In this episode of Macabre London, we step into the foggy streets of Whitechapel in 1888 to uncover the brutal murder of Mary Jane Kelly – the last known victim of Jack the Ripper. We’ll follow the police investigation as it reached its breaking point, examine the key suspects who haunted the inquiry, and reveal how a shocking telegram from Queen Victoria forced the government to finally take notice of London’s slums.

Was this the moment the Ripper was closest to being caught? And how did Mary Jane Kelly’s death end up changing life in the East End forever? Join me as we dig into one of history’s darkest crimes and the social reforms it accidentally sparked.

🔔 Subscribe for more chilling tales from London’s dark past.

Todays episode is sponsored by Jeff Wayne's The War Of The Worlds The Immersive Experience - www.waroftheworldsimmersive.com - to get your special discount code of £10 off any two or more tickets purchased. Use the code: MACABRE10

------------------------

If you love British true crime, unsolved mysteries, and historical murders, don’t miss this episode!

Also available wherever you get your podcasts: https://podfollow.com/macabrelondon

-------------------------

Be sure to check out my other podcast, Killers, Cults & Queens https://podfollow.com/queens

---------------------------

SUPPORT ME

————————

ONE OFF DONATIONS: Paypal - paypal.me/macabrelondon

KO-FI: ko-fi.com/macabrelondon

PATREON: www.patreon.com/macabrelondon

AMAZON WISHLIST - https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/...

MERCH! - https://macabrelondon-shop.fourthwall.com

——————————-

Thank you to our executive producer patrons - Bec, Christophe, Christina, Heathers Leg, Lisa, Mary, Matilda, Ravelle, Sally, Sam, Sarah, Sarah A, Terri & Veronica

And to all of our wonderful £5 tier patrons...

Amy

Andrea

Andrew

Boudicca

Claire R

Claire S

Creepy Paper

David R

Denise

Helen

Inge

Jo

JT

Kathryn

Kelly

Kylee

Lindal

Liz

Shannon

Steph

The Paranormal Princess

Vee

ZozoLAM

And thanks to all other patrons too!

————————

SOCIAL MEDIA

---------------------------------------------

Insta: @nikkimacabrelondon

X: @macabrelondon

TikTok: @macabrelondon

Facebook: @macabrelondon

Email: macabrelondon@hotmail.com

---------------------------------------------

Sources:

"Annie Chapman - Wikipedia"

"Casebook: Jack the Ripper - Annie Chapman"

"Casebook: Jack the Ripper - Annie Chapman's Inquest"

"Casebook: Jack the Ripper - Catherine Eddowes"

"Casebook: Jack the Ripper - Elizabeth Stride"

"Casebook: Jack the Ripper - Timeline"

"Catherine Eddowes - Wikipedia"

"Elizabeth Stride - Wikipedia"

"Investigative policing and the Whitechapel murders - Crime and punishment in Whitechapel, c.1870-c.1900 - Edexcel - GCSE History Revision - Edexcel - BBC Bitesize"

"Police Investigation | London Tour | Jack The Ripper Tour"

"The Police Investigation - JackTheRipper"

"Whitechapel Vigilance Committee - Wikipedia"

"Whitechapel murders - Wikipedia"

"Who Was JackTheRipper? Find the Key Suspects Casebook"

Keywords: Annie Chapman, Elizabeth Stride, Catherine Eddowes, Jack the Ripper, Double Event, Whitechapel murders, Victorian crime, Macabre London podcast, London history, true crime.

Mary Ann Nichols murder, Jack the Ripper first victim, Whitechapel murders, 1888 police investigation, Victorian true crime, London history, Ripper case, Macabre London, true crime podcast, historical crime documentary. #JackTheRipper #MaryJaneKelly #MacabreLondon

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

FROM THE VAULT: this week we have a corker of an episode from years gone by, we're diving back into the vault of Macabre Mini Mysteries to find you a yesteryear gem for your delectation. We'll be back as usual ASAP with a brand new episode but until then, enjoy this vintage listen...

A top a windswept rocky outcrop stands a lonely lighthouse. Its job for many years has been to forewarn sailors that their boats are at risk of striking one of the many jagged rocks that are hidden deep below the surface which could cause a devastating shipwreck.

The lamp which was tended to by three hardy keepers on rotation from the mainland of Scotland, one day went dark and when the watch came to replace the men from the isolated island they were nowhere to be found and the lighthouse itself was deserted sparking one of the greatest mysteries of all time.

Today on Macabre Mini Mysteries, we uncover the story of the abandoned Flannan Lighthouse and the fate of its three missing keepers.

------------------------

Todays episode is sponsored by Wolf Escape Games - www.wolfescapegames.com - to get your special discount code of 30% off any game or bundle. Use the code: MACABRE30

------------------------

If you love British true crime, unsolved mysteries, and historical murders, don’t miss this episode!

Also available wherever you get your podcasts: https://podfollow.com/macabrelondon

-------------------------

Be sure to check out my other podcast, Killers, Cults & Queens https://podfollow.com/queens

---------------------------

SUPPORT ME

————————

ONE OFF DONATIONS: Paypal - paypal.me/macabrelondon

KO-FI: ko-fi.com/macabrelondon

PATREON: www.patreon.com/macabrelondon

AMAZON WISHLIST - https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/...

MERCH! - https://macabrelondon-shop.fourthwall.com

——————————-

Thank you to our executive producer patrons - Christina, Heathers Leg, Lisa, Mary, Matilda, Ravelle, Sally, Sam, Sarah, Sarah A, Terri & Veronica

And to all of our wonderful £5 tier patrons...

Amy

Andrea

Andrew

Boudicca

Claire R

Claire S

Creepy Paper

David R

Denise

Helen

Inge

Jo

JT

Kathryn

Kelly

Kylee

Lindal

Liz

Shannon

Steph

The Paranormal Princess

Vee

ZozoLAM

And thanks to all other patrons too!

————————

SOCIAL MEDIA

---------------------------------------------

Insta: @nikkimacabrelondon

X: @macabrelondon

TikTok: @macabrelondon

Facebook: @macabrelondon

Email: macabrelondon@hotmail.com

---------------------------------------------

Sources

-------------

https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofScotland/The-Eilean-Mor-Lighthouse-Mystery/

https://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/eilean-mor/

https://www.nlb.org.uk/history/flannan-isles/

https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/blog/what-caused-disappearance-flannan-isle-lighthouse-keepers#:~:text=The%20more%20far%2Dfetched%20of,a%20crevice%20above%20sea%20level.

https://www.academia.edu/251736/The_Vanishing_Lighthousemen_of_Eilean_Mor

https://skeptoid.com/episodes/4610

https://lighthouseaccommodation.co.uk/directory/flannan-isles-shore-station/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flannan_Isles_Lighthouse

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In September 1888, Jack the Ripper escalated his crimes. Annie Chapman was found murdered in Hanbury Street, followed just weeks later by the Double Event — the back-to-back killings of Elizabeth Stride and Catherine Eddowes in a single night.

In this episode of Macabre London, we follow the police investigations into these gruesome murders, uncovering the challenges they faced, the evidence they uncovered, and the infamous Goulston Street Graffito that baffled investigators. Could the Ripper have been identified sooner, or was Victorian policing simply outmatched by his brutality?

🔔 Subscribe for more chilling tales from London’s dark past.

Todays episode is sponsored by Wolf Escape Games - www.wolfescapegames.com - to get your special discount code of 30% off any game or bundle. Use the code: MACABRE30

------------------------

If you love British true crime, unsolved mysteries, and historical murders, don’t miss this episode!

Also available wherever you get your podcasts: https://podfollow.com/macabrelondon

-------------------------

Be sure to check out my other podcast, Killers, Cults & Queens https://podfollow.com/queens

---------------------------

SUPPORT ME

————————

ONE OFF DONATIONS: Paypal - paypal.me/macabrelondon

KO-FI: ko-fi.com/macabrelondon

PATREON: www.patreon.com/macabrelondon

AMAZON WISHLIST - https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/...

MERCH! - https://macabrelondon-shop.fourthwall.com

——————————-

Thank you to our executive producer patrons - Christina, Heathers Leg, Lise, Mary, Matilda, Ravelle, Sally, Sam, Sarah, Sarah A, Terri & Veronica

And to all of our wonderful £5 tier patrons...

Amy

Andrea

Andrew

Boudicca

Claire R

Claire S

Creepy Paper

David R

Denise

Helen

Inge

Jo

JT

Kathryn

Kelly

Kylee

Lindal

Liz

Shannon

Steph

The Paranormal Princess

Vee

ZozoLAM

And thanks to all other patrons too!

————————

SOCIAL MEDIA

---------------------------------------------

Insta: @nikkimacabrelondon

X: @macabrelondon

TikTok: @macabrelondon

Facebook: @macabrelondon

Email: macabrelondon@hotmail.com

---------------------------------------------

Sources:

• "Annie Chapman - Wikipedia"
• "Casebook: Jack the Ripper - Annie Chapman"
• "Casebook: Jack the Ripper - Annie Chapman's Inquest"
• "Casebook: Jack the Ripper - Catherine Eddowes"
• "Casebook: Jack the Ripper - Elizabeth Stride"
• "Casebook: Jack the Ripper - Timeline"
• "Catherine Eddowes - Wikipedia"
• "Elizabeth Stride - Wikipedia"
• "Investigative policing and the Whitechapel murders - Crime and punishment in Whitechapel, c.1870-c.1900 - Edexcel - GCSE History Revision - Edexcel - BBC Bitesize"
• "Police Investigation | London Tour | Jack The Ripper Tour"
• "The Police Investigation - JackTheRipper"
• "Whitechapel Vigilance Committee - Wikipedia"
• "Whitechapel murders - Wikipedia"
• "Who Was JackTheRipper? Find the Key Suspects Casebook"

Keywords: Annie Chapman, Elizabeth Stride, Catherine Eddowes, Jack the Ripper, Double Event, Whitechapel murders, Victorian crime, Macabre London podcast, London history, true crime.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On 31st August 1888, Mary Ann Nichols was found brutally murdered in Whitechapel — and with her death, the shadow of Jack the Ripper began to fall across London.

In this episode of Macabre London, we take you inside the police investigation into the first confirmed Ripper murder. How did officers approach the scene? What evidence did they have to work with in Victorian London? And could they have stopped the Ripper before his killing spree claimed more lives?

Using contemporary police reports, witness statements, and historical accounts, we’ll explore the exact steps the Metropolitan Police took — and the mistakes that might have changed history.

🔔 Subscribe for more chilling tales from London’s dark past.

Todays episode is sponsored by Jeff Wayne's The War Of The Worlds The Immersive Experience - www.waroftheworldsimmersive.com - to get your special discount code of £10 off any two or more tickets purchased. Use the code: MACABRE10

------------------------

If you love British true crime, unsolved mysteries, and historical murders, don’t miss this episode!

Also available wherever you get your podcasts: https://podfollow.com/macabrelondon

-------------------------

Be sure to check out my other podcast, Killers, Cults & Queens https://podfollow.com/queens

---------------------------

SUPPORT ME

————————

ONE OFF DONATIONS: Paypal - paypal.me/macabrelondon

KO-FI: ko-fi.com/macabrelondon

PATREON: www.patreon.com/macabrelondon

AMAZON WISHLIST - https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/...

MERCH! - https://macabrelondon-shop.fourthwall.com

——————————-

Thank you to our executive producer patrons - Christina, Heathers Leg, Lisa, Mary, Matilda, Ravelle, Sally, Sam, Sarah, Sarah A, Terri & Veronica

And to all of our wonderful £5 tier patrons...

Amy

Andrea

Andrew

Boudicca

Claire R

Claire S

Creepy Paper

David R

Denise

Helen

Inge

Jo

JT

Kathryn

Kelly

Kylee

Lindal

Liz

Shannon

Steph

The Paranormal Princess

Vee

ZozoLAM

And thanks to all other patrons too!

————————

SOCIAL MEDIA

---------------------------------------------

Insta: @nikkimacabrelondon

X: @macabrelondon

TikTok: @macabrelondon

Facebook: @macabrelondon

Email: macabrelondon@hotmail.com

---------------------------------------------

Sources:

https://www.casebook.org/victims/polly.html

https://www.jack-the-ripper.org/jack-the-ripper-victim-mary-nichols.htm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Ann_Nichols

https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-body-of-mary-ann-nichols-vict/24865171/

https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0005873/18881006/208/0008

https://www.jack-the-ripper.org/jack-the-ripper-victim-mary-nichols.htm

https://thejacktherippertour.com/casebook/police-investigation/

Mary Ann Nichols murder, Jack the Ripper first victim, Whitechapel murders, 1888 police investigation, Victorian true crime, London history, Ripper case, Macabre London, true crime podcast, historical crime documentary.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Before Jack: Police Investigate Whitechapel’s First Two Murders

Join Macabre London for a chilling prelude to the infamous Jack the Ripper saga. In this episode, we uncover the first two Whitechapel murders—Emma Elizabeth Smith and Martha Tabram—long before the canonical five claimed global attention. Discover how H Division detectives responded to these brutal cases, the investigative methods of 1888, and why these early murders were initially overlooked in the Ripper narrative.

🔎 Key Topics Covered:

• The murders of Emma Smith (April 1888) and Martha Tabram (August 1888)—linked in CID records but not officially part of the canonical five
• How Mary Ann Nichols, Annie Chapman, and others later aligned with distinctive Ripper-style mutilation
• Victorian policing tactics, forensic limitations, and the rise of sensational press coverage

Expect gripping narrative, rich historical context, and suspense that builds toward the infamous “Double Event”—the murders of Elizabeth Stride and Catherine Eddowes on 30 September 1888

If you’re obsessed with true crime, Victorian history, or the roots of Jack the Ripper, this deep dive is your perfect start. Subscribe for more ghostly histories from London's darker side.

🔔 Subscribe for more chilling tales from London’s dark past.

Todays episode is sponsored by Jeff Wayne's The War Of The Worlds The Immersive Experience - www.waroftheworldsimmersive.com - to get your special discount code of £10 off any two or more tickets purchased. Use the code: MACABRE10

------------------------

🔪 If you love British true crime, unsolved mysteries, and historical murders, don’t miss this episode!

Also available wherever you get your podcasts: https://podfollow.com/macabrelondon

-------------------------

Be sure to check out my other podcast, Killers, Cults & Queens https://podfollow.com/queens

---------------------------

SUPPORT ME

————————

ONE OFF DONATIONS: Paypal - paypal.me/macabrelondon

KO-FI: ko-fi.com/macabrelondon

PATREON: www.patreon.com/macabrelondon

AMAZON WISHLIST - https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/...

MERCH! - https://macabrelondon-shop.fourthwall.com

——————————-

Thank you to our executive producer patrons - Christina, Heathers Leg, Lisa, Mary, Matilda, Ravelle, Sally, Sam, Sarah, Sarah A, Terri & Veronica

And to all of our wonderful £5 tier patrons...

Amy

Andrea

Andrew

Boudicca

Claire R

Claire S

Creepy Paper

David R

Denise

Helen

Inge

Jo

JT

Kathryn

Kelly

Kylee

Lindal

Liz

Shannon

Steph

The Paranormal Princess

Vee

ZozoLAM

And thanks to all other patrons too!

————————

SOCIAL MEDIA

---------------------------------------------

Insta: @nikkimacabrelondon

X: @macabrelondon

TikTok: @macabrelondon

Facebook: @macabrelondon

Email: macabrelondon@hotmail.com

---------------------------------------------

Sources:

https://www.quakersintheworld.org/quakers-in-action/13/Elizabeth-Fry

https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofEngland/Bloody-Code-History/

http://www.policehistory.com/early.html

https://www.theguardian.com/news/1830/nov/13/mainsection.fromthearchive

https://web.archive.org/web/20031013215527/http://www.devon-cornwall.police.uk/v3/about/history/vicpolice/bow.htm

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Edward Dando wasn’t your average thief—he was a man possessed by an unrelenting hunger for oysters… and a complete disregard for paying the bill.

In this episode of Macabre Mini Mysteries from Macabre London, we explore the life and crimes of Edward Dando: the Regency glutton who scandalised polite society by stealing and devouring shocking amounts of shellfish.

Discover why oysters were once cheaper than chips, how Dando became a curious celebrity in London’s courts, and the sad truth behind his unstoppable appetite.

For lovers of strange true crime, forgotten history, and the darker corners of London’s past, this is one feast you won’t want to miss.

Subscribe now and join us each week for more mini mysteries from the heart of London’s macabre history.

Todays episode is sponsored by Wolf Escape Games www.wolfescapegames.com - to get your special discount code of 30% off any purchase use the code: MACABRE30

------------------------

🔪 If you love British true crime, unsolved mysteries, and historical murders, don’t miss this episode!

Also available wherever you get your podcasts: https://podfollow.com/macabrelondon

-------------------------

Be sure to check out my other podcast, Killers, Cults & Queens https://podfollow.com/queens

---------------------------

SUPPORT ME

————————

ONE OFF DONATIONS: Paypal - paypal.me/macabrelondon

KO-FI: ko-fi.com/macabrelondon

PATREON: www.patreon.com/macabrelondon

AMAZON WISHLIST - https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/...

MERCH! - https://macabrelondon-shop.fourthwall...

——————————-

Thank you to our executive producer patrons - Christina, Heathers Leg, Lisa, Mary, Matilda, Ravelle, Sally, Sam, Sarah, Terri & Veronica

And to all of our wonderful £5 tier patrons...

Amy

Andrea

Andrew

Boudicca

Claire R

Claire S

Creepy Paper

David R

Denise

Helen

Inge

Jo

JT

Kathryn

Kelly

Kylee

Lindal

Liz

Shannon

Steph

The Paranormal Princess

Vee

ZozoLAM

And thanks to all other patrons too!

————————

SOCIAL MEDIA

---------------------------------------------

Insta: @nikkimacabrelondon

X: @macabrelondon

TikTok: @macabrelondon

Facebook: @macabrelondon

Email: macabrelondon@hotmail.com

---------------------------------------------

Sources:

Weekly Times (London) - Sunday 02 September 1832

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Dando

https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/11t90bm/til_edward_dando_was_a_legendary_thief_known_for/

https://archive.org/details/blackwoodsmagazi88edinuoft/page/617/mode/1up

https://archive.org/details/lettersofcharles00dickiala/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Before the crisp uniforms and community smiles, London’s very first police officers were anything but respectable. In this episode of Macabre London, we uncover the outrageous early days of the Met — when public trust was low, tempers were high, and a night on the beat often ended in a fight outside the pub.

From riotous mobs to internal corruption, discover how Britain’s most iconic police force was built by brawlers, not by-the-book officers.

We look into the horrifying bloody code years, the 200 offences you could be hanged for and the tireless work of Elizabeth Fry and Robert Peel to reform not only prisons but also to try and establish a police force.

Before the crisp uniforms and community smiles, London’s very first police officers were anything but respectable. In this episode of Macabre London, we uncover the outrageous early days of the Met — when public trust was low, tempers were high, and a night on the beat often ended in a bar fight.

From riotous mobs to internal corruption, discover how Britain’s most iconic police force was built by brawlers, not by-the-book officers.

🔔 Subscribe for more chilling tales from London’s dark past.

Todays episode is sponsored by Wolf Escape Games www.wolfescapegames.com - to get your special discount code of 30% off any purchase use the code: MACABRE30

------------------------

🔪 If you love British true crime, unsolved mysteries, and historical murders, don’t miss this episode!

Also available wherever you get your podcasts: https://podfollow.com/macabrelondon

-------------------------

Be sure to check out my other podcast, Killers, Cults & Queens https://podfollow.com/queens

---------------------------

SUPPORT ME

————————

ONE OFF DONATIONS: Paypal - paypal.me/macabrelondon

KO-FI: ko-fi.com/macabrelondon

PATREON: www.patreon.com/macabrelondon

AMAZON WISHLIST - https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/...

MERCH! - https://macabrelondon-shop.fourthwall...

——————————-

Thank you to our executive producer patrons - Christina, Heathers Leg, Lisa, Mary, Matilda, Ravelle, Sally, Sam, Sarah, Sarah A, Terri & Veronica

And to all of our wonderful £5 tier patrons...

Amy

Andrea

Andrew

Boudicca

Claire R

Claire S

Creepy Paper

David R

Denise

Helen

Inge

Jo

JT

Kathryn

Kelly

Kylee

Lindal

Liz

Shannon

Steph

The Paranormal Princess

Vee

ZozoLAM

And thanks to all other patrons too!

————————

SOCIAL MEDIA

---------------------------------------------

Insta: @nikkimacabrelondon

X: @macabrelondon

TikTok: @macabrelondon

Facebook: @macabrelondon

Email: macabrelondon@hotmail.com

---------------------------------------------

Sources:

https://www.quakersintheworld.org/quakers-in-action/13/Elizabeth-Fry

https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofEngland/Bloody-Code-History/

http://www.policehistory.com/early.html

https://www.theguardian.com/news/1830/nov/13/mainsection.fromthearchive

More available on request

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 1828, a grand celebration marked the trial of Britain’s first passenger railway—but by the end of the day, one of the country’s most powerful men was dead. William Huskisson, MP, was struck by The Rocket in a gruesome accident that unfolded in front of the Duke of Wellington and dozens of shocked onlookers.

As the wheels of progress crushed Huskisson’s leg and his legacy, rumours of hauntings began to follow the railway line. Was his death just an unfortunate error—or something more sinister?

Join me for a Macabre Mini Mystery exploring the moment technology turned deadly—and the ghost story it left behind.

🚂 Death on the tracks, ghosts in the tunnels, and the day progress demanded a price.

Todays episode is sponsored by The War Of The Worlds Immersive Experience - to get your special discount code for £10 off two tickets or more head to www.thewaroftheworldsimmersive.com

and use the code: MACABRE10

------------------------

🔪 If you love British true crime, unsolved mysteries, and historical murders, don’t miss this episode!

Also available on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@macabrelondon?si=MeLmFseMHe-zq2pq

-------------------------

Be sure to check out my other podcast, Killers, Cults & Queens https://podfollow.com/queens

---------------------------

SUPPORT ME

————————

ONE OFF DONATIONS: Paypal - paypal.me/macabrelondon

KO-FI: ko-fi.com/macabrelondon

PATREON: www.patreon.com/macabrelondon

MERCH! - https://macabrelondon-shop.fourthwall.com

——————————-

Thank you to our executive producer patrons - Christina, Heathers Leg, Lisa, Mary, Matilda, Ravelle, Sally, Sam, Sarah, Sarah A, Terri & Veronica

And to all of our wonderful £5 tier patrons...

Amy

Andrea

Andrew

Boudicca

Claire R

Claire S

Creepy Paper

David R

Denise

Helen

Inge

Jo

JT

Kathryn

Kelly

Kylee

Lindal

Liz

Shannon

Steph

The Paranormal Princess

Vee

ZozoLAM

And thanks to all other patrons too!

————————

SOCIAL MEDIA

---------------------------------------------

Insta: @nikkimacabrelondon

X: @macabrelondon

TikTok: @macabrelondon

Facebook: @macabrelondon

Email: macabrelondon@hotmail.com

---------------------------------------------

Sources:

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.