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Death and alcohol on Victorian canals
Episode 33

Death and alcohol on Victorian canals

Susan Law reveals how the canals of Britain were once a focal point of Victorian alcohol-infused disorder

HistoryExtra Long Reads

March 18, 202417m 7s

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Show Notes

Today, Britain’s canals are ideal places to enjoy a leisurely cruise – but in the 19th century, they had a vastly different reputation. In this Long Read, written by Susan Law, we reveal how these waterways once served as the settings for brutal acts of alcohol-fuelled violence.


HistoryExtra Long Reads brings you the best articles from BBC History Magazine, direct to your ears. Today’s feature originally appeared in the February 2024 issue, and has been voiced in partnership with the RNIB.

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