The BackTracker History Show

Death of a Policeman (pt2) Season:  5 Episode: 43 xxx CAST Elizabeth Paddock - Carrie Ball Mr. H. S. Wadborough - Marcus KP Mr. Thomas Henry Whitehouse Davies - Molly Jefferies PC John Harris - John Lock London Times - Steve Sheperd Poem - Cerise Reed THIS PODCAST This podcast has been specially edited from a Bradley Stoke Radio show in Bristol, England.  If you liked it please leave a r...

Death of a Policeman (pt1) Season:  5 Episode: 42 The murder that had shaken the city in April 1869 was no domestic one - common as they were in those times. In fact, if the victim had not been a policeman, it would have been forgotten long ago. PC 273, Richard Hill, a young Bristol constable who had died in the line of duty. What led up to this senseless assault, committed by a half-drunk yo...

Local Heroes: Bedminster Season:  5 Episode: 41 Once an independent town in Somerset until 1831, Bedminster’s roots go back even further than Bristol’s. When Bristol was just a river crossing, Bedminster was already an important settlement. Now though, it's a vibrant hub of creativity and independent charm. Well worth a visit. In this episode we take a look at just a few of the local heroes t...

The Exercise Tiger Tragedy Season:  5 Episode: 40 Training exercises for the Normandy Invasion, also known as Exercise Tiger, began in the Slapton Sounds, England, area starting on December 15, 1943. However, on April 28, 1944, the rehearsal turned deadly. German E-boats, having slipped past patrols from Cherbourg, France, launched a surprise attack on a convoy of eight U.S. tank landing ship...

The Dark History of Blackberry Hill Hospital Season:  5 Episode: 39 Blackberry Hill Hospital in Fishponds, Bristol sounds like an idyllic place from an Agatha Christie novel, but don't be fooled by it's sweet name as this place has seen it's fair share of torment and despair. The site first came into use as a prison in 1779, during the American Revolutionary War, when it was developed to hous...

Halloween Special: Ghost Tales of Bodmin Gaol Season:  5 Episode: 38 Bodmin Jail, built in 1779, looms on the edge of Bodmin Moor, a fortress of cruelty and misery. Erected by Napoleonic prisoners of war with 20,000 tons of granite hewn from the bleak moor, its walls bear the weight of centuries of suffering. In this week's episode, we take a spooky look at the stories behind some of the more...

The Notorious Lightfoot Brothers Season:  5 Episode: 37 Nevell Norway, a well-known and respected timber importer and shipping merchant in Wadebridge, Cornwall, was admired not only for his business acumen but also for his philanthropic work. His prominence in the community would become even more widely recognized due to his tragic murder  CAST The Royal Cornwall Gazette - Steve Yeo Dr....

The Devon Spy (Part Two) Season:  5 Episode: 36 John Henry Gooding had a criminal career which would eventually span decades with activities that ranged from fraud to intricate confidence tricks but it was his part in the turmoil during the Irish War of Independence that would eventually lead to his noteriety CAST Newspaper Description - Rose Haile THIS PODCAST This podcast has been specially...

The Devon Spy Season:  5 Episode: 35 John Henry Gooding, alias Frank Digby Hardy (5 April 1868 – 28 October 1930), was a man of many faces: naval writer, journalist, soldier, career criminal, and a would-be spy in the shadowy depths of the Irish War of Independence.  CAST John Henry Gooding - David James Haile THIS PODCAST This podcast has been specially edited from a Bradley Stoke Radio...

Sir George White: The Father of British Aviation Season:  5 Episode: 34 George White's combination of vision, business acumen, and a deep understanding of the power of publicity allowed him to revolutionise Bristol's transport systems and create a lasting legacy through his various business enterprises. His influence was far reaching and can still be felt in the UK infrastructure and industri...

Dead Woman's Ditch: A Tale of Love & Hatred Season:  5 Episode: 33 Dead Woman's Ditch is an earthwork ancient monument in Over Stowey, Somerset, England situated on the Quantock Hills. It's popular with ramblers but is more commanly associated with the legend of Jane Walford, whose body was discovered here in 1789. Find out more about the events that led to the brutal murder of this pregnant...

Adela Breton: The Mexican Explorer Season:  5 Episode: 32 Adela Breton was a relentless force, defying the expectations of her era with quiet intensity. Independent and unyielding, she ventured into the uncharted deserts and jungles of Mexico and South America, confronting both wild landscapes and societal norms. In those shadowed lands, she found the thrill of defiance, pushing the boundarie...

The murder of a Police Officer Season:  5 Episode: 31 PC83 George Cole of ‘N’ Division was murdered on Friday 1st December 1882 after apprehending a young thief, who was trying to break into a chapel in Dalston. His prisoner escaped by firing a pistol at him, resulting in his immediate and untimely death. CAST Description Steve Yeo Derby Daily Telegraph Lucy Brazier Mrs Elizabeth Cole Sam Rob...

The Strange Last Journey of Donald Crowhurst Season:  5 Episode: 30 In 1968 an amateur sailor set off on the inaugural solo round-the-world yacht race. Incredibly, he appeared to be leading the race until the closing stages when he disappeared and was never seen again.  CAST Lieutenant Commander Peter Eden - Marcus KP Donald Crowhurst - Steve Sheperd Golden Globe - Andrea Reid THIS PODCA...

The Death of a Tax Collector Season:  5 Episode: 29 In the early hours of the morning, the bloodstained body of William Blackmore, aged 53, was found sprawled across the road, reports describing it as "dreadfully mangled." His head was brutally caved in, and the sovereigns from his pocket were gone. CAST George Sparkes - Joe Wilson The Coroner - Marcus KP James How (Servant) - Steve Sheperd T...

The Great Flood of 1607 Season:  5 Episode: 28 In the dead of winter, on January 30, 1607, the tranquil waters of the Bristol Channel turned into a merciless killer. It began with whispers of an impending catastrophe, dismissed by many as mere superstition. But as dusk fell, a monstrous surge swept through the low-lying villages, engulfing everything in its path. Find out more about a natural...

Cornishman Slain in Tombstone Season:  5 Episode: 27 Cornishman William 'Billy' Kinsman was one of those who ended up in Tombstone in the hope of striking it rich in the local silver mines, but sadly met a grizzly end at the point of a gun CAST Tombstone Epitaph - Mike Moore ( WFOD Podcast ) Billy's Response - Mike Moore ( WFOD Podcast ) Daniel Pinney - Jodie B ( Po'Boys Podcast ) George W. P...

Samuel Taylor Coleridge Season:  5 Episode: 26 Samuel Taylor Coleridge was a key English poet and critic in the Romantic Movement. He significantly contributed to the creation of the Lyrical Ballads . A close friend of William Wordsworth, Coleridge was known for his innovative ideas in poetry, philosophy, politics, society, and language. His work greatly influenced literary criticism and the...

The Chocolate Box Murder Season:  5 Episode: 25 On Friday 26th November 1928, Officers of the Bath Police Force went to a shop at No. 3, Monmouth Street after they received a message from the London Police. They forced the door, and started searching the premises. Soon, they found the body of Mrs. Bartlett, a young woman of 23, lying on the bed with her head battered. What exactly led up to t...

The History & People of Dyrham Park Season:  5 Episode: 24 Dyrham Park, a honey-coloured building nestled in an ancient deer park at one end of the Cotswold Ridge, was transformed from a Tudor house into a baroque mansion and has elegant formal gardens, woodland and lakes. In this episode, we look at the people that made the house the impressive building we see today run by the National Trust...

The Sinking of the Orianda Season:  5 Episode: 23 On 17th February 1907, a dramatic shipping disaster occurred in the Bristol Channel which resulted in the loss of 14 lives. The iron steamer, Orianda was outward bound when it was struck by the London steamer, Heliopolis, going to Cardiff. Could this tragic event have been averted? Here is a full list of the fourteen men who drowned, with thei...

The Davy Lamp Season:  5 Episode: 22 Sir Humphry Davy (1778-1829) was a prominent British chemist and inventor, best known for his contributions to the field of electrochemistry and his invention of the Davy lamp, which significantly improved safety in coal mines. CAST Humphrey Davy - Julien Kendell Cumberland Pacquet - Rose Hailes Second Correspondant - Tony Allen John Buddle - Molly Jefferi...

Murder of a Coal Seller Season:  5 Episode: 21 He was on his way home from a successful journey selling coal when he decided that both himself and his animals needed a rest. It wasn't long after he'd settled down for the night, when he found himself in the fight of his life. Find out what happened to Issac Kendall, the coal seller from Bristol CAST John Kendall (Issac's Father) - Steven Yeo W...

The SS Great Western: The Extra Bits Season:  5 Episode: 22 As promised, here is the complete interview with James Boyd, Head of Research at the SS Great Britain Trust with more details about this exciting project. THIS PODCAST This podcast has been specially edited from a Bradley Stoke Radio show in Bristol, England.  If you liked it please leave a rating and maybe a comm...

Sit Henry Irving: The Acting Knight Season:  5 Episode: 20 Irving achieved success on the London stage in the 1860s as an actor and in 1867, played for the first time with Ellen Terry, beginning their famous theatrical association. He found fame playing Shakespearian and classic roles in a style which was individual and controversial, but which held audiences spellbound. He established his re...