Rillington Place: anyone watching?

It was only in the nineties marital rape become a crime

I don't think the police had power to take any action in 'domestic incidents' in those days - it was the same in the 70s as well. Not sure when the law was changed.

Well here's a true story for 1968 I was in an abusive relationship and a neighbour called the police knowing I was being hurt The police arrived and knocked on the door he answered and told them to go away they continued knocking but said they could not come in unless he invited them to and of course he didn't and wouldn't They did talk to them through the closed door and he assured them I was ok and they left
I didn't press any charges as I was afraid of repercussions and for my children's safety I also totally blamed myself for not 'handling' things right and for 'making him so angry that he had to hit me'
I became a strong woman after I eventually left with my children and little else, 3 goldfish in a bucket and some of the kids toys and clothes

But even by1968 women's lives were not deemed that important

Ana in 1970 DH had to get his father to be a guarantor for him to open an account with John Collier (The window to watch wasn't it?) never mind me as a mere woman trying to do anything! On the other hand basing our mortgage on his income only meant we could afford the repayments.

I find that incredible, Yorkshiregel (about the car!). I had no problems in the 80s obtaining a mortgage etc. in my own name as a divorced woman. Certainly nothing was assumed to be in my former husband's name.

So funny Tricia

Nothing to do with the TV programme,except that this is what it was like in the 50-60s, in all social classes:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=LS37SNYjg8w

DeeDaa you are so right. Women had no rights to speak of in those days...they had to have a man in the background all the time, even to open their own bank account ..but it wasn't just confined to the 50s60s. I remember buying my own car, paying for the petrol and maintenance, tax and insurance and yet when I took it to a garage to have minor repairs done the invoice was made out in my husband's name. I told them in no uncertain terms I would not pay the bill unless they altered the name at the top to mine, which they very reluctantly agreed to do after a long discussion. That was in the 1980s!

Was it really so grim in the 50s? I expect inner cities are all the same. I was brought up in Yorkshire and though we were rationed and not well off, Dad was away and Mum left to carry on alone, I do not remember being cold/hungry/badly dressed/or living in a hovel. We spent most of the day outside playing with our mates and came in to hot heart warming stew and something to watch on our 9" tv.

I thought Crispie was the most creepy man you could ever meet and there is no way I would have wanted to share a house with him. In those days fights between married people were called 'domestics' and the police kept well clear. I think Mrs Crispie should have let him rot in jail and think herself lucky.

I think life was difficult for women on their own. They needed a man to vouch for them in so many things.

Wasn't it awful watching everyone on the court being so nice to Mr Christie the "War Hero"? A young chap from Wales with a bit of a drink problem wouldn't stand a chance with them.

Not too easy to walk away after thirty years of marriage when so dependant on the husband . Woman stay in marriages even if battered

I thought it was very well acted. I think even Christie thought admitting to murder of a baby was beyond the pale.
I could not understand why his wife went back to him after he had tried to strangle her the first time. She had a job and was clearly able to support herself.

Auntieflo Their living conditions were appalling
A dam sight better than mine were.

Yes wot told me, my copy is signed by Kennedy ! It is a very good book, pity it isn't available - at a sensible price

ab it's on Amazon-at a price.

Kennedy exposed the part the police played in this case, the drama concentrated on Christie and his deeds , pity Kennedy's book is no longer available

Enjoyed this drama, but found the sound quality trying. I put subtitles on for one episode. I know Christie had a damaged voice, but Ethel also spoke quietly for the most part, and it didn't help that Christie had his head down for a good deal of the time. Their living conditions were apalling.

It was really very good wasn't it, excellent acting by all concerned, the poor bewildered Timothy, and the eerily watchable Christie, the tension was there throughout. Enjoyed.

Yes I agree Nelliemoser, women were still quite subservient even then and she seemed in thrall to Christie.
It was very well done, Tim Roth underplayed excellently.

Wot I imagine she was stuck with him because she was a working class woman of her generation and had no financial independence.

AjayF Unfortunately radio and television scripts are full of these verbal anachronisms these days. Some Edwardian WW1 drama had someone being taken to A/E. Appallingly lazy script writing. A rant for another day there.

The conviction was never quashed because it was never certain that Evans didn't kill the baby. (according to Wiki).

Yes to the lack of music. Very suspenseful without it.

Perhaps admitting to the murder of the baby was a step too far even for Christie? Or maybe he wanted to leave enough doubt that people would continue to believe Evans was responsible?

I thought it was excellently done. Wonder why the conviction was never quashed? Wasn't it Ludovic Kennedy who fought to get Timothy Evans a pardon? Why did he need to fight, surely it was obvious by then that Timothy Evans was innocent.

I agree, no music made it more chilling

I read today , the brother of Beryl Evans wants her body to be exhumed
so he can be buried with her , she is buried in a RC cemetery and he wants them buried together in a .jewish cemetery

Well she paid the ultimate price for keeping her mouth shut didn't she ? Very good docu/drama