Great Britain’s vibrant past is a treasure trove of intrigue, and while the world knows about Stonehenge, the Princes in the Tower, and Jack the Ripper, there’s a hidden roster of puzzling cases that never quite made the mainstream spotlight. In this roundup we shine a light on ten obscure yet captivating mysteries that have left historians scratching their heads.
10 Lesser Known Secrets of British History
10 The Assassination Of Robert Pakington
Robert Pakington may hold the grim distinction of being the earliest recorded victim of a firearm in London. A prosperous merchant with political aspirations, he served as a Member of Parliament in 1533 and again in 1536, championing the interests of fellow traders while vocally opposing the Catholic clergy.
On a fog‑laden November morning in 1536, Pakington rose at four o’clock to attend the nearby church. As he crossed the street directly opposite his home, a single shot rang out and struck him dead. Witnesses reported hearing the gun, yet no one saw the shooter or the weapon.
The murder sent shockwaves through the city, not least because of the novel weapon involved. Despite the mayor offering a substantial reward for information, the perpetrator was never apprehended. Later Protestant chroniclers, most notably John Foxe, blamed Catholic conspirators, claiming a priest ordered the killing.
9 The Murder Of Janet Rogers
Janet Rogers travelled to her brother William Henderson’s farm near Perth, Scotland, to fill in for a dismissed domestic servant. Only three days after arriving, she met a gruesome end: an axe was driven into her while she was in the kitchen.
Henderson, who discovered his sister’s body, became an early suspect. Police initially arrested both him and a farmhand, James Crichton. However, Henderson’s alibi—being present at a local farmer’s market during the murder—was solid, leading to his release. Crichton was re‑arrested later, but the case against him remained tenuous.
With no physical evidence linking either man, the trial concluded in an acquittal for Crichton. Henderson, convinced of Crichton’s guilt, maintained his belief that the farmhand had attempted a burglary and, when surprised by Rogers, struck her with the axe before fleeing.
8 The Disappearance Of Francis Lovell
Francis Lovell, a close confidant of King Richard III, fought fiercely for the Yorkist cause during the Wars of the Roses. After Richard’s defeat at the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485, Lovell remained loyal, joining a 1486 rebellion against the new monarch, Henry VII.
When that uprising collapsed, Lovell threw his support behind the pretender Lambert Simnel, a boy promoted as the rightful King Edward VI. The final showdown at the Battle of Stoke Field in 1487 ended in a decisive Yorkist defeat, and Lovell vanished from the historical record.
Although it’s documented that he escaped the battlefield, his subsequent whereabouts are shrouded in mystery. Rumours suggest he hid in a cave, fled abroad, or perhaps never left England at all. Intriguingly, a skeleton unearthed in a concealed part of his house in 1708 has never been positively identified.
7 The Murder Of Fred Atkins
In the pre‑dawn hours of September 22, 1881, constable Fred Atkins was on patrol in Kingston Hill, a London district plagued by burglary. While making his rounds, he was suddenly riddled with multiple gunshots to the chest, abdomen, and left thigh.
The gunfire drew the attention of a nearby mansion’s resident and housekeeper, who discovered the wounded officer slumped on the front steps. Despite his injuries, Atkins managed to speak, insisting he had seen no one or heard any disturbance during his beat.
Authorities concluded that a burglar had likely ambushed him, but the scant evidence left the case cold. In 2012, a plaque honoring Atkins was installed outside a local pub, ensuring his sacrifice is not forgotten.
6 The Murder Of Georgina Moore
Seven‑year‑old Georgina Moore disappeared from London on December 20, 1881, after having lunch at a family friend’s house and heading back to school. When she failed to return, her frantic parents launched an all‑night search, yet found no trace of her.
A schoolboy reported seeing Georgina with a woman believed to be Esther Pay, an acquaintance of the Moore family. Pay denied any involvement, but repeatedly inquired about updates on the case, raising suspicion. Six weeks later, Georgina’s body was recovered from a river, and an autopsy confirmed she had been strangled on the day she vanished.
Although the investigation focused on Pay—especially after learning she had previously had an affair with Georgina’s father—she was ultimately acquitted at trial. The true perpetrator remains unknown, leaving the case shrouded in uncertainty.
5 The Death Of King William II
On August 2, 1100, King William II set out on a royal hunt in the New Forest of southern England. Among his party were the courtier Walter Tirel and William’s brother, Henry. Mid‑hunt, word spread that William had been struck in the heart by an arrow and lay dead.
At the time, hunting mishaps were not uncommon, and many accepted the fatal shot as an accident. Tirel swore he had acted unintentionally, but fearing retribution, he fled to France. Meanwhile, Henry seized the moment, proclaiming himself King Henry I.
Modern scholars remain divided: some argue the death was truly accidental, while others speculate darker motives—ranging from a pagan fertility cult’s involvement to a French king’s covert plot. Regardless, the timing undeniably benefited Henry, who was present on that fateful day.
4 The Innocence Of Elizabeth Fenning
Until 1861, an attempted murder could merit the death penalty in England. Elizabeth Fenning, a domestic servant, was convicted in July 1815 of trying to murder her employer, Orlibar Turner, and his household, and was subsequently hanged.
The case began after a family dinner on March 21, 1815, when Turner, Fenning, and two others fell violently ill after consuming dumplings prepared by Fenning. While everyone recovered, Fenning suffered the worst symptoms, leading authorities to accuse her of poisoning the meal with arsenic.
Fenning maintained her innocence throughout, but the circumstantial evidence—chiefly the arsenic detection—secured her conviction. Years later, a dying man in Essex allegedly confessed to the crime, claiming he had poisoned the dumplings out of resentment toward his uncle, Mr. Turner. This confession fueled ongoing debate over Fenning’s guilt.
3 The Disappearance Of Urban Napoleon Stanger
German‑born Urban Napoleon Stanger established a successful bakery in London in 1870, attracting a sizable German clientele. On November 13, 1881, he failed to appear for work, and his employee, Felix Stumm, swiftly assumed control of the shop.
Scotland Yard investigated, combing through Stanger’s residence, excavating his backyard, probing beneath floorboards, and scrutinising the ovens. While they uncovered some animal bones, no human remains were found.
Stumm emerged as a prime suspect, especially since he had been drinking with Stanger and friends the night before the disappearance. Though never formally charged with the vanishing, Stumm was later convicted of fraud for using Stanger’s name on securities, receiving a ten‑year sentence. Stanger, however, was never seen again.
2 The Death Of Owain Glyndwr
After England subdued Wales in the late 13th century, the most significant challenge to English rule erupted in 1400 when Owain Glyndwr proclaimed himself Prince of Wales, rallying peasants, scholars, and soldiers alike.
Glyndwr’s rebellion endured for over a decade, but by 1410 he was forced into hiding. Sightings persisted for years, yet the medieval chronicler Adam of Usk recorded that the rebel died in 1415.
The exact circumstances of his final years remain a matter of debate. While some argue he perished abroad, others contend he was secretly buried in Wales. Over time, Glyndwr transformed into a legendary figure, a mythic king destined to return and restore Welsh independence.
1 The Murder Of George Burrington
George Burrington, an English official, served two separate terms as governor of North Carolina—first from 1724‑1725 and later from 1731‑1734. His fiery temperament earned him many enemies; his initial term ended after a judge reported that Burrington attempted to break into his own house.
After his dismissal, Burrington challenged his successor, Sir Richard Everard, to a duel. Returning to office in 1731, he quickly alienated colleagues with crude language and confrontational behaviour, leading to a second removal and his return to England.
In 1736, the retired governor claimed an assassination plot had been orchestrated against him during his final years in office. He lived comfortably thereafter, but on February 22, 1759, his body was discovered floating in a Westminster canal, his pockets emptied and his walking stick broken—suggesting a violent robbery.
Tristan Shaw, an American writer fascinated by folklore, literature, and history, shares his insights on this and other mysteries on Twitter.