The Forgotten world of bodysnatching
Let me take you down the dark city streets of Georgian Britain, to remote country graveyards where fresh corpses await and into a world where students paid for their studies in cadavers.
If you want historical true crime, nothing beats bodysnatching, and having been obsessed with this forgotten slice of history for over 20 yrs, I can’t wait to share with you some of my favourite finds.
Welcome, to the darker side of medical history.
The Diary Writer…
Let me introduce to you one of the many stories of the London bodysnatcher, Joseph Naples – this particular one is about his daring 1802 prison escape.
He boldly mailed back his uniform to the prison, claiming he didn’t need it anymore… oh and he also had a fondness for selling extremities to anatomists and he left us a diary of his exploits.
Mortsafes: After the anatomy act…
All good things must come to an end and after 1832, the fear of bodysnatching began ever so slowly to decline.
But what happened to all the mortsafes so hastily put together to protect the dead? This is their story…
Where Are Burke & Hare?
The Murderers Burke & Hare
I know, I know, Burke and Hare were murderers, but mention bodysnatching and Edinburgh in the same sentence and these two rear their ugly heads.
Burke and Hare quite literally ‘made a killing’ on the streets of Edinburgh and you can read all about their crimes on the dedicated pages below – you won’t find them on this page I’m afraid…
Does Bodysnatching Still Happen?
Hungry Anyone?
Many people say bodysnatching died overnight when the Anatomy Act was passed in 1832… it certainly didn’t!
Reasons for bodysnatching today range from cannibalism, ransom and loneliness. Here’s 8 cases that will have you commissioning a mortsafe!
Famous People Stolen
When you’re reach and famous, seems like everyone wants a piece of you. Whether you’ve been stolen for medical research, because you were a US president or had your heart stolen to be preserved in wine – being famous certainly has its drawbacks.
From Charlie Chaplin to Eva Peron, here’s 8 famous bodysnatching tales.
Bodysnatching 101
A Bodysnatchers Handbook
There was no great skill needed to be a bodysnatcher – although it certainly helped if you knew what you were doing.
This is you ‘Body Snatching 101’ – your guide to Gerogran Bodysnatching ‘best practices’ as it were…
The disgusting world of Georgian dentures!
Could you wear the teeth of a dead man?
If you needed new teeth in Georgian England, then you probably did!
