Why a Booktrail?
1950s: Rillington Place is one address most people will never forget
1950s: Rillington Place is one address most people will never forget
In 1950, Timothy Evans was hanged for the violent murder of his baby daughter; he was also assumed to have murdered his wife. Then, less than three years later, another tenant, John Christie, was found to have killed at least six women, hiding their bodies in the garden, under floorboards and in a concealed kitchen alcove.
Christie followed Evans to the gallows. But the question remained – did two murderers live at 10 Rillington Place at the same time?
Evidence that emerged in the Christie case eventually led to Evans receiving a pardon. However, some still believe in Evan’s guilt.
The story of Christie is of course a true life tale. This is not a booktrail for the macabre nature of it, but what is interesting is the landscape of London and how this has changed over the years. The story is also a fascinating one in the sense that it really exposed the problems in the police work at the time and the justice system. It was one of the biggest injustices in criminal history and so is remembered for this as well as for the many victims, one of them a poor baby, who died at his hands.
Rillington Place has since been demolished and it was in a part of Notting Hill which was a slum area of the city at the time, not the nice part it is now. The trial was held at the Old Bailey.
Author/Guide: Mrs Edna E Gammon Destination: London Departure Time: 1940s/1950s
Back to Results