Psychopath City
6.30pm Thursday 25th May 2017
Westminster Arts Library
35 St Martins Street
London WC1
Ticket includes a capital serving of Hendricks Gin Cocktail
Admission: £6.50/8.50 THE SALON IS SOLD OUT
London has always been a criminal city, although these days it may be city traders rather than highwaymen who are doing the dirty work. Join us and two investigators to dip a toe into the murky world of the capital's underworld and meet some of the lesser known of the vicious creatures that have troubled it.
Firstly, historian and writer Julian Woodford will uncover the breathtakingly appalling life of Joseph Merceron (1764-1839), gangster and corrupt magistrate, who accumulated enormous wealth while presiding over the creation of the poorest slums in Georgian London.
Ruling Spitalfields and Bethnal Green from his base in Brick Lane for half a century, Merceron gave the East End the bad reputation that still lingers today, while the exploits of recent mobsters and political miscreants pale by comparison with his staggering violence and ruthlessness.
Then Max Décharné musician, historian and author of Capital Crime, will take us on a whirlwind tour of the history of crime in London over the centuries before focusing on one of the lesser known London homicide cases of the 20th century.
Firstly, historian and writer Julian Woodford will uncover the breathtakingly appalling life of Joseph Merceron (1764-1839), gangster and corrupt magistrate, who accumulated enormous wealth while presiding over the creation of the poorest slums in Georgian London. Ruling Spitalfields and Bethnal Green from his base in Brick Lane for half a century, Merceron gave the East End the bad reputation that still lingers today, while the exploits of recent mobsters and political miscreants pale by comparison with his staggering violence and ruthlessness.
Then Max Décharné musician, historian and author of Capital Crime, will take us on a whirlwind tour of the history of crime in London over the centuries before focusing on one of the lesser known London homicide cases of the 20th century.
In 1917 during an air raid, a murder was carried out which initially went unnoticed as the victim was thought to have simply gone missing from their home in order to get away from the bombing. The truth turned out to be very different indeed..
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Julian Woodford is creator of the London History blog. He combines a city career with a passion for the capital's history. His first book, ‘The Boss of Bethnal Green’, was published tp great acclaim by Spitalfields Life Books in November 2016.
Max Décharné is an author, songwriter and musician. He has recorded numerous albums and singles. A regular contributor to Mojo magazine since 1998, his books include Capital Crimes, Hardboiled Hollywood, King’s Road, the jive-talk dictionary Straight From The Fridge, Dad, and the definitive history of rockabilly music, A Rocket in my Pocket. His new book, Vulgar Tongues – An Alternative History of English Slang, is published by Serpent’s Tail.
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