crime – A LONDON MISCELLANY

Christmas is coming, the goose is getting…..stolen!

I came across a seasonal tale recently, one that Charles Dickens if he’d been alive at the time might have woven into one of his stories about the metropolis. It’s a tale with a lesson, one that warns against greed during the festive season. It also goes to show that as today Christmas to some… Continue reading Christmas is coming, the goose is getting…..stolen!

Gentlemen Professors Of The Art

I’ve always loved reading the stories of E. W. Hornung about the exploits of Arthur Raffles, gentleman thief and cricketer. It’s thought that Raffles is based on George Ives, a poet, criminologist and a very good cricketer. The name Raffles seems to have been taken from the title of a novel, “The doings at Raffles Haw“,… Continue reading Gentlemen Professors Of The Art

Keeping up appearances

Theft it seems rears it’s head on virtually every street, alleyway and courtyard when you delve back through the archives. If you scrutinise the records hard enough you can even find trends of crimes for specific areas or even streets. I found in one small area of the City a very prosperous (until they were… Continue reading Keeping up appearances

Mr Brundsen, Mr Platts & Mr Crapper

I’m currently researching a walking tour along the Thames path between Putney and Battersea Park. The route has thrown up a lot of interesting facts, not surprisingly given it’s location, many based around it’s industrial past. I always try and weave a human element into the tours with stories or facts that show what life… Continue reading Mr Brundsen, Mr Platts & Mr Crapper

The Downfall Of A Victorian Fraudster

If today you stand on the confluence of Cannon Street, Walbrook and Bloomberg Arcade, you’d be roughly inside The Coopers Arms. highlighted below. In the 1890s when Samuel Heibuth was Mine Host, the Pub stood at 19 Budge Row EC4N now buried under steel and glass, a result of the devastation caused during the Blitz.… Continue reading The Downfall Of A Victorian Fraudster

Drunk and incapable

I’d always wondered what the “incapable” meant in the phrase. Incapable of what exactly? Creating children’s novelty balloons, reciting pi to twenty decimal places or perhaps listing FA Cup winners since 1924? Turns out the guidance to a police officer is as follows, a drunk and incapable person is someone who has consumed alcohol to… Continue reading Drunk and incapable

Christmas is coming, the goose is getting…..stolen!

The double life of Evelyn Hatton

James Hatton was a small unremarkable man, employed as a cinema usher at the local picture Palace, The Electric, near to his Flat in Holland Park. By all accounts he was happy with the hand life had dealt him. The main reason for this was the woman he was married to, Evelyn. In today’s parlance,… Continue reading The double life of Evelyn Hatton

The God of requited love and the policeman

Following on from last weeks post The Angel of Christian Charity I left you with a teaser. In different circumstances the area of Piccadilly Circus and the famous statue that’s located there could have looked very different today. I also posed a question. Could you name a member, serving or otherwise of the Metropolitan Police’… Continue reading The God of requited love and the policeman

“Whether they be in need of a clean or not”

I recently came across a story while I was researching a new audio tour set in the area of Clerkenwell. I’ve included it here as there were a couple of things that made me chuckle. When it comes to a pint I’m definitely in the straight or sleeve glass camp, not for me the chunky… Continue reading “Whether they be in need of a clean or not”