Turning tragedy into timeless romance.
Born in 1788 in Chatham, Kent, William Cuffay was the son of an English woman, Juliana Fox, and a formerly enslaved father of African descent, Chatham Cuffay. William was a traveling tailor of a short height. He stood at 4 feet 11 inches. However, in that small body was a powerful activist.
While Craigievar Castle is reputed to have been the inspiration for Walt Disney’s Cinderella Castle, this haunted pinkish monstrosity is the furthest thing from fairy tales. Located in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, this castle hosts some interesting ghosts, particularly a fiddler and a naked man.
Anne Lister was an English landowner and prolific diarist. Her diaries led to revelations that dubbed her the "first modern lesbian." She led numerous romantic relationships with women and married Ann Walker in what is regarded as Britain's first known lesbian wedding.
Frances Maria Kelly (1790-1882) was a celebrated actress who founded England's first recorded drama school with her own savings. She never married, and she paved her own way in a world where women were expected to raise a family and manage a household.
Coined by Richard Lassels (1603-1668), a Catholic priest and travel writer, the term “Grand Tour” was applied to sons from wealthy English families that embarked on travels abroad to Europe. The height of the Grand Tour’s popularity was in the 18th and 19th centuries.
In May 1817, Mary Ashford walked with her friend Hannah Cox to attend a dance at the Tyburn House, a popular place in the locality of Erdington, England. She danced, laughed, and flirted the night away—but by sunrise, she was found dead.
Thomas Griffiths Wainewright (1794-1847) was a man of many professions. In his day, he was a renown artist, known author, and suspected poisoner.
Constance Kent helped send a celebrated Scotland Yard investigator into early retirement with a cloud of ridicule and mockery hanging over him. However, it seemed that he might have been right all along. This is the confession of Constance Kent.
Florence Maybrick was convicted of murdering her husband, but did she do it because she believed he was Jack the Ripper?
Jane Clouson was tragically murdered at the age of 16 by someone who should have protected her. Instead, she was found bloodied on Kidbrooke Lane, London and died with the name of her murderer on her lips.