24. 'Jane Cakebread Again': The Tale of History's Drunkennest Woman

Oct 8, 2017

In episode 24, Jim covers the story of Jane Cakebread, a woman once known internationally and now almost completely forgotten. Jane was a likeable character known throughout Victorian Britain and beyond, a woman who got herself in trouble so many times that she broke records for the number of her criminal convictions, and was the catalyst for a huge libel case between a Lady and the Pall Mall Gazette. Jane was so famous, a law was passed because of her. Was she really a drunk, or was it mental illness? Will she ever get her £15,000 inheritance? Is she the best needlewoman in Holloway gaol? Listen to find out. 

 

Also in this episode, Violet covers some Australian traditions (lighting stuff on fire) and a letter to the editor from an Australian J.R.R. Tolkien. 

 

Archives used in the research for this episode:

British Newspaper Archive https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk

Newspapers.com

National Library of Australia http://trove.nla.gov.au/

 

New York Times Archive http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9D02E0DE113CE433A2575AC1A9649D94699ED7CF

 

Yesterday's Chip Paper is a fortnightly (ish) podcast that delves into newspaper archives for stories of mayhem and madness from days of yore. Presented by two history enthusiasts, the stories we find can range from true crime to mad scientists to murder mysteries and beyond. We're at paperpodcast on Facebook and Twitter, and you can email us at chippaperpodcast[at]gmail.com. If you like what you hear, please let us know by leaving us a review wherever you get your podcasts, we'd appreciate the favour.