Talk:Who put Bella in the Wych Elm?

message: For anyone considering speedy deletion, I did a quick search and found this link . So it is a real story. Improbcat 18:32, 26 February 2007 (UTC)
thread_title: regarding speedy deletion

message: This article is almost entirely about the murder mystery itself, whereas the title refers specifically to the graffito. I realise that the two are closely intertwined, and that there isn't a terribly satisfactory alternative (most books etc are just called things like "The Bella Mystery" and such a title would be little help to non-locals) but perhaps more about the various graffiti themselves could be added?
We don't even have a photo at the moment - though that's easily fixed, as many of the photos on this site were taken by me in 2006, and I'd be quite happy to release a higher-resolution version of one of them under a free licence. Once I find what I've done with the things, that is! Loganberry (Talk) 16:33, 13 April 2007 (UTC)
replies: text: Article needs work - sounds like you have a lot to offer here! My gut says this is the right title as the origin of the name of the mystery is from the graffito. Cutler 00:00, 14 April 2007 (UTC)
replies: text: I'm by no means an expert on this, but live fairly close (Bewdley) and am interested in the case so will do what I can to help. I'm trying to find an acceptable reference for the Stourbridge Theatre Company's version, which apparently (I didn't see it) concentrated on the "German spy" theory, but no luck as yet. Loganberry (Talk) 22:36, 14 April 2007 (UTC)
thread_title:  Article and title 

message: Right; I've added in my photo. Unfortunately it doesn't show up that well at thumbnail resolution (it's much clearer at full size) but as I've released it as PD anyone who feels like it is welcome to improve it if they can. I have no idea whether obelisks count as creative works in themselves (as statues do) but since the thing is 249 years old I doubt copyright comes into the equation here! Loganberry (Talk) 01:48, 28 April 2007 (UTC)
thread_title:  Photo 

message: I removed the following from the text on the grounds that it was basically an advert:
* A feature film is being written of a full reconstruction to whom bella was, and why she was murdered.
IF ANYONE IN THE HAGLEY/STOURBRIDGE AREA HAS GOOD KNOWLEDGE OF THE BELLA'S MYTH AND STORIES
PLEASE GET IN TOUCH, WE ARE LOOKING FOR PEOPLE TO PLAY AS EXTRAS, LOCALS WELCOME.
AS THIS IS A LOW BUDGET CREATION WE WOULD ASK YOU TO VOLUNTEER. please see http://www.myspace.com/bellainthewychelm
Of course mention of the film itself can go back if and when there's third-party verification (eg a newspaper article) but the ALL CAPS bit is pure ad and shouldn't be in an encyclopedia article. Loganberry (Talk) 14:38, 1 May 2007 (UTC)
thread_title:  Removed text 

message: The article doesn't mention why they call her Bella.  Does anyone know? Katharineamy 21:58, 24 July 2007 (UTC)
replies: text: One of the theories about the woman's identity was that she was a Dutch woman spying for the nazi's and her name was Clarabella Dronkers.  There are several theories but that one seems to account for the name used in the graffito.  You can read about that theory here.  Hope that helps.LiPollis (talk) 01:50, 12 July 2009 (UTC)
thread_title:  Bella? 

message: Who Put Bella in the Wych Elm 2A00:23C6:C38F:C201:F4DE:63F2:5F2C:8BEB (talk) 01:03, 3 March 2024 (UTC)
replies: text: Witch-hazel? But that is mostly limited to "species in North America". Who would make the comparison in England? Dimadick (talk) 17:15, 4 March 2024 (UTC)
thread_title:  I lived very local to this for 50+ years. Wych (Wyche) is widespread in the area in place names. A 'witch elm' (locally)is a black poplar, rare, short tree with thick trunks which naturally hollow out but with thin, spindly branches resembling a witch hazel. 

message: The article's title was changed last year by an editor without consultation with other editors or advancing any source for the change. The grafitti connected with the case never used the wording "down the Wych elm"; furthermore a 2022 play and 2023 opera used "in the wych elm" in their titles. Retitling only causes confusion. Sweetpool50 (talk) 14:22, 19 May 2024 (UTC)
replies: text: It wasn't vandalism, it's a variant. The sources vary. DuncanHill (talk) 15:13, 19 May 2024 (UTC)

text: The image is recent, and docudramas are not reliable sources. The Sunday Mirror of  Sunday 02 April 1944 has "Who put Luebella down the wych elm" for the graffiti in Hayden Hill Road. The Evening Despatch Thursday 30 March 1944 has "Who put Bella down the Wych elm, Hagley Wood?" for the Upper Dean Street graffiti. The Birmingham Daily Gazette Tuesday 04 October 1949 has "Who put Bella down the Wych elm, Hagley Wood" for it. So "down the Wych elm" is attested at the time of the events, it absolutely does not "date from considerably after the original events" as a few moments research shews. DuncanHill (talk) 23:16, 19 May 2024 (UTC)
thread_title:  Vandalistic title change