Whatever happened to Oliver Cromwell's head? The Lord Protector of England was buried in 1658. But not for long. Three years later, his decaying body was dug up and taken to London's Tyburn to be hung and then 'beheaded'. While his body was reburied, Oliver's head wasn't so lucky. It was stuck on a spike and displayed in Westminster Hall - the oldest part of the Houses of Parliament. Oliver's head stayed stuck on its spike for 25 years before going on its travels, which included being hidden up a chimney, becoming a stage prop (Hamlet possibly?) as well as being put on display as a curio in a museum. Eventually - in 1960 - the head was reburied in a secret location at Cromwell's college in Cambridge University - Sidney Sussex College. The college owned a large amount of land in North East Lincolnshire - hence Cromwell Road, Oliver Street in Cleethorpes, Sidney Sussex ward in Cleethorpes and so on.

Want to know more? Then read Cromwell's Head by Jonathan Fitzgibbons (published by The National Archives).   

Find out more about the Cambridge connection in Cleethorpes street names by clicking on the Local History section (left).