Death at the Savoy Mansions: Post-War London's Drug Underworld

After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal

History Hit

Myths, Folklore, Mystery, History, Ghosts, Society & Culture, Murder, Ufos, True Crime, Paranormal, Supernatural, Serial Killers

4.6 • 1.2K Ratings

🗓️ 6 March 2025

⏱️ 39 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

During the victory celebrations of World War One, a rising star is found dead in her bed after a suspected overdose.

22-year-old Billie Carlton’s death caused shockwaves across the nation, adding fuel to a growing moral panic about sex, scandal and drugs.

Anthony and Maddy are joined by Virginia Berridge, Professor of History and Health Policy at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, to explore the path to drug criminalisation in postwar London following the death of Billie Carlton. Together, they uncover the extraordinary history of drugs in Soho - London’s most notorious neighbourhood in the 1920s.

Historic Soho has been brought to life in the new BBC show Dope Girls, which tells the story of Soho when female gangs ran the nightclubs after the First World War. You can watch it on BBC iPlayer now.

All music from Epidemic Sounds.

After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal is a History Hit podcast.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hi, we're your host's Anthony Delaney and Maddie Pelling.
0:03.7	And if you would like After Dark myths, misdeeds and the paranormal, ad free and get early access, sign up to History Hit.
0:11.1	With a History Hit subscription, you can also watch hundreds of hours of original documentaries with top history presenters and enjoy a new release every week.
0:20.7	Sign up now by visiting historyhit.com forward slash subscribe. top history presenters and enjoy a new release every week.
0:24.8	Sign up now by visiting historyhit.com forward slash subscribe.
0:36.3	It's Wednesday the 27th of November, 1918, in the Royal Albert Hall in London.
0:41.3	The venue, influenced by designs of ancient Roman amphitheaters, with its iconic domed roof and eye-catching red brick,
0:45.3	has hosted some of the nation's most important and impressive events
0:49.3	since its opening a few decades ago.
0:52.3	In recent years, there's been more of a charitable focus,
0:56.0	from a Titanic Band Memorial concert in 1912
0:59.0	to countless fundraising events for the war effort.
1:03.0	But tonight, the Crem de la Crem of society,
1:06.0	celebrities from the political, entertainment and military worlds
1:10.0	are rubbing shoulders for a much more
1:12.9	jubilant reason. They're celebrating the end of the Great War. The armistice signed just 16 days ago.
1:21.8	The war to end all wars. Everyone knew someone who didn't make it. The crowd partying at the ball are not the same
1:31.3	people. They were just a few years earlier. Among the attendees is 22-year-old West End star
1:38.5	Billy Carlton. Billy is causing a stir in the theatre world, and her star is rapidly on the rise.
1:46.7	She's with her friend, Reggie DeVoy, the fashion designer who created the extravagant black
1:51.8	dress she's wearing tonight.
1:54.2	Together, they talk fast and excitedly chatting to old friends and new, and the party
	...

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