583. The Lion, the Priest and the Parlourmaids: A 1930s Sex Scandal

July 16, 2025

Description

Who was the Rector of Stiffkey, Harold Davidson - the "Prostitutes' Padre" - and why was he Britain’s most notorious curate? Was it his unnerving infatuation with girls that saw him put on trial...
Read more here

Books Referenced

The Age of Illusion

Author: Ronald Blythe

Context:

The hosts read from and extensively discuss Ronald Blythe's book, which covers Britain in the 1920s and 1930s, particularly praising the chapter on Harold Davidson as brilliantly funny and witty. Dominic mentions he wrote an introduction for the Folio Society edition about 10 years ago.

The Troublesome Priest

Author: Jonathan Tucker

Context:

Described as one of several excellent biographies of Harold Davidson, written by an author from Norfolk who argues that Davidson has been much maligned.

The Interpretation of Dreams

Author: Sigmund Freud

Context:

Mentioned in passing that Freud loved Blackpool so much that memories of paddling in its waters were included in his book on the interpretation of dreams.