Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
Dark Histories is primarily an audio podcast, available on all your podcast apps, wherever you listen: pod.link/1279731673
The East London district of West Ham might be best known globally for the football team of the same name, but in the late 19th century, the area became famous for something much darker. West Ham, and in particular, a single road within the district, became the scene for a series of unusual disappearances that took place over more than a decade, as young girls were vanished away from the streets, never to be seen again. At least until one was found dead and stuffed into a cupboard in an empty house.
SOURCES
Bondeson, Jan (2016) Rivals of The Ripper: Unsolved Murders of Women in Late Victorian London. Gloucester History Press. UK.
London Daily Chronicle (1881) Disappearance Of A Girl. London Daily Chronicle, Thurs 21 April, 1881, p6. London, UK.
Tower Hamlets Independent and East End Local Advertiser (1881) Another Mysterious Disappearance. Tower Hamlets Independent and East End Local Advertiser, Sat 23 April, 1881, p3. London, UK.
Birmingham Mail (1881) The Mysterious Disappearance Of Girls. Birmingham Mail, Wed 1 June, 1881, p3. Birmingham, UK.
Chelmsford Chronicle (1881) Stratford. Chelmsford Chronicle, Fri 13 May, 1881, p3. London, UK.
London Evening Standard (1882) Disappearance Of A Girl. London Evening Standard, Tues 31 Jan 1882, p2. London, UK.
London Evening Standard (1882) The Missing Girl Carter. London Evening Standard, Tues 7 Feb 1882, p5. London, UK.
Selby Times (1882) The Disappearance Of Two Girls From West Ham. Selby Times, Fri 10 Feb 1882, p3. Leeds, UK.
Penny Illustrated Paper (1882) The Mysterious Disappearance Of Eliza Carter From West Ham. Penny Illustrated Paper, Sat 18 Feb 1882, p7. London, UK.
Daily News (1884) Unpunished Crimes - Disappearance Of Eliza Carter. Daily News, Tues 12 Feb 1884, p3. London, UK.
Morning Advertiser (1890) Stratford. Morning Advertiser, Mon 3 Feb 1890, p7. London, UK.
Ripon Observer (1890) Opening Of The Inquest. Ripon Observer, Thurs 20 Feb 1890, p6. Ripon, UK.
The Guernsey Star (1890) The West Ham Murder. The Guernsey Star, Sat 22 Feb 1890, p2. Guernsey.
Illustrated Police News (1890) Horrible Crime At West Ham. Illustrated Police News, Sat 22 Feb 1890, p2. London, UK.
Illustrated Police News (1890) The Missing Keys Found. Illustrated Police News, Sat 24 May 1890, p2. London, UK.
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For almost anything, head over to the podcasts hub at darkhistories.com
Support the show by visiting our Patreon for bonus episodes and Early Access: patreon.com/darkhistories
The Dark Histories books are available to buy here: author.to/darkhistories
Dark Histories merch is available here: bit.ly/3GChjk9
Connect with us on Facebook: facebook.com/darkhistoriespodcast
Or find us on Twitter: twitter.com/darkhistories
& Instagram: instagram.com/dark_histories/
Or you can contact us directly via email at contact@darkhistories.com
or join our Discord community: discord.gg/cmGcBFf
The Dark Histories Butterfly was drawn by Courtney, who you can find on Instagram @bewildereye
Music was recorded by me © Ben Cutmore 2017
Dark Histories is primarily an audio podcast, available on all your podcast apps, wherever you listen: pod.link/1279731673
The East London district of West Ham might be best known globally for the football team of the same name, but in the late 19th century, the area became famous for something much darker. West Ham, and in particular, a single road within the district, became the scene for a series of unusual disappearances that took place over more than a decade, as young girls were vanished away from the streets, never to be seen again. At least until one was found dead and stuffed into a cupboard in an empty house.
SOURCES
Bondeson, Jan (2016) Rivals of The Ripper: Unsolved Murders of Women in Late Victorian London. Gloucester History Press. UK.
London Daily Chronicle (1881) Disappearance Of A Girl. London Daily Chronicle, Thurs 21 April, 1881, p6. London, UK.
Tower Hamlets Independent and East End Local Advertiser (1881) Another Mysterious Disappearance. Tower Hamlets Independent and East End Local Advertiser, Sat 23 April, 1881, p3. London, UK.
Birmingham Mail (1881) The Mysterious Disappearance Of Girls. Birmingham Mail, Wed 1 June, 1881, p3. Birmingham, UK.
Chelmsford Chronicle (1881) Stratford. Chelmsford Chronicle, Fri 13 May, 1881, p3. London, UK.
London Evening Standard (1882) Disappearance Of A Girl. London Evening Standard, Tues 31 Jan 1882, p2. London, UK.
London Evening Standard (1882) The Missing Girl Carter. London Evening Standard, Tues 7 Feb 1882, p5. London, UK.
Selby Times (1882) The Disappearance Of Two Girls From West Ham. Selby Times, Fri 10 Feb 1882, p3. Leeds, UK.
Penny Illustrated Paper (1882) The Mysterious Disappearance Of Eliza Carter From West Ham. Penny Illustrated Paper, Sat 18 Feb 1882, p7. London, UK.
Daily News (1884) Unpunished Crimes - Disappearance Of Eliza Carter. Daily News, Tues 12 Feb 1884, p3. London, UK.
Morning Advertiser (1890) Stratford. Morning Advertiser, Mon 3 Feb 1890, p7. London, UK.
Ripon Observer (1890) Opening Of The Inquest. Ripon Observer, Thurs 20 Feb 1890, p6. Ripon, UK.
The Guernsey Star (1890) The West Ham Murder. The Guernsey Star, Sat 22 Feb 1890, p2. Guernsey.
Illustrated Police News (1890) Horrible Crime At West Ham. Illustrated Police News, Sat 22 Feb 1890, p2. London, UK.
Illustrated Police News (1890) The Missing Keys Found. Illustrated Police News, Sat 24 May 1890, p2. London, UK.
------
For almost anything, head over to the podcasts hub at darkhistories.com
Support the show by visiting our Patreon for bonus episodes and Early Access: patreon.com/darkhistories
The Dark Histories books are available to buy here: author.to/darkhistories
Dark Histories merch is available here: bit.ly/3GChjk9
Connect with us on Facebook: facebook.com/darkhistoriespodcast
Or find us on Twitter: twitter.com/darkhistories
& Instagram: instagram.com/dark_histories/
Or you can contact us directly via email at contact@darkhistories.com
or join our Discord community: discord.gg/cmGcBFf
The Dark Histories Butterfly was drawn by Courtney, who you can find on Instagram @bewildereye
Music was recorded by me © Ben Cutmore 2017
