Dark Histories

Whilst I'm finishing up my Winter holiday, i wanted to share with you all one of my favourite shows, from a good friend of mine, Southern Gothic! This episode is a really good example fo what they do over there, and I'm sure it's something you'd like if you're into Dark histories.If you'd like to subscribe, you can find his Podcast linked here: https://podfollow.com/southern-gothicOr just search Southern Gothic on your favourite podcast player.Here's a little blurb about the episode:According to an old Blues legend, Robert Johnson sold his soul down at the crossroads for the ability to play guitar like no other. This episode tells the tale of Robert Johnson’s life–his many heartbreaks and missteps– and seeks to understand the origin of that infamous piece of folklore.I hope you enjoy it, and I'll see you real soon with Season 9. Cheers! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Here is Part 2 of this years Christmas Campfire, more of a New Years Campfire, really. I hope you enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hey everyone! Merry Christmas (Eve)! Here is this years Christmas Campfire, or at least the first half of it. Thanks for everyone for taking part, I hope you enjoy some spooky stories and have a wonderful Christmas Day! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dive into the fascinating life of Violet Tweedale, a Victorian powerhouse known for her diverse talents and passion for ghost hunting. Discover her early encounters with the supernatural and how they shaped her beliefs about the afterlife. Hear about her unique journey into spiritualism during the dark days of Jack the Ripper and her eerie experiences at a haunted villa. Explore her literary achievements and the blend of spirituality and science in her perspective. Uncover the complexities of her life and why such compelling figures often fade from history.

Dr. Thomas Neill Cream, a physician with a respectable facade, became one of the most notorious figures in Victorian London’s dark history. Under the guise of providing medical care, he secretly dispensed deadly doses of strychnine, preying on vulnerable women, using his sinister charm and cunning to both administer poison and run from the effects. For years Cream operated in the shadows, his victims spanning across countries, borders and seas, until his insatiable thirst for power and cruelty ultimately revealed the monster behind the doctor’s mask.PART 2 SOURCESJobb, Dean (2021) The Case of the Murderous Dr Cream. Algonquin Books, NC, USA.Hodge, James H. (1994) Famous Trials v.5: Thomas Neill Cream, Neville Heath, John Watson Laurie, Dr.George Lamson, Rattenbury and Stoner. Penguin Crime, London, UK.Loudon, Irvine (1992) Death in Childbirth: An International Study of Maternal Care and Maternal Mortality 1800-1950. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK.Gloucester Citizen (1891) Painful Story. Gloucester Citizen, Fri 16 Oct 1891, p3. UK.North Devon Journal (1892) Further Charges Of Blackmailing. North Devon Journal, Thurs 23 June 1892, p6. UK.Reynolds’s Newspaper (1892) Strange Cases Of Poisoning. Reynolds’s Newspaper, Sun 17 April 1892, p5, London, UK.Illustrated Police News (1892) The Execution Of Cream. Illustrated Police News, Saturday 19 Nov 1892, p1. London, UK.-------For almost anything, head over to the podcasts hub at darkhistories.com Support the show by using our link when you sign up to Audible: http://audibletrial.com/darkhistories or visit our Patreon for bonus episodes and Early Access: https://www.patreon.com/darkhistoriesThe Dark Histories books are available to buy here: http://author.to/darkhistoriesDark Histories merch is available here: https://bit.ly/3GChjk9Connect with us on Facebook: http://facebook.com/darkhistoriespodcastOr find us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/darkhistories& Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dark_histories/Or you can contact us directly via email at contact@darkhistories.comor join our Discord community: https://discord.gg/cmGcBFfThe Dark Histories Butterfly was drawn by Courtney, who you can find on Instagram @bewildereyeMusic was recorded by me © Ben Cutmore 2017Other Outro music was Paul Whiteman & his orchestra with Mildred Bailey - All of me (1931). It's out of copyright now, but if you're interested, that was that. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Thomas Neill Cream, a physician with a respectable facade, became one of the most notorious figures in Victorian London’s dark history. Under the guise of providing medical care, he secretly dispensed deadly doses of strychnine, preying on vulnerable women, using his sinister charm and cunning to both administer poison and run from the effects. For years Cream operated in the shadows, his victims spanning across countries, borders and seas, until his insatiable thirst for power and cruelty ultimately revealed the monster behind the doctor’s mask.PART 1 SOURCESJobb, Dean (2021) The Case of the Murderous Dr Cream. Algonquin Books, NC, USA.Hodge, James H. (1994) Famous Trials v.5: Thomas Neill Cream, Neville Heath, John Watson Laurie, Dr.George Lamson, Rattenbury and Stoner. Penguin Crime, London, UK.Loudon, Irvine (1992) Death in Childbirth: An International Study of Maternal Care and Maternal Mortality 1800-1950. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK.The Hamilton Spectator (1879) London. The Hamilton Spectator, Thurs 8 May 1879, p1. Ontario, Canada.Illustrated Police News (1892) The Lambeth Poisoning Case: Neill’s Career. Illustrated Police News, October 29, 1892, p1. London, UK.The Worthington Advance (1891) Record of Crime. The Worthington Advance, Thurs 4 Aug 1891, p1. MN, USA.-------For almost anything, head over to the podcasts hub at darkhistories.com Support the show by using our link when you sign up to Audible: http://audibletrial.com/darkhistories or visit our Patreon for bonus episodes and Early Access: https://www.patreon.com/darkhistoriesThe Dark Histories books are available to buy here: http://author.to/darkhistoriesDark Histories merch is available here: https://bit.ly/3GChjk9Connect with us on Facebook: http://facebook.com/darkhistoriespodcastOr find us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/darkhistories& Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dark_histories/Or you can contact us directly via email at contact@darkhistories.comor join our Discord community: https://discord.gg/cmGcBFfThe Dark Histories Butterfly was drawn by Courtney, who you can find on Instagram @bewildereyeMusic was recorded by me © Ben Cutmore 2017Other Outro music was Paul Whiteman & his orchestra with Mildred Bailey - All of me (1931). It's out of copyright now, but if you're interested, that was that. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A young actress disappears from a luxury liner in 1947, sparking a tale of desire and deceit that mesmerizes the world. The dark backdrop of post-war South Africa reveals growing tensions and the allure of fortune, while exploring the lives of Gay Gibson and steward James Camb. As the mystery unfolds, conflicting narratives and missing pajamas deepen the intrigue. The case remains a chilling cold case, filled with societal complexities and compelling arguments, echoing the timeless allure of classic detective stories.

Discover the eerie tales of Highgate Cemetery, where a mysterious figure with glowing red eyes sparked a mix of fear and fascination. Unravel the satanic panic of the 1980s, tracing it back to historical witch hunts and sensationalist media. Delve into local scandals intertwining with the infamous Highgate Vampire legend and witness the evolution of this captivating myth. Explore questionable claims by a notorious figure, revealing the absurdity behind sensational storytelling. Contrasting narratives bring to life the intrigue of authenticity and belief in the paranormal.

Dive into the tumultuous tale of Elizabeth Fenning, a young cook ensnared in a web of poison and prosecution in Regency London. As she stands trial for allegedly lacing dumplings with arsenic, the narrative reveals a society rife with class divides and public outrage. The episode scrutinizes shaky evidence, media sensationalism, and the flawed judicial process of the time. Throughout, listeners are prompted to reflect on the complexities of innocence and guilt amid societal expectations and injustices.

The life and times of George Albert Smith are not particularly well known. Despite working for several years as a stage hypnotist and psychic, the owner of a popular pleasure park and then eventually a pioneering inventor and filmmaker, there are few who could reel off a biography based on nothing more than a name. Perhaps even more obscure, however, was his time spent as a ghost hunter for the Society for Psychical Research, which, whilst a relatively short career in comparison, was no less groundbreaking, when he took tenancy of a haunted house for more than a whole year in order to investigate the reported phenomena. SOURCES Gray, Frank (2019) The Brighton School & The Birth of British Film. Palgrave Macmillan, London, UK. Gray, Frank (1998) Smith the showman: The early years of George Albert Smith. Film History, Vol. 10, No. 1, Cinema Pioneers (1998), pp. 8-20. John Libby & Co., Sydney, Australia. Hall, Trevor (1964) The Strange Case of Edmund Gurney. Gerald Duckworth & Co Ltd, London, UK. Blackburn, Douglas (1883) Thought Reading Extraordinary. Light, No 86, Vol II. London, UK. Smith, George Albert (1884) Report on a Haunted House at Norwich. Journal of the Society for Psychical Research, Vol I, 1884-5. London, UK. Podmore, Frank (1890) Phantasms of the Dead from Another Point of View. Journal of the Society for Psychical Research, Vol VI, 1889-90. London, UK. Gauld, Alan & Cornell, Tony (1979) Poltergeists. White Crow Books, London, UK. Sussex Advertiser (1879) Suicide By Hanging. Sussex Advertiser, Sat 5 April 1879, p2. Brighton, UK. ------- This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp, check out betterhelp.com/darkhistories to get 10% off your first month.   ------- For almost anything, head over to the podcasts hub at darkhistories.com Support the show by using our link when you sign up to Audible: http://audibletrial.com/darkhistories or visit our Patreon for bonus episodes and Early Access: https://www.patreon.com/darkhistories The Dark Histories books are available to buy here: http://author.to/darkhistories Dark Histories merch is available here: https://bit.ly/3GChjk9 Connect with us on Facebook: http://facebook.com/darkhistoriespodcast Or find us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/darkhistories & Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dark_histories/ Or you can contact us directly via email at contact@darkhistories.com or join our Discord community: https://discord.gg/cmGcBFf The Dark Histories Butterfly was drawn by Courtney, who you can find on Instagram @bewildereye Music was recorded by me © Ben Cutmore 2017 Other Outro music was Paul Whiteman & his orchestra with Mildred Bailey - All of me (1931). It's out of copyright now, but if you're interested, that was that.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices