News of the Times Episode 148 | 1726 - 1728 Forgotten Fridays 1726-1728 In today’s episode of Forgotten Fridays, it is 1726 – 1728 and a country woman is supposedly giving birth to rabbits – some dead and some alive. There are a lot of them. Eminent doctors are sent forthwith to confirm this and agree that she is indeed giving birth to live rabbits. The Mary Toft rabbit story headlines this episode with lots of other stories as well such as the man attempting to lure young boys away being caught...
Aug 18, 2023•27 min•Transcript available on Metacast News of the Times Episode 147 | 1787 - 1871 Cross Dressing in Historical England = Wicked Wednesdays Cross dressing in historical England was a brave move with the law, at least against men, being threateningly severe. Today’s episode looks at some of the notable cases of cross dressing in historical England. We would like to note that although this falls under the auspices of “Wicked Wednesdays”, we do not in any way denote this as Wicked. This series looks at more national cases and trends and...
Aug 16, 2023•32 min•Transcript available on Metacast News of the Times Episode 146 | 1830-1900 Mass Poisoning in Victorian England - Twisted Tuesdays Food standards in Georgian and Victorian England were hit or miss. There were a number of widespread food poisoning incidents including the Bradford sweets arsenic laced candies, The poisoned ice cream, And most importantly, the arsenic laced beer. We take a look at these stories and more in this episode of twisted tales Tuesdays, Mass Poisonings in Victorian England! Hosted by Robin Coles #NewsofThe...
Aug 15, 2023•29 min•Transcript available on Metacast News of the Times Episode 145 | 1923 The Ilford Tragedy: Murderous Mondays In 1923, the Edith Thompson and Frederick Bywaters case that took place in Ilford was a tragic and infamous criminal trial in England. The case involved allegations of murder and adultery, with some salacious correspondence thrown in. Edith’s husband, Percy Thompson, is brutally attacked and murdered on a London street. The police investigation uncovered older woman Edith's affair with teenager Bywaters, and the love...
Aug 14, 2023•31 min•Transcript available on Metacast News of the Times Episode 144 | 1739 Dick Turpin: The Legendary Highwayman: Eccentric Sundays Dick Turpin, the legendary highwayman of 18th-century England, has become an iconic figure in history and folklore. Turpin's life was a tapestry woven with audacious escapades, criminal exploits, and the allure of the open road. He is often depicted as a dashing rogue, embodying the romanticized image of the noble outlaw. Hosted by Robin Coles. #NewsofTheTimes #folklore #regencylife #highwaymen #hi...
Aug 13, 2023•29 min•Ep 144•Transcript available on Metacast News of the Times Episode 143 | 1911 The Mystery of the Lancaster Castle Murders: Serial killer Saturdays It is 1911. The family who are the keepers of Lancaster castle are all dying off one by one mysteriously. Four people within the family die within a 9 month time frame. With questions being asked, exhumations are required, only to find bodies laced with arsenic. Who did it? And why? Hosted by Robin Coles. #NewsofTheTimes #VictorianCrimeStories #serialkillersaturdays #lancasterpoisonings #bin...
Aug 12, 2023•33 min•Ep 143•Transcript available on Metacast News of the Times Episode 142 | 1859 - 1861 Forgotten Fridays 1859-1861 On this Forgotten Friday, it is 1859 to 1861. In the United States, Abraham Lincoln has been elected and the first 7 states have broken away to form the confederate states. In the UK, construction of Big Ben has just begun. William Coogan is executed for the murder of his wife after attempting to try to stage the murder as having been self-inflicted. Several horrific accidents to railways workers occur. A well-known vocalist...
Aug 11, 2023•26 min•Transcript available on Metacast News of the Times Episode 141 | 1800's Death in Victorian England: Wicked Wednesdays Step into the shadows of history as we embark on a journey into the intriguing and often unsettling world of death in Victorian England. In this episode, we unveil the forgotten tales, sombre rituals, and curious customs that surrounded mortality during this distant era. Join us as we explore the mournful landscapes of Victorian burials and body burials stuffed under floorboards. Unravel the mysteries of mo...
Aug 09, 2023•32 min•Transcript available on Metacast News of the Times Episode 139 | 1751 The Infamous Mary Blandy Case: Murderous Mondays The Mary Blandy case of 1751 was a notorious murder trial in England that captured public attention and became a significant legal and social event of its time. Mary Blandy, a 31-year-old spinster, was accused of poisoning her father, Francis Blandy, in an attempt to marry her lover, Captain William Henry Cranstoun, an already married fortune hunter. This well documented case is an early example of the did she ...
Aug 08, 2023•29 min•Transcript available on Metacast News of the Times Episode 140 | 1857 - 1908 The Square Mile of Murders: Twisted Tuesdays In the annals of Scotland’s history, certain chapters are shrouded in darkness, but none as infamous as the "Square Mile of Murder" that took place between 1857 and 1908. Within this relatively compact region, a series of four of Scotland's most celebrated murders unfolded over a mere 51-year span. All of the murders were murky, with each murder case having aspects that remain mysterious to th...
Aug 08, 2023•38 min•Ep 140•Transcript available on Metacast News of the Times Episode 138 | 1849-1912 William Stead: Seer and Victorian Influencer: Eccentric Sundays William Thomas Stead was a British journalist, editor, social reformer, and arguably paranormal seer who played a significant role in shaping public opinion and investigative journalism during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. One of Stead's most notable and impactful works was his series titled "The Maiden Tribute of Modern Babylon," published in 1885. In this series, S...
Aug 06, 2023•28 min•Transcript available on Metacast News of the Times Episode 137| 1866 The Todmorden Murder: Murderous Mondays The Todmorden Murders of 1868 were so famed at the time that Queen Victoria sent an emissary to offer her condolences. This series of gruesome attacks ultimately directly or indirectly killed 4 people. The reason for the attacks was a Victorian version of a Romeo and Juliet plot. Hosted by Robin Coles. #NewsofTheTimes #VictorianCrimeStories #seriakiller #@snewsofthetimes #Todmorden #TheTodmordenmurders #milesweatherill Y...
Aug 05, 2023•33 min•Transcript available on Metacast News of the Times Episode 136 | 1819 - 1821 Forgotten Fridays 1819-1821 1820 was a pivotal year in British history. Hearkening back to the failed Guy Fawkes gunpowder plot, the Cato Street conspiracy equally intended to destabilise the government at the time. The end of the Napoleonic Wars in 1815 had led to an economic downturn, resulting in high unemployment and increased poverty. The Cato Street Conspiracy was a plot to assassinate several British cabinet ministers and Prime Minister Lord Liv...
Aug 04, 2023•24 min•Transcript available on Metacast News of the Times Episode 135 | 1800's The Victorian World of Suicide: Eccentric Sundays ***WARNING: SOME MAY FIND THE SUBJECT MATTER HIGHLY UPSETTING*** In today’s episode we investigate the changing societal views on suicide from the Regency to Victorian eras. Attitudes towards suicide were heavily influenced by Christian belief, which considered suicide a sin and an act against God's will. This led to significant social stigma surrounding the topic and affected how suicides were per...
Aug 02, 2023•33 min•Transcript available on Metacast News of the Times Episode 134 | 1870 / 1894 Terrifying Trunk Murders : Twisted Tuesdays Step into the shadows of Victorian England, where darkness lurked beneath the surface of refinement. Today’s episode of trunk murders looks at two notorious criminal cases in 1870 and in 1894 in which victims were murdered and concealed in a trunk or large box. These macabre and chilling crimes captivated public attention at the time and became sensationalized in the media, The Grafton Street Murder introduce...
Aug 01, 2023•49 min•Transcript available on Metacast News of the Times Episode 133 | 1889 The Mysterious Death of James Maybrick: Murderous Mondays The Maybrick Murder, also known as the ""Liverpool Poisoning,"" refers to the sensational and controversial case involving the death of James Maybrick, a wealthy cotton merchant from Liverpool, England. The case garnered significant attention and debate in the late 19th century due to its intriguing circumstances and the subsequent trial of Maybrick's wife, Florence Maybrick. I...
Jul 31, 2023•48 min•Transcript available on Metacast News of the Times Episode 132 | 1850-1910 The World of the Victorian Paranormal: Eccentric Sundays Welcome to the Enigmatic Victorian Paranormal World! Step into the shadowy realm of the Victorian era, where history and the supernatural intertwine in mysterious and captivating ways. Join us as we delve into the hidden corners of the Victorian Paranormal World, unearthing forgotten legends and enigmatic figures who straddled the line between the living and the beyond. From séances and spiritualis...
Jul 30, 2023•36 min•Ep 132•Transcript available on Metacast News of the Times Episode 131 | 1865 The Twisted Tale of Dr. Edward Pritchard: Scotland's Poisoning Philanderer In 1865, Dr. Edward Pritchard was arrested in Scotland for murdering 2 women, although he was suspected of murdering 3. His story became infamous, and he was referred to by Arthur Conan Doyle in his Sherlock Holmes story, The Speckled Band. Serial adulterer, liar, and avid egotist, Dr Pritchard was as cold as they come. In this serial killer Saturday episode, you'll learn abo...
Jul 29, 2023•52 min•Transcript available on Metacast News of the Times Episode 129 | 1879-1881 Forgotten Fridays 1879-1881 In todays episode of Forgotten Fridays we look at some of the stories hitting the headlines in 1879 to 1881. The execution of Charles Peace (the full story is currently in production) was splashed across all the papers everywhere. The world of females striving to get the vote and being classed under the label as “lunatics” for pursuing that wish, and suggested cooking lessons for the poor – specifically for women coming home a...
Jul 28, 2023•24 min•Ep 13•Transcript available on Metacast News of the Times Episode 129 | 1870's - 1950's Notorious Gangs of Victorian England: Wicked Wednesdays Todays episode of Wicked Wednesdays looks at Notorious gangs in Victorian England specifically in Birmingham, London, and Manchester. The Peaky Blinders were a real-life criminal gang that operated in Birmingham, England, during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The name ""Peaky Blinders"" is believed to have originated from the distinctive peaked caps (flat...
Jul 26, 2023•37 min•Transcript available on Metacast News of the Times Episode 128 | 1690 - 1890 Tales of Mad, Bad, and Dangerous to Know In this chilling episode, we delve into the dark and disturbing stories of three notorious women from history. Catherine Hayes, a woman from 1690, takes us on a journey filled with lust, incest, and a horrifying murder that led to her own gruesome demise. Then, we uncover the twisted tale of Christina Edmunds, who plotted to poison a whole town in 1840, in order to disguise her sinister attempts to murder her in...
Jul 25, 2023•1 hr 13 min•Ep 128•Transcript available on Metacast News of the Times Episode 127 | 1840 The Mysterious Death of Charles Lafarge : Murderous Mondays In the year 1840, a captivating question gripped the minds of people far and wide: Did Marie Lafarge commit the crime? A young, alluring woman in possession of a modest inheritance, Marie found herself thrust into a marriage orchestrated by an uncle. The marriage led her to reside in the decaying confines of an ancient Carthusian monastery, situated in a quaint village where she stood out as an outsi...
Jul 24, 2023•29 min•Transcript available on Metacast News of the Times Episode 126 | 1870 The Mordaunt versus Mordaunt Scandal: Eccentric Sundays In 1870, a public scandal to beat almost all public scandals of the time developed to the point where the rise of Republicanism – the overthrow of the British Monarchy – was gaining real momentum. In high society, the case of the public divorce of a husband from his multiple cheating wife was started. One of the potential litigants named was Bertie, or ‘Dirty Bertie’ as the press referred to him: his Roy...
Jul 23, 2023•35 min•Ep 126•Transcript available on Metacast News of the Times Episode 125 | 1869 The Pantin Massacre: Serial Killer Saturdays In today’s episode we cross the English channel and visit France. It is 1869 in a small village in North Paris. The brutal massacre of a woman and her 5 children, horrifically slaughtered and buried in a shallow grave is discovered. The initial suspected culprits are the missing father and older brother – but was it really them? This case gripped the headlines in France and England at the time. We uncover the truth...
Jul 22, 2023•34 min•Transcript available on Metacast News of the Times Episode 124 | 1799-1801 Forgotten Fridays 1799 - 1801: News of the Times 1799 to 1801: the over-riding sense of the articles is the extreme poverty hitting the UK with inflation at a record 36.5%. With the record inflation and extreme poverty comes a corresponding rise in crime with the highest execution numbers since 1785. The masses are encouraged to fall in love with barley as a cheap source of energy and adverts are taken out for any kind of work wanted. Hosted by Robin Col...
Jul 21, 2023•23 min•Transcript available on Metacast News of the Times Episode 123 | 1700-1970 The Dark Side of London: Wicked Wednesdays From eerie tales of haunted places and the ghosts that wander its historic streets, to the sinister secrets lurking beneath the pristine streets, London holds a dark history that will send shivers down your spine. In the murky depths of London's shadowed streets, where gas lamps flicker and secrets are whispered, lies tales that delve into the city's darkest recesses. These are stories of vampiric sigh...
Jul 19, 2023•33 min•Transcript available on Metacast News of the Times Episode 122 | 1700 - 1812 From Pulpit to Gallows – Rogue Reverends: Teisted Tuesdays In todays Twisted tales Tuesdays episode, we look at three rogue reverends who swung from the gallows: Reverend Thomas Hunter whose illicit affair with a young girl was discovered by children who paid the price Reverend Thomas Dodd who tried bribery and forgery to find a way to finance his highly expensive lifestyle And Rev Michael Whiting who coveted his family’s estate for his own We take a l...
Jul 18, 2023•32 min•Transcript available on Metacast News of the Times Episode 121 | 1889 The Pinchin Torso Mystery: Murderous Mondays In 1889, remembrances of the ripper horror still echoed in England and especially in Whitechapel. A headless and legless torso is found around the corner from Berner Street, the death location of Elizabeth Stride. The torso is found on the anniversary of the death of Annie Chapman. This episode explores the horrific Pinchin Street Torso mystery. Hosted by Robin Coles. #NewsofTheTimes #VictorianCrimeStories #dismemb...
Jul 17, 2023•32 min•Transcript available on Metacast News of the Times Episode 120 | 1778 - 1840 The World of Beau Brummell: Eccentric Sundays Beau Brummel, who single handedly transformed men’s fashion away from the powdered wigs, silks and makeup of the French Court to the urbane, tailored style that we still have today and which dominates the Regency and Bridgerton world. Beau was so much more than a style icon and incredible wit. In this episode we look at some of his more outrageous pranks, his wit and the infamous feud with George, The Princ...
Jul 16, 2023•33 min•Transcript available on Metacast News of the Times Episode 119 | 1903 The Leyton Horror: Serial Killer Saturdays 1903 and all eyes in England are on the George Chapman investigation – was he the ripper? The Chapman story overpowered this gruesome horrific crime of a family brutally murdered, dismembered, with their body parts buried in a back garden. The motive? Financial gain. What is even more horrific is that this was to be a serial killing trend. His next attempted victim survived or more murders would have followed. Today’...
Jul 15, 2023•39 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
