How the Dreadful Murder of Ellen Wooldridge Inspired the 'Ballad of Reading Gaol' 

Domestic violence has nothing to do with love but everything to do with control.

Charles Wooldridge clearly didn’t love his wife. He just wanted to own her. Just like all those other despicable men who murdered their wife because she rejected him.

Constantly accusing her of having affairs? I bet HE was the one doing that.

Very sad story, we hear time and again. Domestic violence is still a huge issue now. Although it is frustrating that the jury felt that he was provoked in to killing his poor wife when it was all in his own head.

I like the way you say "take care" at the end of each video as if some horrible misfortune might befall me at any moment.

Ellen had been _"carrying on a fine game"_ ???? I am glad the judge saw that as no excuse to murder her! 😱 Thank you for the fascinating vids, Paul.. always a special treat seeing you out and about on location and relating these harrowing tales in your usual compassionate way (and with that lovely Scottish lilt 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿)

"For each man kills the thing he loves, Yet each man does not die" I've always loved Oscar Wilde( to the point I had a Gray cat named Dorian) and this line from Reading Gaol is one of my favorites of all time for how true it is of life. While the story which lead to the piece being written is grim, I'm glad you were able to bring attention to Reading Gaol as its an amazing work. But also damn it - as I am now falling into a rabbit hole looking into other Ballads I love like that of Fat Madge by Francois Villon and see what I can find on the people it was written about. Guess I have a new hobby lol.

The man was seriously unstable and his jealousy was unfounded and out of control.And she paid the undeserved price for that.I love how you take us to the actual site,it's so interesting! And you are so dapper in your cap and so intelligent..I just love every video!Thank you for all you do!

You come across as that college professor that completely captivates students' attention. I absolutely adore it. Anytime anyone mentions they like true crime type stories my first response is typically "how about slightly older stories...?" And if I get a yes, your channel is the first recommendation every time!

My new favorite history channel. I hop you grow a lot with time. You sure deserve so many more followers. At least 1M!

Please don't ever stop doing what you're doing. Absolutely love your presentation of each story and just everything about it. You're perfect for it and I'm always looking forward to your next upload that will make me say: :" Well, I never. " Much love and take care.

These videos always make me feel like I'm back in school again, but not in one of the classes I struggled in, but the one that made me stay after hours to talk to the teacher for a while.

Another sad story told in a wonderful way! It’s terrible that Oscar Wilde was in prison but he did write some wonderful stories due to his unfair treatment 🥲 Dorian Grey is one of my favourites 💕

'Tis a shame that even today "killing your love by sword" is considered brave by many. I think it's the most cowardly.

This story is so sad to hear. Domestic violence is horrible all over the world. I'm glad that the law takes it more serious now than before. I grew up in a home that a monster was beating our mom up. If we tried to intervene, he would beat us for that. Here in Oregon where I'm from when the cops are called in and they see a mark on the person that was injured they automatic arrest the abuser. I'm new to your channel and so far, I love your history from the past. Thank you and take care.

Your narrations are so cool and makes me wanna watch more

Poor Ellen. All she wanted was a DVPO before they even had DVPOs because victim shaming was such a thing in her day (it still is) and she just wanted to keep herself safe and her life as normal as humanly possible dealing with a complete controlling psycho. I've dealt with it too. It's just sad she had to go through that when there wasn't much she could do at all to protect herself and she had to deal with his abuse and finally being killed. Some things have changed since then but it's sad because there is still so much more awareness needed for domestic violence victims. I feel so much pain for this poor woman.

How are you not more popular? Your videos are extremely put together and very interesting to listen to. Some of these stories I've never heard of, so you shining some light on them is very respectful.

Greetings from Italy to Paul and _Well I Never_ fam. Really looking forward to this and already hit the like.. 👍🙋🏻‍♀️🇮🇹 This channel makes my day!

I just want to thank you so much for your videos. I've been recommending you to everyone. You deliver your stories eloquently and with an elegant and intellectual finesse that makes your videos absolutely enchanting to watch. I wish you all the luck in the world at the YT side of things, you're absolutely delightful.

Oscar...the best writer, playwright ever. If children were in the same gaol as him for poaching rabbits, he would pay their fines. The most humane, sensitive and talented person ever to be in jail. RIP.

Every time that I sit and listen to the wonderful narrator of Well, I Never, I shake my head in disbelief that there aren't millions of subscribers here. A great voice and interesting stories! Thank you!

I love these little lesser known glimpses of the past you share. You have a great ability to paint a story with narration and piecing together images of then and now. I have no doubt your channel will keep growing!

Greetings from Australia! 🇦🇺 Such a huge fan, so glad this popped up!

Kind of repulsive that Wilde should dedicate his most famous poem to a brutal murderer.

Not sure if the judge was always this with it. But lets at least put our hands together for this judge on this occasions. That he didn't have the same vile mindset as her husband. 24 and killed for nothing more then being human. Not even a bad one.

"For each man kills the thing he loves, yet each man does not die" Yeah, lol cuz it's usually the woman who dies Domestic violence in a nutshell.

Sir, you are an amazing storyteller. No sugarcoating, no exaggeration, just simply telling facts as it is. I just finished watching all the videos here, and will binge watch on Well, I Never Stars while waiting for a new video. And thank you for always looking so dapper.

Just finished binge-watching all the videos of this hidden gem of a channel. Fascinating stuff.

A story seen time and time again in my Country. So sad that things haven´t changed in so many years. Greetings from San Andres Island, in the Colombian caribbean. I Love this Channel. Wonderful narration and stories.

So happy this popped up, thank you 💕🇬🇧👍

Great presentation and looking good too. Thanks for posting.☮️

Excellent telling of a sad, tragic 😥 story. Thank you, "Well I Never" for sharing it with us!

Hello from Oregon, US! I hope you're doing well, and I love your respectful way of telling these stories.

I'm pretty sure people have said this many a time, but the amount of dedication, time and research you put into every video is absolutely astounding! Whether by single handedly or with a whole team, this series is better than anything out there on the history channel. Bravo!

You’re such a breath of fresh air on this platform. Every video feels so polished and…kinda posh. This is a velvet-upholstered video. Thanks for the effort.

Great episode! So sorry Wilde was made to do hard labor, ruining his health & robbing the world of such a gifted writer.

I first read the poem when I was in high school. I had no idea that it was true!

I actually love this channel. Its criminal that I've not discovered it sooner.

Your videos are such impeccable quality especially with the beautiful on location shots that I sometimes forget I’m watching a RU-vid video rather than a BBC or PBS history special that’s been uploaded to RU-vid.

Hello from Aus! Love watching your videos, I clicked as soon as I saw the notification!

Thank you for bringing this to my attention. You are telling this with such a kind and caring voice

I love the calm, quiet way you tell these stories and the old world vibe you and your setting give off. Love listening to you!

I'm glad I found this channel, thank you for sharing the horrors of history 👍🏿

Fascinating how the two stories tie together. Great, thank you!

Another excellent video!👍

Thank you for filling in so many details of the murder of my relative. I knew many of them but certainly not all. Paul Glendell

Another great tail told, thanks again 👍💯💥🇬🇧🆘 as long as your there for us, we'll be here for you🙏😁🗣️🌟

"Now, he was pleading for forgiveness. And, believing him to be truthful, she let him in" Ellen NO for God's sake

Oh love this channel, I could listen to you tell these stories all day..thanks for the awesome channel and great stories ❤️

Brief Case...Absolute Oddities..Unforgtten Lives..now you. Wow🔥. Love this. Great narration. Pleasant voice. Ty. 💎Mimi in Texas💞.

Love you Paul. 🌷 Another awesome story. Thank you for all your hard work to entertain and educate us. 😊 I look forward to more.

Great video thank you for posting, keep up the good work.

That judge saw through the, "Blame the victim, gambit." In Canada you can still use that as an actual defense. I don't think it works much. The Oscar Wilde thing is so crazy. Obviously the law, but aside from that, if he wanted to fight against the law, okay, but fight simply clear his name? His homosexuality was not some great secret for heaven's sake.. He should have laid low for a little bit maybe. He was the one who pushed for a trial. How hard would it be to find some young men to say they say they witnessed "Chicanery?" a few bucks, that's how hard I'm guessing. Real participants would probably be afraid to come forward. IDK And hey finally took sodomy out of the DSM in the 70s. In texas some years ago a couple was sentenced to something like 10 years for the deed. Sorry to go on, I get riled. Lol Love your videos. Great work, research, subjects and obviously delivery. 🌻🌻🌻

Love your channel so much!!! You’re the best kind of fella💜

Thank you for your research and stories. I love your channel

Love your storytelling and historical content!

Oh, I used to hang out in Forburry gardens. Thanks for the story. I love the way you visit these places.

The amount of work you do for these vids is amazing. You look like you come from that era. Addictive videos 👋🇮🇪

I absolutely love your videos..your wonderful voice is so soothing and these videos are so sad...keep it up..I'm waiting for your next one...

Another fantastic video! Big fan of your channel 💕

Just found your channel. Yes,yes,yes! Just what I've been hoping for. Your content, commentary, visual choices,and of course your voice is a treat. Hope your channel is a great success. I'm looking forward to many nights of falling asleep to the sound of your soothing voice. Lol. That sounds creepy. But true. I enjoy history,the weird,the unexplained, paranormal,true crime,and all the wonders of the natural world. So I believe this channel will satisfy my odd mind. Well, I never thought I'd be getting such a pleasant viewing. Thanks. And keep em coming.

I love that you go out on location. Adds so much.

Another excellent presentation. Thank you.

You're well on your way to big success. I love the production and formatting of your videos. and I have already recommended you to my friends.

Wow, I’m early for once ! Nothing like a good murder story while I get ready in the morning

Absolutely love your videos and look forward to them each week,i also live in Reading too so i found this video extra interesting 👌

New 2 your channel, and am absolutely thrilled! I find your topics riveting and could listen to u all day. I especially enjoy how respectable u r of the victims, not like some other channels that sound like cheap gossip. Well done, sir. Big fan😁👍

I LOVE your canal Channel! Keep up the great vids! 💗 Watching from Rockford, IL USA

I stumbled across your channel, upon watching the episode on Fanny Adams. I throughly enjoy your channel! Wishing you all the best and much success! 💚

Phenomenal yet again. You never fail to keep my interest

Paul, I continue to be impressed and amazed at the quality of your content and videos :) Keep up the great work!!!!

Never heard this story before. Thank you for telling her story!!

I really enjoyed this video! Definitely intriguing!! Much respect from Canada! 👍🏾

You are a great storyteller that truly holds an audience. A fan and new subscriber!

Thank you so much for showing us the places ♡

I really love your channel might you cover south African farm murders since I'm south African and I live on a farm and my grandmother's sister was sadly killed a very long time ago I don't know much about the murder and it would be interesting if you could cover the topic of farm murders hope your channel does well!

Very interesting and well done 💯 I will watch older videos immediately! You deserve millions of followers😮

Love your channel. One of my favourite poems is Ballad of Reading Gaol. Oscar Wilde is a kindred spirit. Thank you. Love from Australia. 🇦🇺❤️✌️ As Oscar said in his poem, “I never saw a man who looked so wistfully at the day.” 🥺

What a wonderful orator of such fascinating and knowledgeable stories. I love this channel

Hello from Portugal 🇵🇹 maybe the best video so far. Congratulations on the excelent work.

To read a poem aloud near where it was written would of been an honour! I love your videos keep up the good work .

Okay, I've binged every video. These are great! I'mma need you to post more, faster! ;) Seriously...thank you. Loving these. ...only kinda kidding about the more, faster part. ;)

Thank you for all these hidden stories that I would have never known about. You're awesome and I appreciate the research you must have to do for them.

I absolutely love this channel!

Hey, my best friend did her family ancestry a few years ago and found out she is closely related to Ellen and Charles. I've sent this to her, hopefully she knows more info about the family!

Another excellent story! Thank you sir, and thank you for showing us the beautiful places in England.

Very interesting and well executed, no pun intended. I look forward to more

I was very impressed by your thoroughness about the crime and about Oscar Wilde. I've shared your video with my daughter, who is an Oscar Wilde enthusiast.

Another awesome video, love your channel

I really like Mr. Brodie and all his videos. Almost everything is new for me and is a delight to learn from his work. Thank you!! Greetings from Costa Rica 🇨🇷

Hi I am new to your channel can I say that I absolutely love it your narration is amazing great case also wishing you all the best

This is a really sad story about why restraining orders can sometimes backfire. But it's a good thing for people to learn from when deciding if they should put one out or not. His commanding officer could have sent literally anyone else to give her the paperwork.

Hearing of Wilde's sympathy for Wooldridge makes me less angry at his stay in prison.

Such a wonderful video! Thank you.

He was 'provoked' to kill his wife? Really?

I love how you tell a story!

So happy I fell upon this channel!

Brilliant narration. ❤️

I really enjoy your video's and have subscribed. Your voice and way dressing make it very pleasant to listen to and watch. Your research is excellent. Thank you for your time and giving me pleasure.