Londoners on Trial
Crime, Courts and the Public 1244-1924
A Curator's Introduction
Long read
Curating ‘Londoners on Trial’
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Howard Doble, one of the curators of 'Londoners on Trial', explores the themes of the exhibition and how decisions were made about the inclusion of the content.
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Events
Discover and book events related to law and order, and crime, in London.
Tour
Curator-led exhibition tours - August
Londoners on Trial
Every month our curators will guide you through the exhibition exploring the lives of Londoners on Trial.Tour
Curator-led exhibition tours - September
Londoners on Trial
Every month our curators will guide you through the exhibition exploring the lives of Londoners on Trial.Tour
Curator-led exhibition tours - October
Londoners on Trial
Every month our curators will guide you through the exhibition exploring the lives of Londoners on Trial.
What's On
Burglary, Housebreaking, and the Story of Jack Sheppard
Talk
Burglary and housebreaking were common offences in the early modern period, often punished by death at the gallows. None was more notorious than Jack Sheppard, early eighteenth-century burglar and celebrated escape artist. This talk explores these crimes, the people sentenced for them, and the dramatic life and death of the infamous Sheppard, within the wider context of crime and punishment.
What's On
Crime, Death and (a little) Debauchery
Talk
Explore London’s criminal past, from public hangings and prisons to the crimes, punishments and laws of the world’s richest city.
What's On
Walking Tour: Law and Order in London
Tour
This walking tour recounts London’s long and dark history of law and order from Roman London to the 21st century. It is led by City of London Guide Lecturer Jonathan Wober of London On The Ground, and starts outside St Paul’s tube station (Exit 2, just before Caffè Nero).
What's On
The Questioning of Eleanor Rykener
Talk
The Questioning of Eleanor Rykener (1395) is the oldest known document in our collection that speaks directly to LGBTQ+ history. From it, we learn that Rykener had lived as both Eleanor and John. Eleanor was an embroideress and sex worker with high profile clients. Come along to hear the story of this fascinating document.
What's On
The Evolution of The Justice System: Londoners as Lawyers, Judges (and Jury)
Talk
Who gets to pass judgement on others? This is a fundamental question for the rule of law. And how did the roles of lawyers, judges and juries evolve? We will trace highlights the evolution of legal system and trials in England, from the Magna Carta through to the present day.
What's On
Tracing Elizabeth: Crime, Gender, and Justice in 19th-Century England
Talk
Using microhistory, this talk traces the life of Elizabeth Curdew, a 19th century repeat offender, and her encounters with crime and punishment. It examines the social and legal forces that shaped her choices. Participants piece together her story, consider possible outcomes, and reflect on how Victorian society treated women within the criminal justice system.Practical information
Find out how to get here and our opening times and facilities.
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Stories
Discover blogs on subjects relating to crime and the courts which will be added to throughout the duration of the exhibition.
Long read
The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde
Londoners on Trial
To mark LGBTQ+ History Month, we remember the events leading to the conviction of Oscar Wilde at the Old Bailey in 1895 which feature in the ‘Londoners on Trial’ exhibition at The London Archives until 25 February 2027.
Long read
Minnie Pheby: a Victorian Lady Burglar
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Learn more about the life and crimes of Minnie Pheby, who burgled dozens of houses across West London between 1896 and 1900
Long read
Fenian London: The Clerkenwell Explosion
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What was intended as a daring prison break became one of Victorian London’s deadliest political explosions. Find out more in this article by Rachel Barrett about the explosion in Clerkenwell of 1867.
Research
Long read
The fight that never was
Jack Johnson versus 'Bombardier' Billy Wells
Archives Officer Guy Baker tells the story of a boxing match that didn't take place - between Heavyweight champion of the world Jack Johnson and 'Bombardier' Billy Wells - and shows how parts of that story can be traced in records held at The London Archives.
Long read
David Bowie and Eighteenth-Century London
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Some research by Archives Officer Charlotte Hopkins-McPherson investigates the link between David Bowie and the London of the eighteenth century. Find out more about this intriguing connection.
Long read
Reforming the Recalcitrant Apprentice
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Find out about apprenticeships in the City of London in this article by Rachel Barrett.
Long read
Jenny Diver
The life and crimes of an eighteenth-century pickpocket
Find out more about Jenny Diver, a pickpocket in eighteenth-century London.
Book Group
'Shrines of Gaiety' by Kate Atkinson
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Find out about The London Archives' book group in September 2025 where we discussed 'Shrines of Gaiety' by Kate Atkinson.
Article
Moll Cutpurse
London pickpocket and fence
Mary Frith (1584-1659), also known as Moll Cutpurse, is an early example of a celebrity villain. Intriguingly, it wasn’t her crimes alone that scandalised London, but her form of dress and habits – namely, that she dressed as a man. Find out more in this article.
Article
James McNeill Whistler and London
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The artist James McNeill Whistler lived in London from 1859 and produced impressions of life on and by the Thames. Find out more in this blog post by Charlotte Hopkins-McPherson, Archives Officer.You might also like
Discover more about our collections relating to the history of crime in London.
