William Price's cremation test case sets UK legal precedent

Background. William Price, a Welsh physician and Neo-Druidic priest, named his first son Iesu Grist, believing him to be a young Esus or Hu Gadarn. The infant died in January 1884. Price prepared materials for a cremation on a hill near Llantrisant, intending to perform a Druidic ceremony. This action triggered police intervention based on beliefs that cremation was illegal under English law.

Legal Argument. Price was tried in a Cardiff courtroom for performing cremation rather than burial. He argued that while the law did not state that cremation was legal, it also did not state that it was illegal. This distinction was crucial for his defense, as the police had arrested him for what they believed was the illegal disposal of a corpse, not for infanticide.

Precedent. Following his acquittal, Price was able to carry out the cremation of his son on 14 March 1884 with his own personal Druidic prayers. This event set a legal precedent for cremation in the United Kingdom, paving the way for the first official cremation at Woking in 1885.

Context. Price was a significant figure in Victorian Wales, involved in Chartism and the Neo-Druidic movement. His advocacy for cremation was part of his later life activities. The incident highlighted the legal ambiguity surrounding cremation in the United Kingdom before specific laws were enacted, influencing the development of cremation practices.