The BackTracker History Show

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...

The SS Great Western Season:  5 Episode: 19 ​The SS Great Western was at the time the fastest way to cross the Atlantic Ocean. This meant that passengers could get from England to New York much faster. Thus emigrating to America would have been quicker for our ancestors. Now, there's a £20m scheme to bring the SS Great Western back to life! THIS PODCAST This podcast has been specially edited...

Bristol's Last Execution Season:  5 Episode: 18 On December 17, 1963, the last judicial execution in our city marked the conclusion of a lengthy era of local executions. Russell Pascoe, aged 23, met his fate at Horfield Prison, Bristol, whilst his accomplice Dennis Whitty, 22, was simultaneously executed at Winchester prison. Their crime was a senseless murder of reclusive farmer William Garf...

Bristol's WW1 Heroes Season:  5 Episode: 17 World War I commenced on July 28, 1914, spanning four years of intense conflict. and many men in Bristol and the surrounding area enlisted to help the cause but because this war ushered in a new era of warfare, marked by the utilisation of advanced weaponry and machinery across land, sea, and air, there was an unprecedented number of casualties and...

The Lemonade Murder Season:  5 Episode: 16 Kind and generous Ethel Worth was alone at home when Edward Woodfield came over. She thought he was going to repay her the money she'd loaned him, but he had other ideas. Find out more about this opportunist crime and what happened next. CAST J. D. Casswell. K.C (Defence) - Steve Sheperd Edward Isaac Woodfield - Steve Yeo Mr John Maude. K.C (Prosecut...

St Peter's Hospital: Workhouse and Asylum Season:  5 Episode: 15 Situated between St Peter's churchyard and the River Avon, the building occupied a strategic location. Tragically, on the fateful night of November 24, 1940, the entire area fell victim to devastating bombing raids. If you'd walked the narrow roads before the raids though, you would have come across a 14th century manor house. t...

James Holloway & The Rye House Plot Season:  5 Episode: 14 In May 1684, authorities in Bristol received a package from London. They never dreamed that it would be the head dismembered body of a Bristolian linen draper. James was hard working and strove to make the most of his business but during his endeavours, he begad mixing with a crowd who had other plans on their minds. That of removing...

The Stroud Paricide Season:  5 Episode: 13 The murder of James Wyndham on October 19th 1893, shocked the local community and garnered significant media attention due to the family's prominent position in the area. What made it even more sensational was the fact that he was murdered by his own son. CAST Clerk of Arraigns - Joe Wilson Frederick Wyndham - Steve Yeo Mr. Justice Cave (Judge) - Ste...

Samuel Plimsoll: The Sailor's Friend Season:  5 Episode: 12 Samuel Plimsoll was a British politician and social reformer who lived from 1824 to 1898. He is primarily remembered for his efforts to improve the safety of seafaring vessels and the conditions of sailors during the 19th century. CAST Samuel Plimsoll - Molly Jefferies Vanity Fair Article - Sam Roberts THIS PODCAST This podcast has b...

The Murdering Cousin Season:  5 Episode: 11 Cyril Victor Tennyson Saunders a former lance corporal in the Royal Engineers and he had been in a relationship with his cousin, Dorothy May Saunders, nicknamed Bubbles, for two years and they had plans to marry. After a pregnancy scare and the death of her father, Dorothy changed her mind about marriage. Cyril was devastated and vowed to get her to...

R.N.L.I: Celebrating 200 Years Season:  5 Episode: 10 In Part Two of our celebration of this national institution, we take a look at some of the biggest rescues they have been a part in, the SS Suevic in 1907 and the S.S Rohilla in 1914. We also take a look at the latest statistics released as well as talk to current volunteers from the Portishead Lifeboat station. CAST 'Little Ships of Dunki...