Behind the scenes of a Victorian-era public execution

On the roof of a London jail in 1849, a married couple charged with murder was hanged in front of a vast crowd. The event garnered a crowd believed to be the largest ever assembled for a public execution in England, with an estimated amount between 30,000 and 50,000 people.

Writer Charles Dickens was one of spectators, observing the grisly sight from a nearby flat.

In A Very British Murder, Lucy Worsley delves into some of the most notorious killings in British history and explores the psychology behind our fascination with murder.

Watch the full documentary A Very British Murder with Lucy Worsley.