Buzz
The captivating history of Great Britain has played host to some of the most famous mysteries the world has ever encountered. A closer look at England alone reveals endless speculation and discussion over cases such as Stonehenge, The Princes in the Tower, and Jack the Ripper.
While these well-known cases are certainly intriguing, many other British historical puzzles, ranging from the peculiar death of a medieval king to several unsolved murders in the Victorian era, are also worth revisiting.
10. The Murder of Robert Pakington
Robert Pakington holds the grim distinction of being one of the first victims to be killed by a handgun in London. A merchant with political aspirations, Pakington was elected to Parliament in 1533 and again in 1536. Representing the interests of his fellow merchants, he was also a vocal critic of the Catholic clergy.
On the foggy morning of November 13, 1536, Pakington rose at 4:00 AM to attend church. The church stood just across from his home. As he crossed the street, he was shot and killed. While neighbors heard the sound of the gunshot, no one saw the crime or its perpetrator.
The murder of Pakington stunned the city, particularly due to the weapon used. Despite the mayor's offer of a substantial reward, no one was ever apprehended or charged. Later historians, including the Protestant John Foxe, speculated that Catholic factions were behind the murder, with Foxe asserting that Pakington had been assassinated on the orders of a priest.
9. The Killing of Janet Rogers
When Janet Rogers agreed to assist her brother, William Henderson, on his farm near Perth, Scotland, it was meant to be a short-term arrangement. Henderson had recently dismissed a domestic servant, and Rogers was to take her place until a replacement could be found. However, just three days after her arrival in March 1866, Rogers was found murdered in Henderson's kitchen with an axe.
Henderson was the first to discover his sister's body. Initially, the police considered him a suspect and arrested both him and one of his workers, a plowman named James Crichton. However, the suspicion against Henderson was weak since he had been at a farmer’s market in Perth during the time of the murder. Both men were eventually released, although Crichton was later arrested once more.
With no physical evidence, the case against Crichton remained weak. His trial ended with an acquittal, but William Henderson never ceased believing that Crichton was the murderer. One plausible theory suggests that Crichton, attempting to rob the farmhouse, encountered Rogers. In a panic, he struck her with an axe and fled.
8. The Mysterious Vanishing of Francis Lovell
Francis Lovell, a loyal nobleman and one of King Richard III’s closest allies, played a vital role during the final years of the Wars of the Roses, a conflict between Richard III and his Yorkist supporters, and Henry Tudor and the Lancastrians for control of the English throne. In August 1485, the tide of the civil war shifted dramatically when Richard III was killed in the Battle of Bosworth Field, making his rival Henry Tudor the new king, Henry VII.
Despite Richard III’s death, Lovell remained a committed supporter of his former king’s cause. In 1486, Lovell emerged from hiding to participate in a rebellion against the newly crowned Henry VII.
After the failure of that rebellion, Lovell shifted his allegiance to the pretender Lambert Simnel, a boy presented by the Yorkists as the rightful King Edward VI. However, during the Battle of Stoke Field, the Yorkists and their boy king suffered a crushing defeat, and it is here that the fate of Francis Lovell becomes unclear, vanishing from history.
Though it is known that Lovell managed to escape the battle, his whereabouts have never been discovered. Some speculate that he may have hidden in a cave or perhaps fled overseas, while others suggest he never left England. In 1708, a skeleton was uncovered in a secret part of Lovell’s house, but it was never identified.
7. The Murder of Fred Atkins
On the early morning of September 22, 1881, police officer Fred Atkins was assigned to patrol the Kingston Hill area in London, a district notorious for burglars. As he walked his route, Atkins was suddenly shot multiple times, sustaining injuries to his chest, abdomen, and left thigh. The gunshots drew the attention of a resident and housekeeper of a nearby mansion, who found Atkins lying on the front steps.
Despite his severe injuries, Atkins was still conscious enough to speak, claiming he hadn’t seen or heard anyone during his patrol. Tragically, Atkins was too weak to be transported to a hospital, and he passed away shortly after the attack. A lantern and a chisel were found near the mansion where Atkins had collapsed, and one of the building’s windows was discovered missing its iron bars.
The investigation suggested that Atkins had been ambushed by a burglar while on duty. With little evidence to pursue, the authorities were unable to apprehend his killer. Since 2012, a plaque in honor of the murdered officer has been placed outside a pub in Kingston Hill.
6. The Murder of Georgina Moore
On December 20, 1881, seven-year-old Georgina Moore disappeared in London. She had just finished lunch at a family friend's house and was last seen heading back to school. When Georgina didn't return home, her parents began searching for her. Despite a full night of searching, her father, Stephen Moore, could find no sign of her.
A boy from Georgina’s school claimed to have seen her with a woman, whom the police suspected to be Esther Pay, a friend of the Moore family. Pay denied any involvement in the disappearance, but over the following weeks, she repeatedly inquired with Georgina’s parents about any developments in the case. Nearly six weeks later, Georgina’s body was discovered in a river.
An autopsy revealed that Georgina had died on the same day she disappeared, December 20, and that she had been strangled. Suspicion soon fell on Esther Pay, particularly after it was disclosed that Stephen Moore had once had an affair with her, and that Esther harbored resentment after he ended it.
Esther Pay was brought to trial for Georgina's murder, but she was ultimately acquitted. The mystery still lingers as to whether Pay was responsible for the crime or if someone else, possibly an accomplice, was involved.
5. The Death of King William II
On August 2, 1100, King William II of England went on a hunting trip in the royal New Forest in southern England. Among his companions were Walter Tirel, a courtier, and his brother Henry. Shortly after the hunt began, it was reported that William had been struck by an arrow to the heart and killed.
Hunting was a perilous activity at the time, and most people believed that William’s sudden death was simply an accident. Tirel insisted that it was unintentional. However, fearing that he would be held responsible, he fled to France. Meanwhile, William’s brother Henry claimed the throne and declared himself King Henry I.
While many modern historians accept that William’s death was accidental, alternative theories have persisted. Some have suggested that the death may have been the result of a conspiracy, with theories ranging from the bizarre notion that a pagan fertility cult was involved, to the more plausible idea that the king of France had orchestrated the killing.
Regardless of the true cause, the death of King William II was certainly fortuitous for the ambitious Henry I, who just so happened to be present that fateful day.
4. The Innocence of Elizabeth Fenning
Until 1861, attempted murder was considered a capital offense in England. Elizabeth Fenning, a servant accused of trying to murder her employer and his family, was hanged for the crime in July 1815. Her execution sparked a scandal, with many believing she had been wrongly convicted.
Fenning worked as a cook in London for a man named Orlibar Turner. On March 21, 1815, Fenning, Turner, and two other members of the household fell gravely ill after consuming dumplings that Fenning had prepared. Although everyone recovered, with Fenning being the most seriously ill, she was charged with attempting to poison the Turners.
An examination of the dumplings revealed arsenic in the dough, leading to the conclusion that Fenning must have been the one who poisoned the meal. Despite Fenning's continuous protests of innocence and the lack of solid evidence, the law found her guilty based on circumstantial details.
Years after the incident, a man on his deathbed in Essex allegedly confessed to the crime. The details of his story remain unclear, but the supposed perpetrator claimed that he had a grudge against his uncle, "Mr. Turner," and that he had poisoned the dough while Fenning was away from the kitchen.
3. The Murder of George Burrington
George Burrington, an English official, served two terms as governor of North Carolina: first from 1724 to 1725, and later from 1731 to 1734. Known for his fiery temper, Burrington made numerous enemies during his time in the colony, including a judge who reported that Burrington had attempted to break into his house, which led to his dismissal after his first term.
After his removal from office, Burrington demanded a duel with his successor, Sir Richard Everard. When Burrington returned to power in 1731, he quickly alienated many of his colleagues due to his coarse and unruly conduct.
This second term also ended with Burrington being dismissed, leading him to return to England. In 1736, the retired official claimed that an assassination plot had been devised against him during the final months of his governorship.
Burrington’s retirement was comfortable, but his life took a violent and mysterious turn. On February 22, 1759, his body was discovered in a canal in Westminster.
With his pockets turned inside out and no money on him, it was believed that Burrington had been robbed and murdered. Additionally, his walking stick showed signs of damage, suggesting he fought back before his death.
2. The Death of Owain Glyndwr
In the late 13th century, England conquered Wales, ending the country’s independence. Although there were minor uprisings afterward, the most significant challenge to English dominance came in 1400 when the Welsh nobleman Owain Glyndwr declared himself Prince of Wales.
Glyndwr's army attracted Welsh laborers, students, and soldiers, sparking a rebellion that would endure for over ten years. Although Glyndwr was eventually defeated, he maintained a strong base of supporters.
After 1410, Glyndwr became an outlaw, vanishing into hiding. Sightings of him persisted for years, but the medieval Welsh historian Adam of Usk reported that the famed rebel leader died in 1415.
The details surrounding Glyndwr’s final years are unclear, and the exact locations of his death and burial remain debated to this day. After disappearing, Glyndwr became a national figure, a legendary king whose return was said to herald the independence of Wales.
1. The Disappearance Of Urban Napoleon Stanger
Urban Napoleon Stanger, a German-born baker, settled in London in 1870 and quickly established a thriving bakery. His business was especially popular among the local German community. However, on November 13, 1881, Stanger failed to appear at work. After his sudden disappearance, his employee, Felix Stumm, swiftly assumed control of the bakery.
When Scotland Yard became involved in the investigation, officers conducted an extensive search of Stanger's home. They dug up his garden, checked beneath the floorboards, and even examined the bakery ovens. While they found some bones, these turned out to be from a small animal, not a human.
Stanger's whereabouts remained a mystery. His employee, Stumm, became a prime suspect, especially since he had been seen drinking with Stanger and some friends the night before the baker vanished.
Although there was no definitive evidence linking Stumm to Stanger’s disappearance, he was caught attempting to use Stanger’s identity to access securities. As a result, Stumm was convicted of fraud and sentenced to 10 years in prison. Meanwhile, Stanger was never seen or heard from again.
