Spring-Heeled Jack: Terror of Victorian London
After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal
History Hit
4.6 • 1.2K Ratings
🗓️ 1 May 2025
⏱️ 36 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
The grimy streets of Victorian London were stalked by a shadowy menace: Spring-Heeled Jack! He had glowing eyes and blue flames came out his mouth. He had claws, wings. He had a tail. He had smart boots. He had literal springs in his heels. Confusing...who was Spring-Heeled Jack?
Maddy Pelling and Anthony Delaney are joined by Ceri Houlbrook, whose new book "Folklore: A Journey Through the Past and Present" with Owen Davies will be out in September.
You can now watch After Dark on Youtube: www.youtube.com/@afterdarkhistoryhit
Produced by Freddy Chick. Edited by Tomos Delargy. Senior Producer is Charlotte Long.
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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. |
| 0:27.5 | Hello and welcome to After Dark. I'm Anthony. |
| 0:28.1 | And I'm Maddie. |
| 0:32.2 | And today we are talking about an urban legend that took hold in the Victorian era. |
| 0:35.3 | It's all got to do with Spring Healed Jack. |
| 0:39.3 | And if you don't know who that is, then don't worry because Maddie is about to set the scene. |
| 0:55.4 | In the eastern fringes of London, where the gas lamps mingle with the glowworms light, there was a lane. |
| 1:02.4 | Some way down that lane there was a cottage, and in that cottage there lived the Alsop family. |
| 1:10.1 | At 9pm, on the evening of the 20th of February 1838, the bell-pull on the garden gate jangled, as though someone or something was making their way up the little path to the front door. |
| 1:16.6 | Inside, 18-year-old Jane Ulsop heard the sound. |
| 1:20.6 | She got up, walked towards the door, opening it to find nothing. |
| 1:25.6 | She looked about, puzzled before her eyes fell on something extraordinary. |
| 1:31.3 | She froze, blood pumping loudly in her ears. |
| 1:35.3 | There, in the garden, was a figure. |
| 1:38.3 | She stared at it for a moment, jumping when a voice emanated from it, |
| 1:42.3 | barking, I'm a policeman! For God's sake, bring me a light, |
| 1:46.2 | for we have caught Springheeled Jack here in the lane. Jane's eyes widened. Could Spring |
| 1:53.0 | healed Jack, the ghoul every Londoner feared really be in the lane outside her home? She rushed inside |
... |
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