Ruth Ellis was the last woman to be hanged in England, but her story was not a simple one, with it being likely that experiences she had throughout her life may have contributed towards her actions on Easter Sunday 1955.
Join me for this the first part of the Ruth Ellis story.

Resources
Daughters of Cain by Renee Huggett and Paul Berry
Executioner: Pierrepoint an autobiography
A Fine Day for a Hanging by Carol Ann Lee
https://www.hampshirelive.news/news/history/woman-hanged-ruth-ellis-hampshire-4192091 https://abortionrights.org.uk/history-of-abortion-law-in-the-uk/ https://care.org.uk/cause/abortion/examining-the-arguments-what-about-backstreet-abortions https://www.historyandpolicy.org/docs/abortion_act_1967.pdf https://peopleshistorynhs.org/encyclopaedia/birth-control-on-the-nhs/ https://www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/article/141218-birth-control-pill-contraception-science-medicine-ngbooktalk#:~:text=In%20the%201940s%2C%20available%20birth,and%20intrauterine%20devices%20(IUDs).&text=When%20Pincus%20and%20Rock%20first,obtaining%20women%20for%20their%20trials. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2007/sep/12/health.medicineandhealth#:~:text=It%20was%20introduced%20in%20the,ages%20of%2016%20and%2049. https://youtu.be/Wo1tVpaNxmw https://www.basingstokegazette.co.uk/news/16903503.ruth-ellis-basingstoke-connection-last-woman-executed-uk/ https://www.churchannulment.com/blog/a-guide-to-adultery-and-catholic-annulment#:~:text=Wondering%20whether%20you%20can%20get%20a%20Catholic%20annulment%20after%20you,as%20if%20it%20never%20existed. https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/disorders/encephalitis-lethargica#:~:text=The%20cause%20of%20encephalitis%20lethargica,a%20year%20after%20the%20illness. https://www.encephalitis.info/types-of-encephalitis/other/encephalitis-lethargica/#:~:text=Modern%20reports%20suggest%20that%20perhaps,results%20in%20serious%20neurological%20disability. https://www.neurologylive.com/view/encephalitis-lethargica-still-unexplained-sleeping-sickness https://academic.oup.com/brain/article/140/8/2246/3970828 https://www.cairn.info/revue-cahiers-bruxellois-2014-1E-page-93.html#:~:text=In%20total%2C%20an%20estimated%20six,%2D1918%2C%20Bruges%3A%E2%80%A6. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruges https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_invasion_of_Belgium_(1914) https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/refugees-tracing-the-belgian-refugees#:~:text=The%20largest%20influx%20of%20refugees,the%20conflict%20after%20Germany%20invaded. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruth_Ellis https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/mar/12/ruth-ellis-files-bbc-documentary-murder-case-cant-let-go https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/art-and-design/visual-art/ruth-ellis-the-model-who-smiled-at-her-executioner-1.3690704 https://www.capitalpunishmentuk.org/ruth.html https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/weird-news/ruth-ellis-tragedy-little-boy-27590506 https://www.historyextra.com/period/20th-century/ruth-ellis-hanging-capital-punishment-death-penalty/ https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/last-woman-hanged-for-murder-in-great-britain