The Hammersmith Ghost: The Haunting That Ended in Murder
Episode notes
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In 1803, reports of a ghost haunting the streets of Hammersmith, London, sparked fear throughout the community. When Francis Smith went looking for the Hammersmith Ghost, he shot and killed Thomas Millwood, mistaking the bricklayer's white work clothes for a ghostly apparition. We'll explore the infamous Hammersmith Ghost murder case of 1804, the reported haunting, the ghost hoax. We also cover landmark legal questions surrounding fear, mistaken belief, and criminal responsibility.
Serious history. Told not so seriously.
Sources:
- https://hamunitedcharities.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Download-File-2.pdf
- https://digitalcommons.onu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1046&context=ilj
- https://www.discoveryuk.com/mysteries/the-hammersmith-ghost-londons-paranormal-murder/
- https://colonialbrewer.com/2022/10/31/the-hammersmith-ghost/
- https://historyandimagination.com/2025/09/24/the-hammersmith-ghost/
Theme music: Ways of the Wizard-geoffharvey
Used with permission, Thank you Geoff!
licensed through: Pixabay
Other music used: licensed through Pixabay-used under the Pixabay Content License