News of the Times - Unlocking the vaults of historical crime
Welcome to News of the Times!
Step into the shadowed alleyways and gaslit parlours of the 18th and 19th centuries with News of the Times — a meticulously curated journey through historical crime. Each episode draws from authentic reports and court records, bringing you the darkly fascinating tales that gripped Georgian, Victorian, and Edwardian Britain.
With over 500 episodes and counting, we explore true accounts of mischief, murder, and mayhem from days gone by — all delivered with a wry nod and a love for the curious corners of the past.
🕵️ For those with a taste for the peculiar, you may also enjoy our new side project: Volume 1: Slightly Unreliable Memoirs — a whimsical collection inspired by the lives (and occasional misadventures) of our research team. Think cravats, crumpets, and the occasional cactus on the lam. Intrigued? Find it here:
👉 https://ko-fi.com/s/b406f6f11e
News of the Times - Unlocking the vaults of historical crime
The Malthouse Murder | Wolverton’s Burning Secret (1867)
The Malthouse Murder | Wolverton’s Burning Secret (1867)
News of the Times | Episode 564 |1867
Welcome to News of the Times — where true crime meets smoke, suspicion, and a suspiciously well-stacked pile of coal.
In the early dawn of 1867, the villagers of Wolverton awoke to smoke curling from the local malthouse — but the scent wasn’t malted barley.
Beneath the flames, they uncovered a charred horror: the half-burned body of Martha Britten, her wedding ring glinting defiantly through the soot. Her husband, George, stood nearby, insisting it wasn’t her. Even as the evidence said otherwise.
This is a tale of domestic darkness, blunt instruments, and a man who blamed the Devil — quite literally — for everything. From jealous rage to clumsy cover-up, The Malthouse Murder unfolds like a Victorian penny dreadful with a particularly grim punchline.
👤 Narrated by Robin Coles
📅 New episodes: Monday, Wednesday & Friday
📚 Related cases from the archive:
1867: Bridget Durgan: The Maid, The Murder, and the Smile That Haunted 1867 | EP515
https://youtu.be/-Y557qWfRzQ
1868: The Body in the Cupboard: A Mystery That Baffled Victorian London | EP528
https://youtu.be/9SGIxyna1q8
1866: The Murder That Stunned Victorian London — The Shocking Case of Mrs. Millson (1866) | EP537
https://youtu.be/jYBX_tfxyoc
1869: Arsenic, Bonnets and Betrayal: The 1869 Dudley Poisoning of Joseph Oliver | EP559
https://youtu.be/Igt7pytWWxU
❤️ Support Independent History
If you enjoy our ad-free, archive-based storytelling, help us keep the lantern lit:
👉 **Patreon** – Full archive, early access, bonus compilations (and it keeps us independent):
https://www.patreon.com/NewsOfTheTimesHistoricalCrime
☕ Prefer a one-off thank-you? We LOVE a posh coffee indulgence! We tip our top hats:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/newsofthetd
🕯 About the Channel
We’re an independent team of historical researchers and narrators specialising in 18th to early 20th century British true crime. Each episode is based entirely on archival material — from coroners’ inquests to forgotten newspaper columns.
If you like your true crime thoughtful, atmospheric, and rooted in real records — welcome to the vault.
🎩 — RC & Tea
Hear about our ad-free archive on Patreon – 650+ episodes and counting! 🎩 https://www.patreon.com/c/NewsoftheTimesHistoricalCrime
Fancy a chuckle between corpses? Discover our first lovingly illustrated volume of wildly unreliable memoirs.
Grab it here: https://ko-fi.com/s/b406f6f11e
Support us on Patreon for ad-free early access and exclusive bonus episodes.
https://www.patreon.com/c/NewsoftheTimesHistoricalCrime
Thanks for listening! You can also connect with us on
Our YouTube Channel: | https://www.youtube.com/@newsofthetimes
Our Facebook Page: | https://www.facebook.com/News-of-the-Times-101108282697405
Have a question or comment? Get in touch with us at newsofthetimespodcast@gmail.com
If you would like to donate, we love coffee! Warmly appreciated :-) | https://www.buymeacoffee.com/newsofthetd