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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 on BBC Select.

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