The five "canonical" victims of Jack the Ripper are Mary Ann Nichols, Annie Chapman, Elizabeth Stride, Catherine Eddowes, and Mary Jane Kelly.

Everyone posts about the deaths of these ladies, but today I'm going to focus on their lives, or what we know of them. No focus on the suspect himself.

Mary Ann Nichols

Mary Ann Nichols was born Mary Ann Walker on August 26th 1845 in London to Edward and Caroline Walker (nee Webb). Her early years were spent around the Shoe Lane area of London.

She was affectionately named Polly by her friends. In 1864 she married William Nichols. Although their marriage unfortunately wouldn't last, the couple birthed 5 children; Edward, Percy, Alice, Eliza, and Henry. She tragically passed away on August 31st, 1888. She was just 43 years old. 

Annie Chapman

The second victim was Annie Chapman. Annie Eliza Smith was born September 25th, 1840 to George and Ruth Smith (also born Chapman). She had 5 siblings, Emily, Georgina, Mirium, and Fountain (lots of fancy names back then... bring 'em back!).

Aside from her career, Annie enjoyed crochet and selling flowers. She married John Chapman in 1869 in Knightsbridge and the pair later went on to have 3 children; Emily (b. 1870), Abbie (b.1873), and John (b. 1880). Emily Ruth died of meningitis in 1882. Her son John was born with health issues and was raised in a charitable institution.

Elizabeth Stride

Born Elizabeth Gustafsdotter in Stora Tumlehed, Sweden, on November 27th 1843 to Gustaf Ericsson and Beata Ericsson (nee Carlsdotter). In 1866, unmarried, Elizabeth moved to England, though the exact reason is unknown. It is said at the time that she was employed as a Coffee Shop Owner, Cleaning Lady, and Seamstress. 

Whilst in England, she adopted the nickname, Long Liz. I'm not an expert in height regulations back then, but sources say she was quite tall for her time. Although, she was only 5 foot 5 (no offence to anyone of that height).

On March 7th of 1869, she married John Stride. 4 years before her marriage to John, Elizabeth experienced a stillbirth whilst she was still in Sweden. The marriage lasted over 10 years and in 1881, they called it quits. Sadly, Elizabeth would only live 3 years more before her untimely and awful death. Though, in her final years, she enjoyed the company of her partner, Michael Kidney.

Catherine Eddowes

Catherine "Cattie" Eddowes wasn't from London, or Sweden. She was in fact born in Graiseley Green, Wolverhampton, on April 14th 1842 to George and Catherine Eddowes (nee Evans). As a child, she attended Dowgate Charity School and St. Johns Charity School. She was described by her friends as intelligent but also had a short temper. 

As years went by, Catherine later moved to 35 West Street, Surrey (in 1851). Some jobs she encountered during her time were Tinplate Stamper, Tray Polisher, Scourer, Laundress and Charwoman. 

Some records suggest Catherine was known as other names, such as; Kate Conway, and Kate Kelly. These were probably taken from her partners throughout her life, Thomas Conway and John Kelly, though no marriage confirmations were recorded/found.

Catherine had 4 children to Thomas; Catherine, Thomas, Alfred and George.

Mary Jane Kelly

Mary, or Marie was born in County Limerick on August 25th 1863 to John Kelly and Elizabeth 'Eliza' Davies (nee Shaw). She had 3 brothers; Richard, Michael, and Henry. 

Her first husband was John Davies, whom she married in 1879 and lived with in Wales, until his death in 1881. Following this, sour family affairs forced Mary to seek another life in London. It was here that she met Joseph Barnett. Their relationship was also short lived; being just 20 months, when the couple separated just 10 days before Mary's death. They were living at 24 New Street, Bishopsgate prior to this and Joseph went to live with his sister at 21 Portpool Lane.

Mary carried various occupations during her time, such as; Tobacconist Shop Assistant, Domestic Servant, Sex Worker.

Others:

The above victims were the only confirmed to have met their demise as the result of Jack the Ripper's actions. The following ladies are rumoured to have met the same fate.

Martha Tabram

Martha White was born on May 10th 1849 to Charles and Elizabeth White (nee Dowsett). Her first home was 17 Marshall Street in Southwark. This street is now no longer standing, but according to a participant in a 'rootschat' forum, it may have been located between London Street and St. George's Street.  

On Christmas Day of 1869, Martha married Henry Samuel Tabram, a Foreman Furniture Packer. The pair went on to have 2 sons, Fredrick and Charles. It was said that Martha's marriage to Henry was quite turbulent, and this was fuelled by Martha's struggle with alcoholism. The partnership eventually ended, but they never got divorced. In 1876 Martha met Henry Turner and pursued a relationship with him. This relationship eventually ended up being rocky and they called it quits around 3 weeks before Martha's tragic death. Martha passed away on the 7th August, and is the first unconfirmed victim of the Whitechapel murders in 1888.

Emma Smith

Some believe Emma was a victim of Jack the Ripper, though many believe her death wasn't connected. However, there is enough to justify her listing on this page. 

Emma Elizabeth Binmore was born on Christmas Day of 1843 to Thomas and Emma Binmore (nee. Walters) in Stoke Damerel, Devon. Her early years were spent in Portsmouth. In 1851 she was recorded living at 74 Queen Street, and in 1861 10 Sidney Street. The following June she married Butcher, Frederick Augustus Churcher Wells. Their marriage wouldn't last, and there isn't much recorded of that.

Years later, in 1868 she married John Smith (not the brewer, he was from Leeds). He was in the 35th Regiment. John died in 1878, and that was all she told of her life to her future friends. Emma then moved on to work on the streets of London, though at some point in her life she sold hats. She passed away on April 4th of 1888.

Annie Farmer

Little is known about this survivor of Jack the Ripper - only that she was believed to be an elderly lady, and some forums suggested that her name may have actually been Amelia Farmer, or Annie Palmer.

Rose Mylett

Lots of evidence suggests that Rose wasn't a victim of Jack the Ripper, specifically due to her death being typically categorised as 'not suspicious'.

Catherine Rose Mylett was born 5th December 1859 with her first home being situated at 13 Thomas Street, Whitechapel. She was the second daughter to Henry Mylett and Margaret Haley, her sister was Mary. She also had 2 brothers, William and John.

Rose sadly struggled with her mental health and was admitted on occasion to Bromley Sick Asylum. This was confirmed when a nurse, Elizabeth Usher recognised her body. Rose was the wife of Thomas Davis, and the pair had 2 children, Florence and Henry. 

Alice MacKenzie

Alice's death was different; she met her demise in July 1889, not in 1888, like the others. Little is known about Alice, though the person who identified her, identified himself as John McCormack, the person she lived with on and off, and at one point would describe her as his wife. However, he also described her as 'around the age of 40', so I don't think they were that close.

Pinchin Street Mystery & Whitehall Mystery

These cases refer to the discoveries of the remain of 2 torsos, they were unfortunately never identified.

Frances Coles

Frances Coles passed away February 13th 1891. This was well out of the time frame of the ripper murders - but nobody caught him, so what was stopping him?

Also known as Frances Coleman, or Frances Hawkins, she was born to James Coles and Mary Carney on September 17th 1859 and her first known address was 18 Crucifix Lane (my kinda street - and it still exists!), Bermonsey, Southwark. She was employed as a Chemist Label Applicator, and a Sex Worker. She had 2 sisters, Mary and Selina, and a brother called James.

Sailor, John Thomas Saddler was initially questioned over her murder, and was mobbed upon his release after his alibi was confirmed. He claimed to be in some kind of relationship with her at the time, and their landlord notified the police when he returned home covered in blood and learnt of her murder the next day.

Carrie Brown

There was speculation on whether or not Carrie Brown's death was connected to Jack the Ripper, as this one happened in New York, quite a distance away from Whitechapel. It also happened April 24th of 1891.

Carrie adopted the nickname 'Shakespeare', as she liked to quote his works when she'd had a couple of drinks. 

Ellen Caroline Montgomery was born in Liverpool, England in 1834. I couldn't find her parents, but in 1860 she was recorded living in Salem, Massachusetts, which is where she met her husband, Copenhagen-born Charles E. Brown. The couple went on to have 2 children; Mary and Charles. Charles Jr. sadly only lived 2 years. Charles, the father passed away in 1878 in Africa. 

Elizabeth Jackson

When I saw Elizabeth's name, I thought she was the first person to be interred into Highgate Cemetery, but that was Elizabeth Jackson who died in 1839. 

This Elizabeth 'Lizzie' Jackson was born on March 18th 1865 to Stonemason, John Jackson, and Catherine, her mother. Both her parents came from Ireland. At the time of her death she was living at 14 Turks Row, Chelsea (the street still exists today). 

Did you know?: The coroner of this case was Athelstan Braxton Hicks, who was the son of John Braxton Hicks; the person who the term Braxton Hicks is named after! Sorry, I know it's not relevant, but I thought I'd just throw that one in there.

Annie Millwood

Annie Perry was born around 1844 in St Giles, London. In 1872 she married Richard Millwood (Soldier), though their surnames were sometimes spelt Milward. In 1880 Annie had a son, George. Annie later became a widow when in 1879 Richard passed away. At the time of her death she was living at Spitalfields Chambers, 8 White Row. 

The reason she wasn't confirmed as a ripper victim was because she recovered from her injuries then passed 10 days later of natural causes. In the hospital she told doctors that she had been attacked by a man who was a stranger to her.

Where did I find this information?

All my sources come from various MyHeritage listings, and some information is filtered from Google. If you are looking at something specific, please contact me here.

Alternatively, if you feel like I have missed someone, please let me know by either contacting me directly or commenting below.

Note: These images are AI-generated artistic recreations for illustrative purposes. They are not authentic historical photographs of the individuals mentioned.

Finding a grave can be very tricky, especially when you live far away from the desired graveyard that you want to visit.

There have been many times that I have been unsuccessful at finding a grave. However, I've been frequenting cemeteries for quite some time, so I thought I'd put a little guide together on how to find a grave near you!

01 - Collect KEY Details 🔑

03 - Use Genealogy Sites

04 - In The Graveyard? Keep Your Eyes Peeled!

05 - Visit Your Local Library

06 - Ask The Cemetery (or Church)!

Different countries have different regulations. In the UK, most of our cemeteries are run by the council, but they will still have a list of where people are buried. In my case, I like to find the plot myself, so this isn't a step I've delved into. However, I have asked a former gravedigger friend for assistance on occasion!

If your grave is in a church, or if the person was religious - it might be worth contacting your local parish to see if they can help too.

I hope these tips are helpful to you. If you have any more, please leave a comment!

Image by ArtTower on Pixabay

Wild West

Billy the Kidd

Contrary to what I believed, Billy the Kid was not named after a goat (I'm sure others think the same... right?). Billy, or William... or Henry, was born in 1859 in New York City to Irish Catholics, Catherine and Patrick McCarty. 

Billy's crimes came to life at the age of 14, just after his mother died of Tuberculosis. He had various little jobs at this time in his life, during which he would participate in petty thefts. The 'petty' part of that would shortly deteriorate as the value of his choices grew to firearms. He adopted the 'kid' nickname when he met John R. Mackie, with whom he would often steal horses. From there, things escalated, and Billy the Kid was soon believed to have killed around 9 people.

He died aged just 22 in Fort Sumner, New Mexico when he was shot by the Sheriff, Pat Garrett. You can find his grave and visit it at the Old Fort Sumner Cemetery. The site of his death is just 0.3 miles west.

Belle Starr

I don't know about you, but when I think 'outlaws', or any criminal from the 'wild western era', I never think of the ladies. However, when I heard of Belle Starr, I knew I had to include her.

Myra Maybelle Shirley was born February 5th of 1848. Her childhood was quite a timid one, even though she was referred to as a 'wild child' by her teacher. She was classically trained musically, and as a family travelled around a lot. Her introduction to the criminal world was in 1866, when she married James C. Reed, a known outlaw of the time. Shortly after their marriage the couple birthed a daughter, Rosie Lee; Pearl for short in 1868, and a son, James Edwin, or Eddie in 1871.

Belle met and married Sam Starr in 1880, 6 years after the death of her first husband. It was her married to Sam that truly sparked the criminal life within her. Belle would often plan and administer for various thieves. In 1882, Sam and Belle stole a horse. She was jailed for 9 months. Belle's life came to an end on February 3rd of 1889 when she was shot dead. 

Eddie followed in his parents footsteps and also became an outlaw. His older sister, Belle, on the other hand, turned to sex work in order to fund her little brother's bail.

Burial Locations:

Belle Starr: The Cabin where she lived and died.
James C. Reed: Rocky Point Cemetery, Crossroad Missouri
Pearl Starr (Reed): Calgary Cemetery, Douglas, Arizona
Eddie Reed: Cochran Cemetery, Olklahoma
Sam Starr: Starr Cemetery, Olklahoma

Jesse James

Butch Cassidy

Butch Cassidy, born Robert LeRoy Parker in 1866 in Beaver, Utah Territory, grew up in a large Mormon farming family. As a young man, he drifted into petty crime, adopted the alias “Butch Cassidy,” and began associating with outlaws. His nickname “Butch” came from a brief apprenticeship at a butcher shop in Rock Springs, Wyoming, and he later adopted the surname “Cassidy” in honour of his friend and mentor, Mike Cassidy.

By the 1890s, he led the Wild Bunch gang, committing bank and train robberies across the West with partners like the Sundance Kid. Known for his charm and strategic planning, he stayed ahead of lawmen and the Pinkerton detectives for years.

In 1901, Cassidy fled to South America with Sundance and Etta Place. Most accounts say he died in a 1908 shootout with Bolivian soldiers in San Vicente, where he was buried in an unmarked grave, although rumours began to persist that he returned to the U.S. under a new name.

British Outlaws

Dick Turpin

Born Richard Turpin in 1705 in Essex, England, grew up in a working-class family. He began his criminal career as a butcher’s apprentice and later turned to poaching and burglary. Early on, he became part of a gang of highwaymen and thieves, honing the skills that would later make him infamous.

By the 1730s, Turpin had gained notoriety as a highwayman, robbing travellers along the roads of southern England. Legends portray him as daring and romantic; riding long distances on his horse Black Bess. However, many of these stories were exaggerated in newspapers and later books. In reality, he was also involved in violent crimes, including burglary and murder.

Turpin was captured and hanged in 1739 at York for horse theft, a surprisingly minor crime compared to his other offenses. He was buried in the grounds of St George’s Church, and you can visit his grave today.

Mary Frith

Mary Frith, also known as Moll Cutpurse, was born around 1584 in the Barbican area of London. She grew up in a modest household and little is known about her early years, but she later became notorious for flouting societal norms, particularly for women, by dressing in men’s clothing and adopting unconventional behaviours.

Her criminal career began as a pickpocket and fence, and she eventually formed her own gang. She became a well-known figure in London’s underworld, involved in theft, fencing stolen goods, and other illicit activities. Frith’s defiance of gender norms, combined with her criminal exploits, brought her multiple arrests and public punishments, including standing in a white sheet at St. Paul’s Cross as penance.

Mary Frith died on July 26, 1659, in Fleet Street, London. Her life left a lasting legacy through literature and drama, most notably the play The Roaring Girl, which celebrated her as a rebellious and pioneering figure challenging societal and gender expectations.

Mary was buried under a marble tomb in the grounds of St Brides Churchyard. The tomb was destroyed during the Great Fire of London.

Claude Duval

Rob Roy

Outlaws Down Under

Ned Kelly

During my visit to Australia, I was lucky enough to not only visit the trail of Ned Kelly, but also visit the site of his resting place to.

Kelly became infamous as leader of the Kelly Gang, who robbed banks and fought police across rural Victoria. He saw himself as standing up for the poor against corruption, and even wrote a fiery manifesto titled, the “Jerilderie Letter” to explain his actions. His most famous moment came in 1880 at Glenrowan, where he faced police in a homemade suit of armour.

Captured after that final battle, Kelly was tried and sentenced to death. He was hanged in Melbourne in November 1880, said to have gone to the gallows with the last words: “Such is life.” To some he was a murderous outlaw, to others a folk hero who stood against injustice. His story, like that of Rob Roy or Claude Duval, lingers in legend as much as in history.

Moondyne Joe

My trip also saw a connection with Moondyne Joe. Although, it wasn't to his grave or anything like that. In fact, I'm not quite sure where the connection lies. My first encounter with Moondyne Joe was when I stayed at a hotel in Fremantle, and they simply had an obituary to him on the wall. I was instantly fascinated and wanted to find out who this guy was!

Moondyne Joe was born Joseph Bolitho Johns in Cornwall, England around 1826. He was transported to Western Australia for stealing food and iron. Life as a convict was harsh, and he soon became known for his stubborn independence and skill at slipping away from the authorities. His nickname came not from Whisky, like I thought, but from the Avon Valley’s “Moondyne Hills,” where he often hid after escaping.

Joe’s real claim to fame was his repeated breakouts. He slipped chains, broke locks, and once even escaped a specially built “escape-proof” cell in Fremantle Prison, leaving the governor humiliated. Each time he vanished into the bush, living off the land until he was caught again. These exploits won him a kind of rough admiration, especially from settlers who disliked the colony’s strict penal system.

Eventually, Joe’s health declined, and he was granted a conditional pardon. He lived quietly until his death in 1900. In Western Australia he’s remembered not as a villain but as a folk hero.

I'm still not entirely sure on the connection between Joe and The Wray Hotel, and when I asked the staff... they didn't know either!

Here is his grave. Although, I'm quite disappointed as I visited the site 3 times and didn't know he was buried there... and now I'm back in England!

Captain Thunderbolt

As we pulled up to the town of Uralla, I said "who's that?!", and pointed at a statue of a man on a horse. As I got closer, I soon found his name, Captain Thunderbolt. A swift bit of research told me that he was buried in the local graveyard. Of course, I had to go.

Born Frederick Ward in 1835 in New South Wales, Captain Thunderbolt was an Australian bushranger with a long run compared to most outlaws of his time. Originally a horse-breaker, he was sentenced to prison for horse theft in 1856, but escaped in 1863, turning to life on the roads. Horse theft at the time could land you a prison term from 7 to 14 years. His nickname came from the speed with which he struck and vanished from authorities.

Thunderbolt roamed across New South Wales, robbing inns, mail coaches, and travellers. Yet he was often described as polite and even generous, taking only what he needed and sparing poorer folk. This gentlemanly image, along with his partnership with Mary Ann Bugg (an Aboriginal woman who is sometimes credited with aiding his escapes), added to his legend.

His career ended in 1870 when police cornered and shot him in Kentucky near Uralla. We also paid a visit to this place and I was very excited by the town name! Thunderbolt’s six years on the run made him the longest-surviving bushranger in Australian history! He was buried near where he died, in the local Uralla Cemetery.

You may be wondering why we were in the area (or maybe not). That is because my partner, who isn't a history buff like me, wanted to go to the Super Pit; the largest goldmine in Australia, which is open to visitors. The location is Kalgoorlie, which is just around 40 kilometres from the cemetery... of course, we had to go!

A Quick History of Coolgardie

Coolgardie is a small town in Australia. Looking at the pictures later on, it might surprise you that this town was actually only founded 1 year before the first burial; it was founded in 1892. It's hard to imagine that Coolgardie, with its current population of around 850, was once the third-largest town in Western Australia, with Perth and Fremantle coming up at #2 and #1.

Prospector, Arthur Bayley is the man to thank for this beautiful place. He isn't around anymore, he passed away in 1896 from lung congestion. Unfortunately, I couldn't find him in this cemetery. That's because he's buried near to where he grew up, in Victoria... Avenel to be exact. In fact, he's buried in the same cemetery as Ned Kelly's dad. Ironically, we paid a visit to Ned Kelly's grave too, but that's another story for another day.

Coolgardie Pioneer Graveyard

The First Burial

An Eternal Bed for Two

Other Graves

The Final Four Marked Graves of Coolgardie

The fourth to the last person to be buried was James Clark aged 53, who died of Bronchitis on September 22nd of 1894. Following James, Edward Hicks was the next person to be buried. He was an elderly gentleman who died of Paralysis in hospital, where he was transported from the roadside. His time of death was recorded at some point around September and October of 1894.

Michael O'Neil was the penultimate person to be buried in Coolgardie. As the name may suggest, Michael was born in Ireland - Limerick to be certain, in 1851. It is suggested that he arrived in Australia in 1877. Michael suffered from cancer and died on October 29th of 1894.

The last person with a marked grave within the grounds of Coolgardie Pioneer Cemetery was J. L. Power. His real identity has never been confirmed, though it is believed that he may have been James Power, a billiard champion. The deceased estimated age was about 60, he was originally from Queensland and though no cause of death, his recorded date was November 8th 1894.

Other Graves

To prevent information overload, here are some other grave listings. Please let me know if you would like me to carry on research, or if you would like me to look into anyone in particular.

Joseph Walton died aged 45 of typhoid on 21/11/1893

James Hicks aged 57 of Typhoid 23/2/1894

Unknown died of Typhoid 26/2/1894

Unknown died of Typhoid - 28/2/1894

Edward May died of suicide aged 50 1/3/1894

John A. Raeside accidentally shot on 5/3/1894

Thomas Kemp died aged 47 8/3/1894 - 5th burial

Daniel O'Neill died aged 6 weeks in May 1894

Henry (Harry) Whitton died aged 38 of infection in May 1894

William Wallace Moorhead - died of intestinal 3/4/1894

Henry Tucker Bloxam aged 25 died of Heart(?) 9/4/1894

John Johnston died aged 32 of intestinal problems on 28/4/1894they  - also went by Thomas Kemp

William Keane died aged 22 of Typhoid 28/4/1894

Archibald McAlister aged 32 of typhoid on 28/4/1894

1-day-old baby Williams, died of convulsions on 28/4/1894, father, Llewellyn Williams.

Daniel McCusker died aged 63 of Pneumonia 12/5/1894

Leonard Nairn died aged 3 of meningitis on 12/5/1894

W Reginald C Crossman died aged 27 of inflammation of the lungs 25/5/1894

Muttagh (Bertie) Broderick died of a mine accident on 23/6/1894 wavmm.com

Joseph F. Lesley died of Typhoid 14/7/1894

John Newman died of typhoid on 14/7/1894 (unconfirmed)

Mr Jean Andrews aged 35 died of natural causes 14/7/1894

George McGuire - died aged 50 - 4/8/1894

Ellen Begelhole died aged 9 days of Pneumonia, daughter of William Taylor 23/8/1894

John Stretton died aged 52 of pneumonia on 26/8/1894

John Tucker Brown died aged 38 of Pneumonia on 9/9/1894

Isaac Mill died aged 55 of a stroke on 24/9/1894

Illnesses Resulting in Death Mentioned in this post - and their meanings

• Typhoid - This is an infection caused by the spread of unclean food and water. Contracted through Salmonella. Some symptoms are fever, headache, rashes around the body, and a white tongue. Today, Typhoid can be treated by antibiotics.
  
  
• Pneumonia - This is an illness that is still quite frequent today. Chances are, one of the people reading it will have, or will know someone who has had it. Same goes for the bottom two!
  
  Pneumonia is commonly thought to be a worse version of a cold, but sufferers know that it is much more than that. Symptoms include: Chills, coughing, fatigue, and fever, along with chest pain and difficulty breathing. Most cases, patients can make a full recovery from a hospital bed.
  
  
• Peritonitis - This is an infection that can be caused by a hole in the bowel or burst appendix. It causes redness and swelling of the lining of the abdomen. Symptoms include, nausea, vomiting, and severe pain.
  
  
• Convulsions - This is probably the older name, or more technical name for a seizure (I'm not a doctor). It causes uncontrollable shaking, and the people listed who passed away from this probably had other underlying conditions, but medical tests weren't as advanced as they are now.
  
  
• Meningitis - Doctor told me that I could've had this once! I doubt it though. It is the inflammation of the protective membranes in the brain and spinal chords. Symptoms include; fever, headache, stiff neck, sensitivity to light, nausea, vomiting, and confusion.
  
  
• Appendicitis - Inflammation of the appendix is often cured by removal but if left untreated can cause a rupture which leads to the leakage of bacteria then death. It can sometimes be treated by antibiotics in mild cases. 

Special Thanks

Outback Family History & Find a Grave

I recently took two separate trips to London. Over the course of many years, I have done the traditional sightseeing spots that the capital has to offer. However, in more recent years I found that I've embraced the dark side. If you've read my about me, you'll know that this isn't new. I've simply hidden it up until now.

London has a huge history with a legacy dating back to just short of 2,000 years. Many of this is seeped within the walls, and that gives local historians plenty of stories to tell. On this trip, I decided to indulge into that stories that really made London. Here's what I got up to.

The Huntarian Museum

Named after renowned surgeon, John Hunter. This museum uncovers many of his works. On display you can find lots of surgical phenomenon's, from humans (of all ages) to animals (of all ages) and everything in-between (aka apparatus). 

The museum is run by the Royal College of Surgeons, and it is in a very ornate old building - kind of like Buckingham Palace, but also not. The buildings that surround are also very medical. It is also adjacent to the Charles Dickens Museum - sadly we didn't visit here, but it's on the list for next time.

Old Operating Theatre

London is home to many wonderful things - one of them being the Oldest Operating Theatre in the UK. It is located in the attic of a building, with the access point being a very narrow winding staircase. Looking back - they never told you of another entrance, and it does make you wonder how the patients made their way up. I can't imagine they had an equally wonderful hoisting contraption back in the day... but I could be wrong.

If this place was free to visit, I would definitely go back, and if I lived in London, I'd be open to getting a job here... if it has another access point.

Whitechapel 

On the evening of Saturday the 5th April, myself and my mum were lead around London by a gentleman called Mick Priestley who took us on a very insightful tour of Whitechapel, and the surrounding areas, as he took us in Jack the Ripper's footprints. 

If you've followed my Instagram for a while, you'll know that a few years ago I did a heavy bit of research on the Yorkshire Ripper. This case was very close to home, with my friend's mum being their neighbour and former friend. However, as much as I've tried, this case is far too complex to wrap my head around. So, it was a fantastic experience to simply let someone else tell the story for me!

The Grave of Joseph Grimaldi

We all know that I've visited Highgate before, so it hasn't made it onto this list. Although, you could add it as a bonus spot if you like!

Located in Islington is a quaint little graveyard located in the surrounding the grounds of The Royal National Institute of Blind People.

Joseph Grimaldi is known for being the founding father of the clown industry. Truth be told, this isn't an industry that I know very well at all!

Despite the gloomy sound of his surname, 'Grim'aldi, Joseph Grimaldi became the most beloved comic performer of Georgian England. Born in London in 1778 to an Italian theatrical family, he made his stage debut as a child and went on to revolutionise pantomime at Sadler’s Wells and Covent Garden. 

Joseph died at the age of 59 in 1837 after many years of ill health, likely caused by the intense physical demands of his performances. 

Clink Prison Museum

In the museum, you'll find lots of educational sources - it's also a great place for curious children!

Cross Bones Graveyard

London's 'Cross Bones' Graveyard is located in Southwark and is the burial site of the local Sex Workers and the poor people of London. Although, I don't believe it is an active burial ground anymore. 

This one is still on my bucket list. I'll be visiting London next month, but I'll be arriving on a Friday, so I'm not sure if I'll be able to pay my respects. The reason I say this is because it's open Wednesday to Friday, from 12 - 2pm!

Do you know any other dark tourism hot spots? Let us know in the comments!

I recently returned from a 9 day stay in Malta. I've visited before but this was my first visit as a self-proclaimed dark tourist.

The History of Malta

In reality, a lot of dark tourism stems from the roots. So, here are a few notable facts about the history of Malta.

• Malta has a rich history that stems back to 5000BC. Malta was built on its farming industry. When visiting, you can still see that farming is still a very active part of Maltese culture. In this blog post you will see a brief glimpse of historic settlements on this small but thriving island.
• In the early 1800's, Britain ruled Malta for just over 100 years. Today, you can see flakes of British culture scattered across the island. However, Malta still retains its strong heritage.
• What about the Maltese Language? It is very interesting! The Maltese language is a Semitic language that was originally Arabic but it has since developed with influence from its western neighbours, Sicily. It is also the only Arabic language to be written in Latin.

A Wide View of St Paul's Catacombs in Malta

Discover: The Catacombs of Malta

What is a Catacomb?

List of Catacombs in Malta

1. St. Paul's Catacombs, Rabat - Visited - You can find real bones here. (€6)
2. St. Agatha's Catacombs, Rabat - Located over the road from St. Pauls - this was unfortunately closed when we visited. However, many reviews state that these are the best! (€5)
3. Salina Catacombs - Situated in Naxxar (according to its address, but it's actually just outside St. Paul's Bay); this was the first one I visited, it is FREE.
4. St Augustine's Catacombs – Rabat, Malta. (€4)
5. Tal-Mintna Catacombs – Mqabba, Malta. - Normally closed, organized tours only.
6. Ta' Bistra Catacombs – near Mosta, Malta.
7. St. Cataldus Catacombs – Rabat, Malta

Edit: 10/12/2025 - After a recent visit back to Malta, I can confirm that St Agatha's Catacombs was an incredible visit. Without spoiling too much (nothing can be too spoilt, as photography isn't allowed!), you are taken on a 20 minute tour where you learn about the history of the Catacomb and you're able to not only see the incredible original paint work, but you can also see 2,000-year-old skeletal remains!

The only downfall is that, due to their age and relocation from many years ago, nobody knows who these people are. 

Modern Burials in Malta

The island has a collective range of cemeteries decorated beautifully with statues and wonderful architecture. I have visited various cemeteries around the world - with Italy being the location of the first cemetery that fascinated me.

With Malta's rich connections to the England and Italy, I was intrigued to see the connections of both countries and just how it influenced their burial process.

I was very surprised to see that Maltese graveyards were like nothing I'd ever seen before. The cemeteries that I visited were all walled - this is similar to those in Italy. However, the difference was that each family grave was decorated with their own family headstones containing portraits (another common theme in Italy). 

This was very interesting to see - most of these were guarded by an angel or statue.

Cemeteries I Visited:

• Ta Braxia Cemetery - This cemetery had a lot of English people in it that were mainly buried here during the war. The cemetery was beautifully accompanied by lots of beautiful palm trees and water fountains, all surrounded by a central church - a common theme of Maltese burial sites.
• Mellieha Cemetery - A well kept but small cemetery for local burials. Accompanied by a small chapel.
• St George Cemetery - Located in Naxxar, this quaint village cemetery is home to a curious feline, who I was lucky enough to get a photo of, whilst he/she was resting on a grave that had probably been warmed by the sun. In this graveyard in particular, I noticed a lot of the same statue.
• Santa Maria Addolorata Cemetery - I was lucky enough to visit by far the most grand cemetery on the island. This cemetery is huge, its historic, it oozes with character, and it you absolutely need to put it on your list if you are planning a dark tourism visit to Malta. Oh, and just an FYI - The toilets are located in front of the cemetery gates, and it's quite difficult to get to by foot, but we managed it... legally... just about.

General Tourism of Malta

If you are looking for other tourism hot spots, great eateries, bars and picture spots - head on over to my other blog, where I went into detail about other aspects of my trip!

Most Haunted is a TV Show that some would say is a British staple. When I found out that Yvette Fielding and the gang were attending the famous City Varieties - an iconically historic venue - on the ominous night of Halloween... I knew I had to go.

**May Contain Spoilers**

The Venue

The City Variety music hall has a history that dates back to the 1760's. To put that into context, Napoleon Bonaparte was born at the end of this decade, and Mozart was just a 10-year-old child. That is something I simply can't wrap my head around!

However, it wasn't a theatre back then; that era came later. It was first a coaching in, known as the White Swan Coaching Inn, a name that was later adopted by a local pub up the road. It became a performance hall 100 years later in 1865. Some notable names include, Charlie Chaplin, Houdini, and The Chuckle Brothers.

It must be noted that you have to put City Varieties on your bucket list before you die. This place is breath-taking. Although the exterior looks all swanky and new, stepping foot inside is like a time machine. I felt like I was in the same era as the Titanic.

Most Haunted

The Show

Little did I know that this show has been going for years. I would say that the venue was the perfect place on this occasion, though I can't speak for others.

Leading up to showtime, we were displayed old photos and video footage of City Varieties - which I thought was a lovely touch and something that was unique to that show.

The cast came out, introduced themselves - showed us some clips from over the years, and had a laugh with each other. Although some reviews stated that the comments were crude, which they were, I also felt like I was having a laugh with friends and joining in conversation - which I wasn't, but it was a very relaxed atmosphere. 

My Honest Opinions

Have you been to see Most Haunted? Or, have you been to the City Varieties? Let me know your thoughts below.