A database of several hundred historical descriptions and references to London's sounds. They're drawn mainly from primary sources such as autobiographies, diaries and statutes, as well as novels written around the times they depict.
SUB-CATEGORY | 1st to 10th |
11th to 15th |
16th to 17th |
18th | Early 19th |
Late 19th |
Early 20th |
Late 20th |
Hue-and-cry | 1 | 4 | 2 | |||||
Laws, curfews and control of crowds | 2 | 1 | 2 | |||||
Sentries and nightwatchmen | 1 | 2 | 1 | |||||
Public executions | 2 | 2 | 1 | |||||
Courts of law | 2 | |||||||
Prison regimes | 1 | 1 | ||||||
Other legal proceedings | 1 | |||||||
Sounds of crime | 1 |
Period referred to: 1742
Sound category: Authority > Prison regimes
Title of work: Letter to Sir Horace Mann
Type of publication: Private correspondence
Author: Horace Walpole
Year of publication: July 1742
Page/volume number: n/a
Women scream for help after being imprisoned by drunken constables
There has lately been the most shocking scene of murder imaginable; a parcel of drunken constables took it into their heads to put the laws in execution against disorderly persons, and so took up every woman they met, till they had collected five or six-and-twenty, all of whom they thrust into St. Martin's round-house, where they kept them all night, with doors and windows closed. The poor creatures, who could not stir or breathe, screamed as long as they had any breath left, begging at least for water: one poor wretch said she was worth eighteen-pence, and would gladly give it for a draught of water, but in vain! So well did they keep them there, that in the morning four were found stifled to death, two died soon after, and a dozen more are in a shocking way. In short, it is horrid to think what the poor creatures suffered: several of them were beggars, who, from having no lodging, were necessarily found in the street, and others honest labouring women. One of the dead was a poor washerwoman, big with child, who was returning home late from washing. One of the constables is taken, and others absconded; but I question if any of them will suffer death, though the greatest criminals in this town are the officers of justice; there is no tyranny they do not exercise, no villainy of which they do not partake.
Period referred to: 1820s
Sound category: Authority > Prison regimes
Title of work: Life and Letters of Maria Edgeworth
Type of publication: Diary/Private correspondence
Author: Maria Edgeworth
Year of publication: 1822
Page/volume number: Not known
Elizabeth Fry at Newgate women’s prison
Enter Mrs. Fry in a drab-coloured silk cloak, and plain borderless Quaker cap; a most benevolent countenance [. . .] The prisoners came in, and in an orderly manner ranged themselves on the benches.
[. . .]
She opened the Bible, and read in the most sweetly solemn, sedate voice I ever heard, slowly and distinctly, without anything in the manner that could distract attention from the matter. Sometimes she paused to explain, which she did with great judgement, addressing the convicts, 'we have felt; we are convinced'. [. . .]
Mrs. Fry often says an extempore prayer; but this day she was quite silent while she covered her face with her hands for some minutes: the women were perfectly silent with their eyes fixed upon her, and when she said, 'you may go', they went away slowly.