLaRM
READ MORE:
Antonia Fraser, Cromwell: Our Chief of Men (1973)
amzn.to/3ZchPPQ
Want to watch/hear/read more about history (and a whole host of other topics)? Then you might benefit from a free Audible or Prime video trial. They are available from the following links:
AUDIBLE
amzn.to/44MvlMi
AUDIBLE PLUS & AUDIBLE PREMIUM PLUS
amzn.to/42rh3PF
PRIME VIDEO
amzn.to/3LW7ykg
NB: Links above may be affiliate links. This means if you make a purchase through one of these links, I earn a commission. It in no way affects the price you pay.
Open Street Map copyright information
openstreetmap.org/copyright
Creative Commons licenses used see creativecommons.org/licenses
#OliverCromwell #OliverCromwellsHead
