Gay Sex Scandal that Outraged the Georgians

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

🗓️ 1 September 2025

⏱️ 57 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

What price might a man pay for sex in the 18th century? Well, if it was with another man, he might pay with his life.

In this episode, Anthony introduces us to 43-year-old milkman Gabriel Lawrence. Together, he and Maddy take us inside the Molly Houses of Georgian Britain, and through the criminal system from arrest, to imprisonment, to sentencing and execution.

This story can be found in more detail in Anthony's new book, 'Queer Georgians: A Hidden History of Lovers, Lawbreakers and Homemakers'!

Edited by Amy Haddow. Produced by Stuart Beckwith. Senior Producer is Charlotte Long.

Please vote for us for Listeners' Choice at the British Podcast Awards! Follow this link, and don’t forget to confirm the email. Thank you!

You can now watch After Dark on Youtube! www.youtube.com/@afterdarkhistoryhit

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Hello everyone. It's us, your hosts Maddie Pelling and Anthony Delaney.
0:04.2	But before we begin the show, we want to ask for a few seconds of your time.
0:08.2	If you're enjoying After Dark, and we love you, if you are, we would love you just a little bit more.
0:13.5	If you could vote for us in the listeners choice category at the British Podcast Awards.
0:18.0	So go to the show notes now, click the link and just then search for After Dark.
0:23.2	Fill in your name and your email and don't forget to confirm. They will send you an email.
0:27.2	You need to confirm. The whole process probably takes about 30 seconds. If you've already voted,
0:31.8	we are so, so grateful. If you haven't, stop what you are doing right now. Vote for us before you
0:37.0	enjoy this show.
0:38.2	Hello and welcome to After Dark. Today, we have one of two very, very, very special episodes.
0:44.0	I'm so excited about them, but I'm not going to tell you. Instead, I'm going to hand
0:47.5	straight over to Anthony.
0:53.8	One Sunday night, February 1726, Gabriel Lawrence is making his way purposefully towards
1:01.4	Field Lane in Hoburn. The winter darkness has transformed familiar London streets into
1:07.3	something altogether and more perilous, despite the intermittent grid of oil lamps.
1:12.6	Flames, feeble and odorous, struggle to light the clogged arteries of the great city.
1:18.9	As he walks apace, street musicians lift their fiddles to offer a bawdy song, their bows slashing
1:26.2	back and forth by their necks.
1:28.6	The music they make underscores the continuous din from nearby alehouses, taverns and coffee
1:34.4	houses. Laughter, screams and shouts burst through doors left momentarily ajar.
1:41.0	18th century London is never quiet.
1:49.0	Tonight, Lauren seeks the comfort and camaraderie of an establishment located on Field Lane, a molly house which goes by the name of Mother Claps.
	...

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