
Sign up to save your podcasts
Or


đ„ Murder by Fire: The Notting Hill Tragedy of 1881 | Ep522 | News of the Times
In Victorian London, fire could be a constant threatâbut what if the flames were no accident?
On a quiet night in May 1881, a Notting Hill lodging house erupted into an inferno. Six people perished. One couple escaped unharmedâand fully dressed. Suspicion grew. Insurance claims were filed. And whispers turned into a murder trial that gripped the press and shocked the courts.
This gripping case follows William Nash and Anna Maria Wright from the flames of Portobello Road to the dock at the Old Bailey, as Victorian society tried to untangle the difference between misfortune... and murder.
đ Join us for a journey into:
Arson and insurance fraud
Victorian housing horrors
Suspicious escape stories
And a final twist that defied even the black cap of Justice Grove
đ Stay to the end for âFurther Particulars,â where a corset becomes the unexpected villain of a separate Victorian demise. Because in 1881, if it wasnât fire, it was fashion.
đ€ Hosted by Robin Coles
đș Watch more true historical crimes, ad-free and early, on Patreon:
đ https://www.patreon.com/c/NewsoftheTimesHistoricalCrime
đ
New uploads every Monday, Wednesday & Friday
â€ïž Support the Channel
Enjoying these tales of historic mayhem and murky mischief? Help keep the archive candle burning:
đ Patreon â Early access, no ads, full archive, bonus content:
https://www.patreon.com/NewsOfTheTimesHistoricalCrime
â Prefer a one-off thank-you? We tip our top hats:
https://ko-fi.com/robinandco
đ© Explore our full Ko-fi collection â from digital oddities to illustrated curiosities:
https://ko-fi.com/robinandco
đ New! Slightly Unreliable Memoirs â Volumes 1 & 2 with more to come
Whimsically illustrated 24-page PDF packed with eccentric tales, mysterious cacti, and at least one scandalous goat in the mode of PG Wodehouse and "Saki":
https://ko-fi.com/s/b406f6f11e
And if donations arenât your thing, a like, comment, or share is just as precious â and rumour has it, Colin the Cactus blushes green when you hit thumbs up. đ”
đŻ About News of the Times
We are a small (and mildly chaotic) band of history enthusiasts uncovering the darker corners of Britainâs past â no corporate sponsors, no boardroom edits. Just a genuine love of forgotten and wonderful crime.
Expect forgotten headlines, dusty trial transcripts, and the occasional scandal involving
 Hear about our ad-free archive on Patreon â 650+ episodes and counting! đ© https://www.patreon.com/c/NewsoftheTimesHistoricalCrime
 Fancy a chuckle between corpses? Discover our first lovingly illustrated volume of wildly unreliable memoirs.Â
Grab it here: https://ko-fi.com/s/b406f6f11e
 Support us on Patreon for ad-free early access and exclusive bonus episodes.Â
https://www.patreon.com/c/NewsoftheTimesHistoricalCrime
Support the show
Thanks for listening! You can also connect with us on
Our YouTube Channel: | https://www.youtube.com/@newsofthetimes
Our Facebook Page: | https://www.facebook.com/News-of-the-Times-101108282697405
Have a question or comment? Get in touch with us at [email protected]
If you would like to donate, we love coffee! Warmly appreciated :-) | https://www.buymeacoffee.com/newsofthetd
By Robin Coles4.9
1818 ratings
đ„ Murder by Fire: The Notting Hill Tragedy of 1881 | Ep522 | News of the Times
In Victorian London, fire could be a constant threatâbut what if the flames were no accident?
On a quiet night in May 1881, a Notting Hill lodging house erupted into an inferno. Six people perished. One couple escaped unharmedâand fully dressed. Suspicion grew. Insurance claims were filed. And whispers turned into a murder trial that gripped the press and shocked the courts.
This gripping case follows William Nash and Anna Maria Wright from the flames of Portobello Road to the dock at the Old Bailey, as Victorian society tried to untangle the difference between misfortune... and murder.
đ Join us for a journey into:
Arson and insurance fraud
Victorian housing horrors
Suspicious escape stories
And a final twist that defied even the black cap of Justice Grove
đ Stay to the end for âFurther Particulars,â where a corset becomes the unexpected villain of a separate Victorian demise. Because in 1881, if it wasnât fire, it was fashion.
đ€ Hosted by Robin Coles
đș Watch more true historical crimes, ad-free and early, on Patreon:
đ https://www.patreon.com/c/NewsoftheTimesHistoricalCrime
đ
New uploads every Monday, Wednesday & Friday
â€ïž Support the Channel
Enjoying these tales of historic mayhem and murky mischief? Help keep the archive candle burning:
đ Patreon â Early access, no ads, full archive, bonus content:
https://www.patreon.com/NewsOfTheTimesHistoricalCrime
â Prefer a one-off thank-you? We tip our top hats:
https://ko-fi.com/robinandco
đ© Explore our full Ko-fi collection â from digital oddities to illustrated curiosities:
https://ko-fi.com/robinandco
đ New! Slightly Unreliable Memoirs â Volumes 1 & 2 with more to come
Whimsically illustrated 24-page PDF packed with eccentric tales, mysterious cacti, and at least one scandalous goat in the mode of PG Wodehouse and "Saki":
https://ko-fi.com/s/b406f6f11e
And if donations arenât your thing, a like, comment, or share is just as precious â and rumour has it, Colin the Cactus blushes green when you hit thumbs up. đ”
đŻ About News of the Times
We are a small (and mildly chaotic) band of history enthusiasts uncovering the darker corners of Britainâs past â no corporate sponsors, no boardroom edits. Just a genuine love of forgotten and wonderful crime.
Expect forgotten headlines, dusty trial transcripts, and the occasional scandal involving
 Hear about our ad-free archive on Patreon â 650+ episodes and counting! đ© https://www.patreon.com/c/NewsoftheTimesHistoricalCrime
 Fancy a chuckle between corpses? Discover our first lovingly illustrated volume of wildly unreliable memoirs.Â
Grab it here: https://ko-fi.com/s/b406f6f11e
 Support us on Patreon for ad-free early access and exclusive bonus episodes.Â
https://www.patreon.com/c/NewsoftheTimesHistoricalCrime
Support the show
Thanks for listening! You can also connect with us on
Our YouTube Channel: | https://www.youtube.com/@newsofthetimes
Our Facebook Page: | https://www.facebook.com/News-of-the-Times-101108282697405
Have a question or comment? Get in touch with us at [email protected]
If you would like to donate, we love coffee! Warmly appreciated :-) | https://www.buymeacoffee.com/newsofthetd

17,276 Listeners

2,787 Listeners

12,618 Listeners

9,923 Listeners

1,850 Listeners

25,349 Listeners

1,014 Listeners

1,767 Listeners

3,955 Listeners

7,114 Listeners

10,094 Listeners

1,336 Listeners

1,063 Listeners

1,345 Listeners

307 Listeners