The Dagenham Murder

On the exact 160th anniversary of the death of PC George Clark at Dagenham, Essex, a book about his unsolved murder has won the CWA Gold Dagger for Fiction and a prize of £2000. The prize is shared between three people: Linda Rhodes, PMCC Member Lee Shelden and Kathryn Abnett. They were presented with their cheques and the dagger by Robert Richardson, CWA chair, on behalf of the membership of the CWA who sponsor this award.

The Dagenham Murder is not published by a mainstream publisher but by the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham. As explained on the Council's website, the book delves into one of the great mysteries of local history, the murder of 20-year-old PC George Clark, who was brutally killed on the night of Monday 29 June 1846. His killers have never been found and there continues to be much speculation about their identity.

This lavishly illustrated book is the first full-length study of a killing that shocked the nation but was to remain unsolved. The authors were all born and bred in the area, and have used original sources to uncover many new facts and insights into this fascinating case. The action of the story ranges from rural Essex to London’s prisons and convict hulks, from the wilds of British Columbia to the Australian goldfields. Along the way we meet a cross-section of the Victorian community, from the monarch herself down to the wretched victims of the "Hungry Forties".

The judges in their comments stated: "This is a definitive account of the notorious murder of a Victorian policeman. Extensively researched and well written."

Featured on page 16 of the book is one of the earliest known pictures of a group of Metropolitan Police Officers. The book also contains 80 other black and white illustrations and photographs along with six colour ones, and a picture of the original poster offering a £100 reward.

The authors

Linda Rhodes (left) was brought up just a stone’s throw from the scene of George Clark’s murder. In 2002 she gave a series of talks on the case, which eventually led to the writing of this book. Linda is currently Local Studies librarian for Barking & Dagenham.

Lee Shelden (centre) also lived near Clark’s beat as a child. He has long been regarded as the authority on the George Clark case, and is acknowledged as such in the Official encyclopaedia of Scotland Yard. Lee was also the driving force behind the events commemorating the 150th anniversary of the murder in 1996. He is a member of the PMCC.

Kathryn Abnett (right) is the daughter of a Police Officer. Her family have lived in Dagenham for over 200 years. She has contributed to several publications on the history of Barking & Dagenham.

Copies of the book can be ordered from Lee Shelden, cost £9.99 plus postage, email: lee.shelden@btinternet.com