The Ratcliff Highway Murders Timothy Marr ran a draper’s shop on what was known in the 1800s as Ratcliffe Highway, one of the three main roads leaving the city of London. This area was rundown and dangerous, with dark alleys and dilapidated tenements. Marr lived above his shop with his young wife, Celia, and their 14-month-old son, also Timothy. Marr employed an apprentice, James Gowan, who also lived with them along with Jewell, a servant girl. On December 7, a cold Saturday night in 1811, just before midnight, Marr sent Jewell to pay the baker’s bill and buy some oysters while they closed up shop. Jewell found the oyster seller closed for the night, so she went on to another shop, and on finding that one also closed, she made her way to the bakery. Passing her employer's shop, she saw Marr through the window preparing to close up for the night. On her return from the bakery at twenty minutes after midnight, Jewell found the shop dark and closed. Banging on the door, she heard the