The Eclectic
Step into the shadows with The Eclectic, a podcast where folklore, true crime, the paranormal, and bloody history converge. From ghostly legends and UFO encounters to the darkest deeds of history’s most infamous figures, each episode pulls back the curtain on the mysteries that haunt us. With a tone that’s chilling yet captivating, The Eclectic is for those who crave stories that linger long after the episode ends.
The Eclectic
The Women of Whitechapel: : Lives Before The Ripper: Mary Ann Nichols: The Woman the World Forgot
Before Jack the Ripper became a legend, Mary Ann “Polly” Nichols was a mother, a daughter, a wife, and a woman fighting to survive the brutal realities of Victorian London. In this deeply human opening to our Whitechapel series, we walk with her through workhouses, lodging houses, and the shadowed streets of 1888 — not to sensationalise her death, but to reclaim her life.
This episode honours her story with empathy, truth, and the recognition she was denied for more than a century.
PRIMARY SOURCES (Historical Records & Documents)
1. Coroner Wynne Edwin Baxter’s Inquest Report (1888)
- Proceedings from the official inquest into the death of Mary Ann Nichols
- Includes witness statements from Charles Cross, Robert Paul, Inspector Spratling, and others
- Accessible via:
- The National Archives
- The British Newspaper Archive
- casebook.org (transcriptions)
2. Metropolitan Police Files (MEPO Series)
- Original police reports about the Buck’s Row murder
- Notes from Inspector Abberline and Superintendent Arnold
- Available at The National Archives (Kew), MEPO 3 and MEPO 6
3. 1881 Census & Parish Records
- Confirm addresses, employment, and the Nichols family composition
- Accessed via:
- Ancestry
- FindMyPast
4. Lambeth & Mile End Workhouse Admission/Discharge Books
- Records of Mary Ann Nichols’ stays in various workhouses
- Available via London Metropolitan Archives:
https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/things-to-do/archives-and-city-history/london-metropolitan-archives
SECONDARY SOURCES (Books & Research)
“The Complete Jack the Ripper” — Donald Rumbelow
A foundational text on the murders, with extensive research on the victims and the social conditions of Whitechapel.
“The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper” — Hallie Rubenhold
A groundbreaking, empathetic work focusing on the victims’ lives—not the killer.
Heavily informs the emotional framing and social context of this script.
“Jack the Ripper: The Facts” — Paul Begg
Provides detailed analysis of the police investigation, timelines, and victim biographies.
“Jack the Ripper and the London Press” — L. Perry Curtis Jr.
Examines Victorian newspaper sensationalism and the framing of the murders.
“Life and Labour of the People in London” — Charles Booth (1889–1903)
Maps and commentary on poverty in Whitechapel; used for socio-economic context.
“The Hooligan Nights” — Clarence Rook (1899)
A period account of life among the poorest Londoners.
DIGITAL RESOURCES / WEBSITES (Reputable & Widely Cited)
1. Casebook: Jack the Ripper
2. The Whitechapel Society
https://www.whitechapelsociety.com
3. The National Archives (UK)
https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
4. British Newspaper Archive
https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk
5. Victorian London.org
http://www.victorianlondon.org
6. Charles Booth’s Poverty Maps
7. The Workhouse: The Story of an Institution