The Blackpool Poisoner / Sarah Ann Ricketts / Louisa Merrifield - Part 1

With the peak of the summer season a few months away, boarding house manager Jessie Brewer was spending her downtime reading the morning paper when she saw an article about the death of an elderly woman who lived in the district. Her eyes widened at the part of the article where it listed April 14th, 1953, as the date of the woman’s death. Jessie was familiar with the deceased named Sarah Ann Ricketts, but she was surprised, as Jessie had been told that Sarah had passed away days before that… (Part 1 of 3).

*** LISTENER CAUTION IS ADVISED *** 

This episode was researched and written by Eileen Macfarlane.

Edited by Joel Porter at Dot Dot Dot Productions.

Script editing, additional writing, illustrations and production direction by Rosanna Fitton

Narration, additional audio editing and mixing, and script editing by Benjamin Fitton.

To get early ad-free access, including Season 1, sign up for They Walk Among PLUS, available from Patreon or Apple Podcasts.

More information and episode references can be found on our website https://theywalkamonguspodcast.com

MUSIC: 

The Diary by CJ0 

Evidence Board by CJ0 

Misery Loves Company by CJ0 

The Last Straw by CJ Oliver 

Altered Fate by Cody Martin 

Gravity by Caleb Etheridge 

Harboring by Salon Dijon 

Stolen Moments by Salon Dijon 

Leatherface by Wicked Cinema 

No Escape by Wicked Cinema 

Shifter by Wicked Cinema 

The Lantern by Wicked Cinema 

Childlike by WildWonder 

SOCIAL MEDIA: https://linktr.ee/TheyWalkAmongUs

REFERENCES: 

ARCHIVES

Files from the National Archives 

NEWSPAPER ARCHIVE

https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-despatch/170210864/

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https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-telegraph/170211147/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-post/170211156/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/hull-daily-mail/170211168/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/manchester-evening-news/170211182/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-post/172755176/

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https://www.newspapers.com/article/south-wales-argus/170211194/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-post/170211201/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-sentinel/170211222/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-telegraph/170211234/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/huddersfield-daily-examiner/172754809/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/south-wales-argus/170211245/

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https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-herald/170211279/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/leicester-evening-mail/170211289/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-telegraph/170211310/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/hull-daily-mail/170211318/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-mirror/170213351/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-telegraph/172754890/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/hull-daily-mail/172755542/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/birmingham-gazette/170211330/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/liverpool-echo/170211342/

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https://www.newspapers.com/article/leicester-evening-mail/170213397/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-guardian/170213404/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-herald/170213423/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/liverpool-echo/170213452/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/leicester-mercury/170213463/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/hull-daily-mail/170213488/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/manchester-evening-news/170213506/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-guardian/170213521/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-mirror/170213542/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-despatch/170213587/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/hull-daily-mail/170213606/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-mirror/170213636/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/leicester-evening-mail/170213656/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/hull-daily-mail/170213670/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/manchester-evening-news/170213690/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-mirror/170213711/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/leicester-evening-mail/170213728/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/herald-express/170213771/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-telegraph/170213818/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-bolton-news/172820765/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-mirror/170213835/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/leicester-evening-mail/170213847/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-despatch/170213872/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/hull-daily-mail/170213897/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/sunday-sun/170213948/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sunday-people/170213969/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/sunday-mercury/170213992/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/sunday-sun/170216513/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sunday-people/170217059/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/south-wales-argus/170214012/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/coventry-evening-telegraph/170217274/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/manchester-evening-news/170217307/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/coventry-evening-telegraph/170217326/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/herald-express/170217346/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-sentinel/170217385/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/manchester-evening-news/170217422/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/coventry-evening-telegraph/170217444/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/leicester-evening-mail/170217490/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/liverpool-echo/170217526/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-post/170217558/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/herald-express/170217600/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/manchester-evening-news/170354075/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/manchester-evening-news/170354668/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/leicester-evening-mail/170355024/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/liverpool-echo/170356650/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-post/170357480/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/herald-express/170357602/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/coventry-evening-telegraph/170357681/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/coventry-evening-telegraph/170357694/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/coventry-evening-telegraph/170357707/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/leicester-evening-mail/170357726/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-post/170357733/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-telegraph/170357743/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-post/170357762/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-post/170357774/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-post/170357824/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/coventry-evening-telegraph/170358346/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/leicester-evening-mail/170358885/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-post/170359178/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-guardian/170497533/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/birmingham-gazette/170357814/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-post/170357837/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-telegraph/170357851/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-despatch/170357861/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-telegraph/170357875/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-post/170357894/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-post/170360128/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-post/170360614/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-post/170360869/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-standard/170360983/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/birmingham-gazette/170361031/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-mirror/170361062/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-mirror/170361087/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-guardian/172823698/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/manchester-evening-news/170361364/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/coventry-evening-telegraph/170361634/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/leicester-evening-mail/170361650/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/manchester-evening-news/170361671/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/manchester-evening-news/170361708/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/coventry-evening-telegraph/170363000/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/leicester-evening-mail/170363407/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/manchester-evening-news/170366076/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/manchester-evening-news/170361743/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/coventry-evening-telegraph/170361753/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-mirror/170361768/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-mirror/170361785/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-post/170361801/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-mirror/170367813/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/manchester-evening-news/170369052/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/manchester-evening-news/170428759/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/leicester-evening-mail/170361821/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-mirror/170361889/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/leicester-evening-mail/170429091/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-telegraph/172828932/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/manchester-evening-news/170361910/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/coventry-evening-telegraph/170361924/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/coventry-evening-telegraph/170361940/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/manchester-evening-news/170429254/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/manchester-evening-news/170429434/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/liverpool-daily-post/172829290/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/leicester-evening-mail/170361957/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/leicester-evening-mail/170429970/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/liverpool-echo/170497524/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-bolton-news/172831214/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/huddersfield-daily-examiner/172831243/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/manchester-evening-news/170361985/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/coventry-evening-telegraph/170362005/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-post/170362022/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/manchester-evening-news/170430674/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/coventry-evening-telegraph/170362052/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/leicester-evening-mail/170362075/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/manchester-evening-news/170362093/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/manchester-evening-news/170431880/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/manchester-evening-news/170432229/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-mirror/170362119/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-post/170362137/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-post/170432590/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-bolton-news/172889569/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/liverpool-echo/172889774/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/liverpool-daily-post/172889950/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-post/172890062/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/coventry-evening-telegraph/170432684/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/leicester-evening-mail/170432707/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-post/170432850/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/manchester-evening-news/170432862/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-despatch/172890123/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-bolton-news/172890222/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-post/172890272/

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https://www.newspapers.com/article/coventry-evening-telegraph/170432870/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-post/172890834/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-post/172890986/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-telegraph/172891173/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/liverpool-echo/172891242/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/manchester-evening-news/172892177/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/manchester-evening-news/172892217/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/manchester-evening-news/172892318/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-despatch/172892339/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-bolton-news/172892356/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-guardian/172892363/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-telegraph/170497542/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/liverpool-daily-post/172892430/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-post/172893192/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-guardian/172893246/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/sunday-sun/172893614/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/sunday-dispatch/172893645/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/sunday-dispatch/172894508/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-guardian/172897761/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-standard/172897779/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-telegraph/172897806/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/coventry-evening-telegraph/172897861/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/lincolnshire-echo/172897897/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-news-and-star-sports-special/172897914/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/leicester-evening-mail/172897943/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/hull-daily-mail/172897980/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-mirror/172897989/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/sunday-dispatch/172902790/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/sunday-dispatch/172905719/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-bolton-news/172898023/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-mirror/172898044/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/manchester-evening-news/172898086/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/sunday-dispatch/172902820/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/manchester-evening-news/172903356/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/sunday-mirror/172898109/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/sunday-dispatch/172898131/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/coventry-evening-telegraph/172898149/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/herald-express/172898171/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/leicester-mercury/172898189/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/herald-express/172960367/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-news-and-star-late-final-ed/172898211/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/herald-express/172898249/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/manchester-evening-news/172898276/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/coventry-evening-telegraph/172898291/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-guardian/172898426/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/birmingham-gazette/172898452/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-herald/172898490/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/manchester-evening-news/172898512/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-guardian/172898649/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/sunday-sun/172898668/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/sunday-sun/172898684/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/sunday-dispatch/172902838/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-telegraph/172903045/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/lincolnshire-echo/170497554/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-post/172899062/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-news-and-star-late-final-ed/172899073/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/birmingham-gazette/172899114/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-herald/172899142/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-mirror/172899171/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/manchester-evening-news/172903429/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/manchester-evening-news/170497546/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-post/172899239/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-bolton-news/172902055/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/birmingham-gazette/172902090/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-chronicle/172902106/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-guardian/172899255/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-standard/172902149/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/leicester-mercury/172902170/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/truth/172903230/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/manchester-evening-news/172903488/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/liverpool-echo/172903525/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/manchester-evening-news/172902231/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/liverpool-daily-post/172902248/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-mirror/172902884/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/manchester-evening-news/172902290/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/manchester-evening-news/172903562/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-standard/172902319/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/south-wales-argus/172903600/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-mirror/172902904/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/coventry-evening-telegraph/172963596/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/birmingham-evening-mail/172903641/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/birmingham-evening-mail/172903661/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/western-mail/170497565/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/grimsby-evening-telegraph/172963617/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-standard/172963633/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/liverpool-echo/172963665/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-post/172902378/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-news-and-star-late-final-ed/172902404/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/sunday-sun/172902431/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/manchester-evening-news/170497563/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-chronicle/172902453/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/leicester-mercury/172902483/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/liverpool-daily-post-merseyside-ed/172903739/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/liverpool-echo/172902540/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/lancashire-telegraph/172902556/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-telegraph/172902575/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-post/172902598/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/manchester-evening-news/172902622/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sunday-people/172902649/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/sunday-mirror/172902672/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/liverpool-echo/172902685/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/manchester-evening-news/172902737/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/liverpool-daily-post-merseyside-ed/172902754/

ANCESTRY

https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/person/tree/169464410/person/222557179531/facts?_phsrc=fvw376&_phstart=successSource

https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/person/tree/169464410/person/222557179851/facts

https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/person/tree/169464410/person/222557181280/facts

https://www.ancestry.co.uk/search/collections/61596/records/43142510?tid=&pid=&queryId=a9e8a269-759a-4bdd-956f-a5c4e8c01616&_phsrc=fvw374&_phstart=successSource

https://www.ancestry.co.uk/search/collections/61596/records/43142511

https://www.ancestry.co.uk/search/collections/63150/records/28438467?tid=&pid=&queryId=a9e8a269-759a-4bdd-956f-a5c4e8c01616&_phsrc=fvw374&_phstart=successSource

https://www.ancestry.co.uk/search/collections/8753/records/48505631?tid=&pid=&queryId=622657ff-9968-4b5a-a942-9f56e167dbf4&_phsrc=fvw376&_phstart=successSource

https://www.ancestry.co.uk/search/collections/1904/records/16452984?tid=&pid=&queryId=622657ff-9968-4b5a-a942-9f56e167dbf4&_phsrc=fvw376&_phstart=successSource

https://www.ancestry.co.uk/search/collections/1904/records/16452984?tid=&pid=&queryId=622657ff-9968-4b5a-a942-9f56e167dbf4&_phsrc=fvw376&_phstart=successSource

https://www.ancestry.co.uk/search/collections/7579/records/29990996?tid=&pid=&queryId=622657ff-9968-4b5a-a942-9f56e167dbf4&_phsrc=fvw376&_phstart=successSource

https://www.ancestry.co.uk/search/collections/8782/records/27935620?_phcmd=u(%27https://www.ancestry.co.uk/search/?name=Montgomery_Ellison&event=_wigan-lancashire-england-united+kingdom_85024&birth=1945&location=3257.3250&name_x=1_1&priority=english&successSource=Search&queryId=25fa128e-c4f2-4c53-b67d-3bfd2a915d8c%27,%27successSource%27)

https://www.ancestry.co.uk/facts?_phcmd=u(%27https://www.ancestry.co.uk/search/

https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/person/tree/17277733/person/312392633578/facts

https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/7579/images/ons_d19441az-0323?pId=23150769

ONLINE ARTICLES

https://blackpool.com/heritage-history

https://www.blackpoolgrand.co.uk/blackpool-in-the-50s

https://www.personsunknown.net/p/the-strange-case-of-louisa-merrifield 

https://www.personsunknown.net/p/the-strange-case-of-louisa-merrifield-9fc 

https://edu.rsc.org/download?ac=14223 

https://www.lancs.live/news/lancashire-news/spoonful-jam-rat-poison-story-25417279

https://www.lancs.live/news/lancashire-news/blackpool-poisoner-drunkard-who-murdered-17079890