Londoners on Trial - stories
Audio tales
Stories from the Old Bailey
These recordings have been created from the Proceedings of the Old Bailey, the journalistic accounts of trials that took place at the Old Bailey and that were published from 1674 to 1913.
This source is described as one of the largest body of texts detailing the lives of non-elite people ever published and it can be accessed online at oldbaileyonline.org.
Text from the individual trials have been lightly edited to make sense to the listener. The readings have been provided by staff from The London Archives.
In this first tranche of cases, we have focused on crimes including theft and highway robbery. We will add further recordings to the collection over the course of the 'Londoners on Trial' exhibition.
Listen
The Indictment of Elizabeth Tompson, 1759
Stories from Londoners on Trial
Hear the story of Elizabeth Thompson, indicted for burglary at the Old Bailey in 1759
Listen
The Indictment of Buckley and Shenton for highway robbery, 1781
Stories from Londoners on Trial
Hear the story of John Buckley and Thomas Shenton, indicted for highway robbery at the Old Bailey in 1781
Listen
The Indictment of John and Mary Ryan for stealing, 1765
Stories from Londoners on Trial
Hear the story of John and Mary Ryan, indicted for stealing property belonging to John Morgan in 1765