THE mystery surrounding a buried skull in Redditch, thought to be that of legendary playwright William Shakespeare, will be revisited in the new edition of the Feckenham Forester.

The Advertiser previously reported that an extraordinary tale, which could have from the quill of the playwright himself, claims that the bard's skull is currently in a vault beneath the Sheldon Chapel at St Leonard’s Church at Beoley.

The Rev Paul Irving, vicar at St Leonards, along with church wardens, applied to the Consistory Court for permission for temporary removal of the skull from its resting place.

They wanted to do DNA testing with a descendant of Shakespeare’s sister, laser scanning, radio carbon dating, and anthropological assessment.

However, moves to verify that the ancient skull was that of Shakespeare were blocked by a top churchman in his role as a judge of the Church of England’s Consistory Court.

Ahead of the 400th anniversary of William Shakespeare's death, last year, Channel 4 broadcast the results of the first ever archaeological investigation of his grave in Stratford.

The hi-tech investigation - a world first - concluded the Bard's skull was probably taken by trophy hunters more than 200 years ago.

But where did it go?

Historian Simon Stirling, author of Who Killed William Shakespeare, says that the skull in the Sheldon Chapel at St Leonard’s Church in Beoley belongs to Shakespeare.

Something which was explored in the programme but later debunked as nothing more than myth.

However Mr Stirling, who has spent years studying high-quality images of the skull, consulting experts and comparing its details with various Shakespeare portraits and busts, is adamant the skull belongs to Shakespeare.

The mystery is set to be looked at in this year's edition of the local history magazine, which is out now.

Other features include the making of sailor’s palms in the Greater Redditch Needle Area, draconian punishment for placing stones on the railway line, and the history of Windsor family of Hewell Grange.

The magazine can be purchased (price £3.50) by calling 01527 892361 or via feckenham-forest-history-society.org.uk.