The BackTracker History Show

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. this building had so much history embedded in it's structure having gone from palatial home to asylum. Listen to find out more about St Peter's Hospital.

CAST

Lunacy Commissioners - Rose Hayle

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 King Charles II from the throne in favour of someone, more beneficial to themselves.

CAST

King James Marcus KP

James H...

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) - Steve Sheperd

James Wyndham - Molly Jefferies

THIS PODCAST

This podcast has been specially edited from a...

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 been specially edited from a Bradley Stoke Radio show in Bristol, England. 

If you liked it please leave a rating and maybe a co...

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 reconsider, with dire consequences.

CAST

Dorothy May Saunders - Rose Hayles

Cyril Saunders - Molly Jefferies

Police Report - S...

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 Dunkirk' - Joe Wilson

Captain Thomas Jones - Steve Sheperd

THIS PODCAST

T...

200th Anniversary of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution

Season: 5 Episode: 9

In total, across the UK and Ireland, 146,452 lives have been saved by the RNLI – this equates to an average of two lives saved every day for 200 years. 

Founded in a London tavern on 4 March 1824 following an appeal from Sir William Hillary, who lived on the Isle of Man and witnessed many shipwrecks, the RNLI has continued saving lives at sea throughout the tests of its history, including tragic disasters, funding challenges and two World Wars.  

The charity has a strong presence in the...

The Babbacombe Murder Mystery (Part Two)

Season: 5 Episode: 8

Saturday, the 15th February 1884 saw the fateful murder of 68 year old, Emma Anne Whitehead Keyse at The Glen in Babbacombe in Devon. All the evidence pointed to just one suspect, 21 year old John Henry George Lee, the Butler and general handyman.

Listen to the account of his trial and discover what made this particular crime stand out in history and inspire an album bu Fairport Convention

CAST

John Lee - Steve Yeo

Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette & The Scotsman- C...

The Babbacombe Murder Mystery (Part One)

Season: 5 Episode: 7

Emma Anne Whitehead Keyse was a single lady of 68 years old. She was born in Edmonton, London, in 1816. She lived at The Glen with four helpers. One of them was John Lee, who did various jobs. Elizabeth Harris was the cook, and she had asked Emma to give her half-brother, John Lee, a job a few months before. The other helpers were Jane and Eliza Neck, who were sisters and had worked for Emma for over 40 years.

Saturday, the 15th February 1884 would be a day t...

Valentine's Day Special

Season: 5 Episode: 6

Valentine's Day is steeped in history, but what exactly do you know about it? In this special episode, we take a look at this unusual holiday and an even closer look at the Valentine card, commonly used to express love and affection. Did you know that there used to be an alternate though?

CAST

Duke of Orleans - Steve Sheperd

Ophelia - Sam Roberts

Lines - Joe Wilson

Catherine Mossday - Andrea Reid

Vinegar Valentine - Rose Hayles