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Birmingham's real 'Peaky Blinders' | Birmingham's real 'Peaky Blinders' |
(about 4 hours later) | |
The dank, slum streets are ruled by gangs made up of hundreds of youths armed with knives, razor blades and hammers. | The dank, slum streets are ruled by gangs made up of hundreds of youths armed with knives, razor blades and hammers. |
Murders are rife. Robberies, thefts and riots are a daily occurrence at the hands of young gang members who hold the entire city in a fearful, bloody grip. | Murders are rife. Robberies, thefts and riots are a daily occurrence at the hands of young gang members who hold the entire city in a fearful, bloody grip. |
Police do their best to control the daily nightmare but are vastly outnumbered. | Police do their best to control the daily nightmare but are vastly outnumbered. |
Welcome to Birmingham 1919. | Welcome to Birmingham 1919. |
Now - nearly a century later - a six-part drama series explores the lives of the city's most notorious gangs from a century ago - the Peaky Blinders. | Now - nearly a century later - a six-part drama series explores the lives of the city's most notorious gangs from a century ago - the Peaky Blinders. |
Their chilling nickname was derived from the razor blades carefully stitched into the front of their caps which could be used to blind their victims. | Their chilling nickname was derived from the razor blades carefully stitched into the front of their caps which could be used to blind their victims. |
But who were the gangs that inspired the BBC Two series, and why were they formed? | |
'Sloggers and brawlers' | 'Sloggers and brawlers' |
From as early as the 1870s, inner city Birmingham streets were filled with overcrowded slums and extreme poverty - and the lure of crime was a pull for gangsters. | From as early as the 1870s, inner city Birmingham streets were filled with overcrowded slums and extreme poverty - and the lure of crime was a pull for gangsters. |
It soon led to an eruption of gangs and gang violence across the city. | It soon led to an eruption of gangs and gang violence across the city. |
Battles to "own" areas such as Small Heath and Cheapside broke out. These saw hundreds of youths fighting - sometimes to the death - in mass brawls that lasted for hours. | Battles to "own" areas such as Small Heath and Cheapside broke out. These saw hundreds of youths fighting - sometimes to the death - in mass brawls that lasted for hours. |
The most prominent - and ruthless - of these early gangs were known as the Sloggers, or the Cheapside Slogging Gang. | The most prominent - and ruthless - of these early gangs were known as the Sloggers, or the Cheapside Slogging Gang. |
For 30 years they ruled the city's streets with protection rackets and violence. | For 30 years they ruled the city's streets with protection rackets and violence. |
Led by John Adrian, and his trusted lieutenant James Grinrod, they began their reign of terror in about 1870. | Led by John Adrian, and his trusted lieutenant James Grinrod, they began their reign of terror in about 1870. |
Their weapon of choice was a heavy-buckled belt used to pummel male and female victims of all ages into submission. | Their weapon of choice was a heavy-buckled belt used to pummel male and female victims of all ages into submission. |
An 1872 Birmingham Mail report records a typical example of the Sloggers' antics. | An 1872 Birmingham Mail report records a typical example of the Sloggers' antics. |
It states how "400 roughs brought indiscriminate violence to the Cheapside area, attacking and stealing". | It states how "400 roughs brought indiscriminate violence to the Cheapside area, attacking and stealing". |
"A small body of police were sent to deal with the Slogging Gang," the report continues. | "A small body of police were sent to deal with the Slogging Gang," the report continues. |
"Officers made three arrests, including two very poor youths of no fixed home." | "Officers made three arrests, including two very poor youths of no fixed home." |
Notorious Sloggers included Aston's Simpson Brothers and George "Cloggy" Williams, whose notoriety grew quickly after the brutal 1897 murder of PC George Snipe. | Notorious Sloggers included Aston's Simpson Brothers and George "Cloggy" Williams, whose notoriety grew quickly after the brutal 1897 murder of PC George Snipe. |
Many rival gangs formed, and one in particular soon became the most fearful force on the city's streets. | |
The Peaky Blinders as a gang were as deliberately stylish as they were violent. | The Peaky Blinders as a gang were as deliberately stylish as they were violent. |
'Blinders and blindness' | 'Blinders and blindness' |
Historian David Cross, of the West Midlands Police Museum in Sparkhill, is curator of the country's largest collection of prisoner photographs. | Historian David Cross, of the West Midlands Police Museum in Sparkhill, is curator of the country's largest collection of prisoner photographs. |
The collection contains court papers which document the exploits of the city's bygone gangs. | The collection contains court papers which document the exploits of the city's bygone gangs. |
"If you think of your grandfather's cap in those days, then it would have had a very hard peak," said Mr Cross. | "If you think of your grandfather's cap in those days, then it would have had a very hard peak," said Mr Cross. |
"They used their hats with razor blades sewn in to rob people. That's what a Peaky Blinder was. | "They used their hats with razor blades sewn in to rob people. That's what a Peaky Blinder was. |
"When they hit someone or headbutted someone on the nose while wearing one, it would cause their victim temporary blindness." | "When they hit someone or headbutted someone on the nose while wearing one, it would cause their victim temporary blindness." |
Victims were chosen indiscriminately, regardless of whether they were male or female, young or old, rich or poor, according to Mr Cross. | Victims were chosen indiscriminately, regardless of whether they were male or female, young or old, rich or poor, according to Mr Cross. |
"They would target anybody who looked vulnerable, or who did not look strong or fit," he said. | "They would target anybody who looked vulnerable, or who did not look strong or fit," he said. |
"Anything that could be taken, they would take it." | "Anything that could be taken, they would take it." |
Their carefully-stylised image was an attempt to bring a touch of class to their actions, Mr Cross said, as well as making them stand out from their rivals. | Their carefully-stylised image was an attempt to bring a touch of class to their actions, Mr Cross said, as well as making them stand out from their rivals. |
Peaky Blinders would wear a silk scarf tied around their necks, bell-bottom trousers and a flat, bladed cap tilted to one side. | Peaky Blinders would wear a silk scarf tied around their necks, bell-bottom trousers and a flat, bladed cap tilted to one side. |
Children, in the same desperate situation as adults, were also recruited regularly into the ranks. | Children, in the same desperate situation as adults, were also recruited regularly into the ranks. |
Prominent members included 13-year-old David Taylor, jailed for carrying a gun, and 12-year-old Charles Lambourne. | Prominent members included 13-year-old David Taylor, jailed for carrying a gun, and 12-year-old Charles Lambourne. |
Older gang members ruled the roost, such as Stephen McHickie, Harry Fowler and Tom Gilbert. | Older gang members ruled the roost, such as Stephen McHickie, Harry Fowler and Tom Gilbert. |
Members were loyal - and local legends. It was often impossible to tell how many fighters in a gang were actually Peaky Blinders, and how many were claiming to be simply for the status it gave them. | Members were loyal - and local legends. It was often impossible to tell how many fighters in a gang were actually Peaky Blinders, and how many were claiming to be simply for the status it gave them. |
As families began to move out of the city centre in the early 20th Century, the rule of the gangs started to decline. | As families began to move out of the city centre in the early 20th Century, the rule of the gangs started to decline. |
As areas such as Small Heath grew, so did the physical distance between the rivals. | As areas such as Small Heath grew, so did the physical distance between the rivals. |
Most of the once-feared names of the gang members are now forgotten, but their reputations are cemented in Birmingham's folklore. | Most of the once-feared names of the gang members are now forgotten, but their reputations are cemented in Birmingham's folklore. |
Peaky Blinders is on BBC Two at 2100 BST and will be available on the iPlayer after. |