Newgate Jail - London’s Hell on Earth

02/01/23 • 32 min

For 700 years Newgate Jail was the darkest, dirtiest and most miserable dungeon in London. We uncover some of its terrible and terrifying prison stories: from cannibals to the fearsome ghost of a black dog; from a boy chimney sweep sent to hang at Tyburn, to a world-famous novelist imprisoned for his ideas. Hear about London’s Georgian Mafia boss, and the man who inspired Dickens’ Fagin. Songs, stories and strange tales in this prison podcast.

Previous Episode

Stonehenge - the History and the Mystery

For our December episode, we are at Stonehenge for the winter solstice. We investigate the mystery of Stonehenge’s little-known neighbouring sister Woodhenge - was it once home to the largest “city” in the world? We hear about the strange legend of the Cuckoo stone.

We find out how – 4,500 years ago - the first stones at the henge were dragged 180 miles from Wales. We tell the story of how the first metalworker in Britain came to be buried near the henge, and find out how to dowse the mysterious lay lines that run under the great monument. Are the initials of Britain’s most famous architect inscribed into the monument? We wait with the druids, wiccans and witches for the winter solstice.

Next Episode

Jack Sheppard - The Most Famous Man in Britain

Thee hundred years ago, Jack Sheppard was the most famous man in the country. Britain’s first celebrity was not a royal, an actor, or aristocrat - but a petty thief. This podcast tells the story of how an East End chancer became so famous, that a third of London’s population took to the streets to see if he could cheat the noose.