Blackwall Tunnel Murder .

[PaulineJ]

I'm not saying she's lying; just that she may have been mis-informed.
Why don't you try the "Times" archive (ppv) to try and find something concrete.

http://archive.timesonline.co.uk/tol/searchOnDay.arc

Pauline

[avm228]

Here, at least, is a death of an Isabella of the right age:

Death Mar qtr 1952

Isabella BALLARD aged 65

Lambeth 5c 1337

[casram]

Can't see anything in the Times online archive. I looked through 1951 and 52 no mention of either Isabella Ballard or a murder in the Blackwall Tunnel.

Carolyn

[PaulineJ]

Blackwall tunnel is vehicles-only, barring the service tunnel. Could there be confusion there too?
The foot tunnel(s) nearby seem a more likely venue (Woolwich & Greenwich)

Pauline

[Valda]

Hi

I thought you had established Isabella Ballard married John George Dixon in 1911 and therefore her surname would be Dixon not Ballard?

Why the search for Isabella Ballard deaths?


Regards

Valda

[avm228]

Hi

I thought you had established Isabella Ballard married John George Dixon in 1911 and therefore her surname would be Dixon not Ballard?

Why the search for Isabella Ballard deaths?


Regards

Valda

The seach for Isabella BALLARD deaths arises because she was born DIXON and married Mr BALLARD.


Anna

[avm228]

Blackwall tunnel is vehicles-only, barring the service tunnel. Could there be confusion there too?
The foot tunnel(s) nearby seem a more likely venue (Woolwich & Greenwich)

I had that thought too.

One possible explanation is that a fatal accident (perhaps vehicular) in Blackwall Tunnel became "she was killed" which in turn became "she was murdered" in family folklore.

If the Lambeth death is hers it would suggest she didn't die in the tunnel (the southern part of which is in Greenwich) but it is consistent with a death in (e.g.) St Thomas' Hospital after some incident, accidental or criminal.  Pure speculation, of course...

Anna

[Valda]

Hi

Sorry had lost the plot - a long day yesterday. St Thomas' Hospital is at Westminster Bridge Road so over 5 miles away from the Blackwall Tunnel with the curve in the river Thames (see Google maps). The foot tunnel is slightly closer - Cutty Sark Gardens, but wouldn't Lewisham Hospital be a lot closer - a couple of miles if the incident occurred south of the river? If at the north end of either tunnel you would expect an ambulance to travel to a hospital directly north of the Thames? St Thomas' would be even further away if that was the case.

The death certificate would tell you one way or the other and there aren't going to be many Isabella Ballard deaths of the right age occurring in south London. Big difference though between 1915-1930ish and 1952 which is well within living memory.


Regards

Valda

[avm228]

Hi

Sorry had lost the plot - a long day yesterday. St Thomas' Hospital is at Westminster Bridge Road so over 5 miles away from the Blackwall Tunnel with the curve in the river Thames (see Google maps). The foot tunnel is slightly closer - Cutty Sark Gardens, but wouldn't Lewisham Hospital be a lot closer - a couple of miles if the incident occurred south of the river? If at the north end of either tunnel you would expect an ambulance to travel to a hospital directly north of the Thames? St Thomas' would be even further away if that was the case.

All true!  It would be interesting to find out what's on that death certificate.

Anna