Wiltshire: The 1860 Road Hill House Murder

Foul Play: A Historical True Crime Podcast

Shane L. Waters, Wendy Cee, Gemma Hoskins

History, True Crime, Society & Culture

4.5 • 992 Ratings

🗓️ 13 January 2026

⏱️ 37 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

A quiet Wiltshire town became infamously known as the site of the 1860 Road Hill House murder, a case that shattered Victorian complacency and intrigued the nation. Season 37 of Foul Play opens with the harrowing murder at Road Hill House, examining into one of Victorian England's most brutal and mystifying family tragedies. At the heart of this mystery was the Kent family, generally respected, yet living amid turmoil and secrets. Three-year-old Saville Kent, innocent and unaware, was ripped from life and left to be discovered in a location that spoke volumes of the crime's heinous nature. This case forced the integration of scientific methods into detective work, heralding a new era in criminal investigations. The public and press clamored for justice or sensationalism, spurring investigators to reconsider their techniques. Over the course of the series, we dissect the unfolding investigation led by Scotland Yard's finest, examine potential motives, and identify suspects. In this premiere episode, the details of the morning after the crime unfold, with the household thrown into chaos, and the rippling effects on their community. The Victorian age was one of progression shadowed by crime, and this episode lays bare the stark reality behind the era's respectable facade. Witness accounts, forensic developments, and complex narrative weaves reveal a complex familial betrayal. Discover the echo of justice and its reflection in modern times. Support Foul Play: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/foulplaypodcast Website: https://www.mythsandmalice.com/show/foul-play/ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/foul-play-crime-series/id1525832703 Follow us: Instagram: @foulplaycrimeseries Twitter: @foulplaypod

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Transcript

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0:41.5	England in 1860 was a nation obsessed with respectability. Gas lamps flickered in drawing rooms
0:48.9	across the countryside, casting long shadows on walls, papered and floral prints and family portraits.
0:56.8	Behind heavy curtains and locked doors, Victorian families performed their daily rituals
1:02.2	of propriety, tea, and social hierarchy.
1:06.8	The outside world saw polished brass door knockers and manicured gardens.
1:12.6	Inside, secrets festered in silence.
1:16.6	Road Hill House stood three stories tall in the village of Road, Wiltshire,
1:22.6	about a hundred miles west of London.
1:25.6	The mansion belonged to Samuel Sevilleville Kent, a factory inspector for the
1:30.6	home office, who earned roughly 400 pounds annually inspecting compliance with child labor laws.
1:38.8	He lived there with his second wife, three young children, and two teenage children from his first marriage,
1:46.4	who came home from boarding school for the summer. Nine people in total, plus household staff.
1:54.7	High walls and locked gates surrounded the property. An outdoor privy, or outhouse, sat in the back garden, 30 yards from the property. An outdoor privy or outhouse sat in the back garden, 30 yards from the
2:04.9	house. On June 30th, 1860, those walls couldn't keep a secret any longer. Hello friend,
2:16.6	welcome to Falplay.
	...

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