Author: Richard Jones

May I take this opportunity to wish you the compliments of the coming season? It seems hard to believe that another year has flown by and here we are with the last quiz of the year. So let’s […]

On Wednesday the 8th of July 1891, The Oxfordshire Weekly News featured the story of a man who had suffered what was an unusual form of death:- A MAN STRUCK BY LIGHTNING The thunderstorm which passed over the […]

There is absolutely no doubt about it, Victorian Whitechapel could be a dangerous place – especially at night. Indeed, should strangers venture out into Whitechapel after dark, all manner of dangers awaited them. On Monday the 26th of […]

An example of the many dangers that were faced by the Victorian police constables as they went about their duty in London, especially in the early hours of the morning, was reported by The York Herald in its […]

On Sunday the 20th of January 1856, Lloyd’s Weekly Newspaper published an account of the appearance, at Clerkenwell Police court, of Charles Westron for the murder of Mr. Waugh:- EXAMINATION CHARLES WESTRON On Wednesday, the Clerkenwell police-court was […]

Throughout the 19th century, the newspapers brought their readers many accounts of deeds of murder that had taken place in the days, or sometimes weeks, prior to their publication. In January 1856, Londoners were shocked by the cold-blooded […]

On Saturday the 7th of October, 1911, The General Advertiser for Dublin, and all Ireland, paid tribute to Dr. Joseph Bell, who had died three days before in Edinburgh. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the creator of Sherlock Holmes, […]

The former Bricklayers Arms stands at the junction of Fordham Street and Settles Street, in a charming enclave where, if it wasn’t for the cars, you could almost believe that you were walking the streets of the Victorian […]

One of the most iconic images of Jack the Ripper is that of a swarthy figure in a top hat and swirling cape stalking his victims through the gas-lit alleys of old London. The top hat – also […]

The building that was formerly Frying Pan pub stands at the junction of Thrawl Street and Brick Lane, and, although the present building dates only from the early 1890s, records show that there has been a pub on […]