In 1735, George Ward led a violent armed robbery in a Clerkenwell bakehouse, shooting and robbing Thomas Gibson. This Old Bailey case reveals a brutal insider-led burglary, a chilling confession, and the unrepentant final days of a condemned man in Georgian London’s criminal underworld.
Tag Archives: fiction
This Day in History – 25 March 1797
In 1797, Elizabeth Willoughby was caught smuggling escape tools into Newgate Prison for condemned prisoner William Harper. This Old Bailey case reveals a bold jailbreak plot involving saws, chisels, and deception—offering a vivid glimpse into crime, punishment, and prison life in Georgian London.
THIS DAY IN HISTORY – 17 MARCH 1823
THE ST PATRICK’S NIGHT STABBING On the night of 17th March 1823, as Londoners marked St Patrick’s Day with drink and merriment, a far darker scene unfolded in a narrow passage off Manchester Square. John Leacy, a smith, returned to his lodgings after stepping out to buy a candle. The hallway was dark. As heContinue reading “THIS DAY IN HISTORY – 17 MARCH 1823”
This Day in History – 11 March 1878
On 11 March 1878 Fanny Roper Keech was convicted at the Old Bailey for fraud after obtaining costly costumes from Oxford Street silk mercers Gask and Gask using a worthless cheque and a false address. Her deception relied on confidence and appearance—but the cheque was quickly exposed as fraudulent.
This Day in History: 21 February 1787 — Charles Shaw and the Robbery at St Paul’s
On 21 February 1787, Charles Shaw was tried at the Old Bailey for robbing John Hughes near St Paul’s Churchyard. Accused of tripping him and stealing a silver watch worth forty shillings, Shaw was found guilty of highway robbery and executed at Newgate Prison on 26 April 1787.
This Day in History: 5 February 1808 — Edward Westbrooke and the Stolen Cotton
On 5 February 1808, London’s highest criminal court, the Old Bailey, heard the case of Edward Westbrooke, who stood accused of stealing hundreds of printed cotton handkerchiefs and other textiles — goods of considerable value in the commercial heart of Georgian England. His trial, conviction and ultimate fate reveal much about how property, punishment andContinue reading “This Day in History: 5 February 1808 — Edward Westbrooke and the Stolen Cotton”
This Day in History: 11 December 1765 — Catherine Wilks and the Printed Cotton
On 11 December 1765, Catherine Wilks was tried at the Old Bailey for stealing printed cotton from a London shop. Found guilty of grand larceny, she faced transportation, the common punishment for such thefts. Her case reveals the risks and realities of women navigating 18th-century London’s commercial world.
About The Sage
Discover the remarkable story of The Sage, Dorchester’s most eccentric philosopher. From his biscuit-based enlightenment to his wildly impractical wisdom, The Sage blends British humour, tea, and quiet confusion into a philosophy that proves enlightenment can happen anywhere — even in Dorset.
Accident Jokes
Laugh at life’s little missteps with our collection of hilarious accident jokes! Perfect for fans of slapstick and silliness, these jokes turn everyday mishaps into comic gold. Ideal for sharing with friends, lightening the mood, or just brightening your day with some safe, side-splitting humour.
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