Ratcliffe Highway Murders Map - Vignette #9

Ratcliffe Highway Murders Map - Vignette #9
'A Shallow Grave'

At the beginning of the month I was asked by the Gentle Author of Spitalfields Life (http://spitalfieldslife.com/) and publishers Faber & Faber (http://faber.co.uk/) to produce a map marking the bicentinary this month of the horrific Ratcliffe Highway Murders (December 1811), with vignettes indicating the location and dates of the pertinent events as their anniversaries occurred.

The vignettes were inspired by the book investigating the case 'The Maul and the Pear Tree', by P.D.James & T.A.Critchley, first published by Faber in 1971.

The map beneath was an 1811 map of the area, provided for me by the wonderful Stefan Dickers, archivist at the Bishopsgate Institute.

This is the ninth (and penultimate) vignette. After his suicide (or possible murder, according to some) the body of the supposed Ratcliffe Highway murderer John Williams was taken from Coldbath Square Prison in Clerkenwell back to Shadwell where the killings had taken place. His body was placed upon a cart and paraded through the streets of Wapping, Ratcliffe and Shadwell - past the Marr's house at 29 Ratcliffe Highway, the King's Arms where the Williamson family was butchered and the Pear Tree where Williams lodged and was arrested - before being taken to the cross-roads of what is today the junction of Cable St and Cannon Street Road (then more sensibly known as simple Cannon St!). A small and shallow hole was dug - deliberately way too small for his body to lie with any dignity - and his body dumped in. Then, at the bequest of non-other than the Home Secretery, a stake was driven through his heart (using the still blood- and hair-caked maul with which the Marr family were destroyed!), lime thrown in on top and the grave quickly back-filled.

I have shown the moment just before the stake was thrust deep into Williams' heart. I got Nick to pose for this, kneeling on the edge of the sofa with a claw-hammer in one hand and a roll of cellophane (for the stake) in the other. The cart on which Williams' cadaver was displayed stands behind.

To know more go to http://spitalfieldslife.com/2011/12/31/chapter-9-a-shallow-grave/

Ratcliffe Highway Murders Map - Vignette #8

Ratcliffe Highway Murders Map - Vignette #8
'A Verdict'

At the beginning of the month I was asked by the Gentle Author of Spitalfields Life (http://spitalfieldslife.com/) and publishers Faber & Faber (http://faber.co.uk/) to produce a map marking the bicentinary this month of the horrific Ratcliffe Highway Murders (December 1811), with vignettes indicating the location and dates of the pertinent events as their anniversaries occurred.

The vignettes were inspired by the book investigating the case 'The Maul and the Pear Tree', by P.D.James & T.A.Critchley, first published by Faber in 1971.

The map beneath was an 1811 map of the area, provided for me by the wonderful Stefan Dickers, archivist at the Bishopsgate Institute.

This is the eighth vignette. After his arrest prime suspect John Williams was taken to Coldbath Fields Prison (or House of Correction) in Clerkenwell. On the morning of the 27th December 1811 'the turnkey at the gaol had gone to prepare the suspect for his trip to Shadwell, when he discovered Williams suspended by the neck from the iron bar which crossed the cell, provided for prisoners to hang their clothes (surely a design fault if ever there was one!). The body was cold and lifeless, and the universal conclusion was that John Williams had passed judgement upon himself. Thus the days proceedings were undertaken on the assumption that his guilt would now be revealed.'

To know more go to http://spitalfieldslife.com/2011/12/27/chapter-8-a-verdict/

Ratcliffe Highway Murders Map - Vignette #7

Ratcliffe Highway Murders Map - Vignette #7
'Inquest at Shadwell'

At the beginning of the month I was asked by the Gentle Author of Spitalfields Life (http://spitalfieldslife.com/) and publishers Faber & Faber (http://faber.co.uk/) to produce a map marking the bicentinary this month of the horrific Ratcliffe Highway Murders (December 1811), with vignettes indicating the location and dates of the pertinent events as their anniversaries occurred.

The vignettes were inspired by the book investigating the case 'The Maul and the Pear Tree', by P.D.James & T.A.Critchley, first published by Faber in 1971.

The map beneath was an 1811 map of the area, provided for me by the wonderful Stefan Dickers, archivist at the Bishopsgate Institute.

This is the seventh vignette. After the arrest of John Williams various witness were summoned for interrogation by the magistrates at Shadwell. Here I have imagined these gentlemen cross-examining the testimony of Mrs Vermilloe, landlady of the Pear Tree inn, where prime suspect Williams was arrested.

Upper Shadwell is to-day part of the Highway. Cut-throat Lane (now there's a name!) to the north later became Love Lane and more recently Brodlove Lane where my partner Nick once lived, at the Peabody Estate there.

To know more go to http://spitalfieldslife.com/2011/12/26/chapter-7-three-wise-magistrates/

Ratcliffe Highway Murders Map - Vignette #6

Ratcliffe Highway Murders Map - Vignette #6
'Arrest of the Prime Suspect'

At the beginning of the month I was asked by the Gentle Author of Spitalfields Life (http://spitalfieldslife.com/) and publishers Faber & Faber (http://faber.co.uk/) to produce a map marking the bicentinary this month of the horrific Ratcliffe Highway Murders (December 1811), with vignettes indicating the location and dates of the pertinent events as their anniversaries occurred.

The vignettes were inspired by the book investigating the case 'The Maul and the Pear Tree', by P.D.James & T.A.Critchley, first published by Faber in 1971.

The map beneath was an 1811 map of the area, provided for me by the wonderful Stefan Dickers, archivist at the Bishopsgate Institute.

This is the sixth vignette. 'On Christmas Eve, a vital break in the case came when the maul used as the weapon to kill the Marrs was recognised by Mr Vermilloe, the landlord of The Pear Tree. He reported that the initials I.P. were those of its owner John Peterson, a German carpenter from Hamburg who had recently lodged at The Pear Tree and left his tool chest there for safe keeping when he returned to sea.

This breakthrough led to to John Williams. He was twenty-seven, an ordinary seaman who had once sailed with Timothy Marr on the Dover Castle. Upon his return from sea, he had taken lodgings down by the river at The Pear Tree in Cinnamon Street, Wapping – still cobbled today as it was in 1811.'

Note the Pear Tree sign at the top of the vignette and the landlord's name, Robert Vermilloe.

To know more go to http://spitalfieldslife.com/2011/12/24/chapter-6-the-prime-suspect/

Ratcliffe Highway Murders Map - Vignette #5

Ratcliffe Highway Murders Map - Vignette #5
'Indescribable Panic'

At the beginning of the month I was asked by the Gentle Author of Spitalfields Life (http://spitalfieldslife.com/) and publishers Faber & Faber (http://faber.co.uk/) to produce a map marking the bicentinary this month of the horrific Ratcliffe Highway Murders (December 1811), with vignettes indicating the location and dates of the pertinent events as their anniversaries occurred.

The vignettes were inspired by the book investigating the case 'The Maul and the Pear Tree', by P.D.James & T.A.Critchley, first published by Faber in 1971.

The map beneath was an 1811 map of the area, provided for me by the wonderful Stefan Dickers, archivist at the Bishopsgate Institute.

This is the fifth vignette. In the aftermath of the two murderous bloodbaths, both within weeks and yards of each other, media coverage at the time sent the entire country into hysteria. Sales of guns, locks and rattles went soaring as public panic spread like wildfire.

I have shown a paper boy of the period running through the streets with news hot off the press. Although the panic was nationwide I have chosen to place our scene over the streets now occupied by Rupert Murdoch's News International media group, who themselves have whipped up many a media frenzy in the years since.

Rosemary Lane is to-day called Royal Mint Street, and for about 5 years Nick and I lived just off it in John Fisher Street Peabody Estate.

To know more go to http://spitalfieldslife.com/2011/12/22/chapter-5-indescribable-panic/

Ratcliffe Highway Murders Map - Vignette #4

Ratcliffe Highway Murders Map - Vignette #4
'New Sanguinary Atrocities'

At the beginning of the month I was asked by the Gentle Author of Spitalfields Life (http://spitalfieldslife.com/) and publishers Faber & Faber (http://faber.co.uk/) to produce a map marking the bicentinary this month of the horrific Ratcliffe Highway Murders (December 1811), with vignettes indicating the location and dates of the pertinent events as their anniversaries occurred.

The vignettes were inspired by the book investigating the case 'The Maul and the Pear Tree', by P.D.James & T.A.Critchley, first published by Faber in 1971.

The map beneath was an 1811 map of the area, provided for me by the wonderful Stefan Dickers, archivist at the Bishopsgate Institute.

This is the fourth vignette. It shows the next remarkable turn in the tale of the horrific Ratcliffe Highway Murders, when on the 19th December 1811, barely two weeks after the brutal murder of the Marr family at No. 29 Ratcliffe Highway, owner of the King's Arms pub Mr. Williamson, his wife Mrs Williamson and their servant Bridgit Harrington were found most brutally slaughtered.
The scene shown depicts resident of the King's Arms John Turner escaping the carnage below by dropping from his garret window using knotted sheets and crying 'Murder! Murder!' to raise the alarm.

New Gravel Lane is to-day called Garnet Street.

To know more go to http://spitalfieldslife.com/2011/12/19/chapter-4-new-sanguinary-atrocities/

Ratcliffe Highway Murders Map - Vignette #3

Ratcliffe Highway Murders Map - Vignette #3
'Burial of the Marr family'

At the beginning of the month I was asked by the Gentle Author of Spitalfields Life (http://spitalfieldslife.com/) and publishers Faber & Faber (http://faber.co.uk/) to produce a map marking the bicentinary this month of the horrific Ratcliffe Highway Murders (December 1811), with vignettes indicating the location and dates of the pertinent events as their anniversaries occurred.

The vignettes were inspired by the book investigating the case 'The Maul and the Pear Tree', by P.D.James & T.A.Critchley, first published by Faber in 1971.

The map beneath was an 1811 map of the area, provided for me by the wonderful Stefan Dickers, archivist at the Bishopsgate Institute.

This is the third vignette. It shows the interment of the murdered Marr family at St George's-in-the-East churchyard on the 15th December 1811 'in the shadow of the pepperpot tower designed by Nicholas Hawksmoor. In spite of the frost, crowds of mourners lined the Highway from early morning and at one o’clock the coffins were carried out from the draper’s shop at 29 Ratcliffe Highway, where the deceased met their end, and into the church where two months earlier the family had attended the christening of Timothy Marr junior.'

The pall-bearers are hidden beneath the black fringed drapes over the coffins - only their lower legs and feet are visible. beneath Atop the coffins are arranged black ostrich plumes in place of flowers.

To know more go to http://spitalfieldslife.com/2011/12/15/chapter-3-the-burial-of-the-victims/