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During the early 1800s medical education was making great strides in anatomy.

Edinburgh was a central influence on the teaching of anatomy to enhance surgical understanding.

However, in all of the best teach anatomical knowledge, it was essential for lecturers to procure cadavers,

dead bodies that they could dissect during practical lectures.

The demand was far outstripping supply.

Enter two men, William Burke and William Hare.

This is Dark Histories where the facts are were some fiction.

Welcome to Dark History season 1 episode 3. I'm Ben, this is Dark History, like I just said.

This week we're going up to Scotland for the early 19th century to look at two

blokes, William Hare and William Burke. Now I first heard at these guys in a film, obviously named Birken Hair, that's got Simon

Peg in it and it's definitely worth watching.

And in the film their stories obviously fictionalised to a degree but their factual story is

totally bonkers as well so let's get into it this is Birken Hare the Westport

murders Burke and Hare, Hare, the Westport murders.

In the early 19th century, Edinburgh was a leading city in the charge to bring anatomy to the world as a proper science.

...