Before its demolition in 1904, London's famous Newgate prison was one of the oldest prisons in the world. It was originally built in 1188 based on a request from Henry II, but was enlarged and rebuilt several times over a time period spanning more than 700 years.

In Victorian times, insanity was considered to be nearly a criminal offense, and those suffering from it were typically locked away in asylums. A very well-known asylum, now known as Broadmoor Hospital, was originally named the Broadmoor Criminal Lunatic Asylum

The story of Florence Maybrick's murder trial, conviction, and release, captivated her supporters and critics on both sides of the audience throughout her fifteen-year saga. American-born Florence and her cotton-broker husband charmed Liverpool society, but their marriage was not as problem-free as it appeared.