Crime Club: 18th Century Criminal Masterminds

Join us for the latest instalment of Crime Club on Wednesday 24 September, a chance to discover more about infamous crime cases from history. Free drink included!

In 18th-century London, crime was rampant, and justice was chaotic. The city teemed with pickpockets, burglars, and highwaymen and public hangings were common. 

It was in this volatile world that two larger-than-life figures emerged. One manipulated the system to become the era’s most powerful underworld boss; the other captured the public’s imagination with his bold prison breaks and defiance of authority.

Meet Jonathan Wild, the notorious “Thief-Taker General” who built an empire by turning in rival criminals while secretly running his own network of thieves. And Jack Sheppard, a young carpenter-turned-criminal who became a folk hero for repeatedly escaping from London’s most secure prisons.

In our latest instalment of Crime Club, we delve into a dark chapter of history - exploring how Wild and Sheppard’s intertwined stories led them both to the gallows, but also exposed the deep corruption at the heart of 18th-century justice.

Real crimes. Real stories. Real evidence.

Tickets £15.50 full price/£14.50 concessions* – Booking essential.