
Hosted by Genevieve Manion · EN
Here you’ll find mysterious deaths, morbid fascinations, disturbing stories, and otherwise spooky events from the Victorian Era. For ad-free listening, witchy content, Victorian True Crime Extras and Dark Poetry, join The Fan Coven!
If you consider yourself an enthusiast of creepy Victorian history, you probably already know about the age of spiritualism, the grisly murders, the grave robbers, twisted pseudo psychotherapy, and memento mori – But I try to dig a little deeper. This was a time full of lace corsetry, romantic poetry, and a deep reverence and affection for the dead. It was a culture of shared sorrow, ornament and elegance, prudishness and scandal, bone chilling children’s stories, and for whatever reason, I just feel at home there. There’s something strangely comforting about the heebie jeebies this era gives me. If you find yourself equally enchanted by things that most people would find horrifying, this podcast is probably for you. To listen ad-free, visit myvictoriannightmare.com and join my Patreon.

In this episode, Genevieve will discuss the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln and the shocking, little-known disasters and tragedies that began to unfold even before the smoke had cleared: the psychological unraveling of Mary Todd Lincoln, The Ford Theater collapse of 1893, the unthinkable murder/attempted suicide of the Rathbones and the numerous hauntings of the Ford Theater that still linger to this very day.Thank you to today’s sponsors!AquaOmega: One of the highest-dose omega-3 supplements per serving, no fish burps, and for every bottle sold, removes 1 lb. of plastic and debris from the ocean and coastlines. Use code VICTORIAN for 20% off at myaquaomega.com/VICTORIAN.Try the original estrogen-powered M4 skincare from Alloy. Visit myalloy.com and use code VICTORIAN for $20 off your first order!Subscribe to the Newsletter!Subscribe to the Patreon free trial for ad-free listening!Today’s Instagram PostReferences:https://ghostcitytours.com/washington-dc/haunted-washington-dc/fords-theatre/https://dcghosts.com/fords-theatre/https://www.nps.gov/foth/learn/historyculture/the-collapse-of-ford-s-theatre.htmhttps://www.thevintagenews.com/2018/06/07/henry-reed-rathbone/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assassination_of_Abraham_Lincolnhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Wilkes_Boothhttps://www.whitehousehistory.org/abraham-lincoln-funeralhttps://fords.org/an-african-american-hero-emerges-from-the-tragic-fords-theatre-collapse-of-1893/https://msmagazine.com/2012/12/05/mary-todd-lincoln-a-lunatic-or-just-grieving/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Todd_LincolnThe_assassination_of_Abraham_Lincoln_%28IA_assassxxxxxx00linc%29.pdfhttps://www.americanheritage.com/haunted-major

In this episode, Genevieve will discuss the murder case of Dr. Hawley Crippen: one of the most sensational murder cases in English history. We’ll discuss The glitz and glamour, the torrid affairs, the astounding escape attempt by sea, and the modern scientific discoveries that have raised serious concerns that maybe, they got the wrong guy.Thank you to today’s sponsor!Spoiler: you can feel amazing in menopause. Visit myalloy.com and use code VICTORIAN for $20 off your first order!Subscribe to the Newsletter!Subscribe to the Patreon free trial for ad-free listening!Today’s Instagram PostReferences:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawley_Harvey_Crippenhttps://prashganendran.com/the-notorious-dr-crippen-and-the-hilldrop-crescent-murder/https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-10802059https://thehistorypress.co.uk/article/the-notorious-case-of-dr-crippen/

In this episode, Genevieve will discuss two Victorian theater tragedies, the lives and deaths of illusionist Sigmund Neuberger, otherwise known as the Great Lafayette, and actor William Terriss, as well as their alleged hauntings of the theaters where they met their tragic ends; The Adelphi Theater in London, and the Festival Theater in Edinburgh.Thank you to today’s sponsor!Try the original estrogen-powered M4 skincare from Alloy. Visit myalloy.com and use code VICTORIAN for $20 off your first order!Subscribe to the Newsletter!Subscribe to the Patreon free trial for ad-free listening!Today’s Instagram postReferences:https://thelittlehouseofhorrors.com/the-great-lafayette/https://folkhorrorrevival.com/2017/01/08/the-great-lafayettehttps://www.whatsonstage.com/news/explore-the-uks-most-haunted-theatres-with-ghost-stories_1661281/https://sancass.medium.com/the-man-who-had-two-funerals-bf740ad6a0fehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sigmund_Neubergerhttps://www.victorianvoices.net/ARTICLES/STRAND/1893B/S1893B-DogCemetery.pdf“Lafayette’s Funeral - Great Gathering in Edinburgh” - Liverpool Daily Post, May 15th, 1911.https://london-beyond-time-and-place.com/william-terriss-the-ghost-of-a-murdered-actor/https://bowstreetmuseum.org.uk/adelphi-murder/https://www.thomaswhodgkinson.com/features/hello/https://www.haunted-britain.com/the-ghost-of-william-terriss.htm

In this episode, Genevieve will discuss one the 19th century’s most shocking maritime murder cases, the massacre on the Mary Russell in 1828: a story of the slow unraveling of a captain’s sanity, bloodshed, and survival against all odds on the open seas. Thank you to today’s sponsor!Spoiler: you can feel amazing in menopause. Visit myalloy.com and use code VICTORIAN for $20 off your first order!Subscribe to the Newsletter!Subscribe to the Patreon free trial for ad-free listening!Today’s Instagram post:https://www.instagram.com/p/DaoAJhTDzc7/?img_index=1References:https://www.mentalfloss.com/crime/mary-russell-19th-century-massacre-legal-casehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Russell_murdershttps://historyireland.com/forced-from-this-world-massacre-on-the-mary-russell/https://whyhorror.blog/2022/11/18/why-mary-russell/https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4921892/4899086/5181471

In this episode, Genevieve will discuss the cast iron Fisk coffins of the mid-19th century, and the shockingly bizarre and disturbing proposals to electroplate dead bodies so that they may become golden, silver, brass or bronze statues that you could keep in your home forever. Thank you to today’s sponsor! Try the original estrogen-powered M4 skincare from Alloy. Visit myalloy.com and use code VICTORIAN for $20 off your first order! Subscribe to the Newsletter! Subscribe to the Patreon free trial for ad-free listening! Today’s Instagram post References: https://katieisms.substack.com/p/the-true-history-behind-the-stunning-coffins-in-frankenstein https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/morbid-monday-fisk-mummy-case https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electroplating https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/morbid-monday-electroplating-corpses https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Holmes_(mortician) https://mthistoryrevealed.blogspot.com/2013/10/polishing-mothers-silverand-mother-too.html?m=1 “Explosion of a Metallic Coffin” - The New York Times, Nov. 6th, 1858. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/how-the-quest-to-preserve-lenins-body-helps-the-living https://historicengland.org.uk/whats-new/news/survival-of-rare-anglo-saxon-coffins/ https://www.agweb.com/news/business/farmland/who-was-lady-red-farm-mystery-lingers-over-woman-iron-coffin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, Genevieve will discuss the dark histories and meanings behind three 19th century masterpieces: Edvard Munch’s electrifying “The Scream,” Théodore Géricault’s devastating “Raft of the Medusa,” and John William Waterhouse’s haunting Pre-Raphaelite work, “The Lady of Shalott.”Thank you to today’s sponsor!Get your menopause treatment plan today. Visit myalloy.com and use code VICTORIAN for $20 off your first order! #AgeGracefullySubscribe to the Newsletter!Subscribe to the Patreon free trial for ad-free listening!Today’s Instagram post:https://www.instagram.com/p/DaEAk2sDygf/?img_index=8&igsh=MTBidXNweWF3bmxreQ==References:https://www.artandobject.com/news/horrifying-history-behind-raft-medusahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Raft_of_the_Medusahttps://smarthistory.org/theodore-gericault-raft-of-the-medusa/https://www.singulart.com/blog/en/2019/09/10/the-scream-the-story-behind-edvard-munchs-haunting-masterpiece/?srsltid=AfmBOooUh2TbUknjf3baVjDXU3qOX0O3MxRlNQAnqPUMFwS7st60Qb67https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Screamhttps://smarthistory.org/munch-the-scream/https://elephant.art/the-lady-of-shalott-taught-me-that-female-power-exists-beyond-fairytales-waterhouse-nabihah-iqbal-08122020/https://chatgpt.com/c/6a3ae6cc-3698-83ea-b510-7f8e7c458bfdhttps://mydailyartdisplay.uk/2019/06/06/john-william-waterhouse-part-2/

In this, our 100th EPISODE, Genevieve will discuss the paranormal and downright bizarre events that have taken place in Bachelor’s Grove Cemetery in Chicago. We will also travel back to some of our favorite horrifying events, and we might run into some friends along the way! Thank you to today’s sponsor! Go to LumiGummies.com and use code VICTORIAN for 30% off your first order. Subscribe to the Newsletter! Subscribe to the Patreon free trial for ad-free listening! Today’s Instagram post: https://www.instagram.com/p/DZvpbe8DrgO/?img_index=1 References: https://www.bachelorsgrove.com/paranormal-history https://www.bachelorsgrove.com/history https://ghostcitytours.com/chicago/haunted-chicago/bachelors-grove-cemetery/ https://ghostwalks.com/articles/bachelors-grove-cemetery-graveyard-ghosts https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bachelor%27s_Grove_Cemetery https://www.uicradio.net/post/bachelor-s-grove-cemetery-one-of-illinois-most-haunted-places Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week’s episode, Genevieve will discuss one of the most unsettling true crime stories in English history: The (seriously) true story of Thomas Bedworth, a man who claimed to be compelled to confess to murder by the ghost of his victim, Elizabeth Beesmore.Thank you to today’s sponsors!Get your menopause treatment plan today. Visit myalloy.com and use code VICTORIAN for $20 offyour first order! Wake up with clearer skin, smoother hair, and cooler sleep. Use code MVNPOD for an extra 30% off at blissy.com/MVNPOD.Subscribe to the Newsletter!Subscribe to the Patreon free trial for ad-free listening!Today’s Instagram PostReferences:https://www.gutenberg.org/files/63018/63018-h/63018-h.htmhttps://hauntedpalaceblog.com/2020/01/11/jealousy-bigamy-gin-and-a-ghost-the-murder-of-elizabeth-beesmore

On this week’s episode, Genevieve will discuss the rise and steep fall of the Lemp dynasty; the heartbreak and mysteries that surrounded the family, and the alleged hauntings of the Victorian mansion they made their home.Thank you to today’s sponsors!Go to https://OmahaSteaks.com and use promo code VICTORIAN at checkout for $35 off. Minimum purchase may apply.Subscribe to the Newsletter!Subscribe to the Patreon free trial for ad-free listening!Today’s Instagram PostReferences:https://www.legendsofamerica.com/mo-lempmansion/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lemp_Mansionhttps://ghostcitytours.com/st-louis/haunted-st-louis/lemp-mansion-haunted/https://www.stlmag.com/history/william-lemp-sr/https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/historic-beer-birthday-william-j-lemp-jr/https://www.stlmag.com/history/more-mysteries-uncovered-in-the-lemp-family-history/https://www.stlmag.com/history/profiles/unveiling-the-real-johann-adam-lemp/

On this week’s episode, Genevieve will discuss The death – or murder, of Charles Bravo. More than a century later, his death remains one of England’s most chilling unsolved mysteries; a case tangled in forbidden affairs, social ambition, horrifying abuse and whispers of revenge. Was it suicide, was it a mistake or cold blooded murder?Thank you to today’s sponsors!Subscribe to the Newsletter!Subscribe to the Patreon free trial for ad-free listening!Today’s Instagram PostReferences:https://shadowsflyaway.blog/2017/01/18/horrible-murder-part-1-of-the-mysterious-and-unsolved-killing-of-charles-bravo/https://london-overlooked.com/charles-bravo/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Bravohttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florence_Bravohttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Manby_GullyThe Balham Mystery - The Liverpool Weekly Mercury, Aug. 5th, 1876The Death of Mr. Bravo. The Balham Mystery - Reynold’s Newspaper, Aug. 13th, 1876The Bravo Mystery - Freeman's Journal and Daily Commercial Advertiser, Sat, Jul 29, 1876The Bravo Case - Daily News, Fri, Jul 28, 1876