Bidwell House Museum Online: 'The Thieves of Threadneedle Street'

Print Story | Email Story
SHEFFIELD, Mass. — Join the Bidwell House Museum on May 21 at 4 p.m. for a talk about the Thieves of Threadneedle Street and learn how two Bidwell brothers perpetrated one of the biggest forgeries in the Bank of England's history. 
 
According to a press release, in 2008, as the world's economies were collapsing, writer Nicholas Booth wondered when the first ever global economic collapse had taken place. It was 1873, and for the author himself, so began a journey which led to his unearthing the true story surrounding something known as "The Great Forgeries Upon The Bank of England." Had the perpetrators been successful, they would have got away with daylight robbery – removing $8 million in today's money by forging documents and impersonating respectable people.
 
At the heart of the story are a branch of the Bidwell family who claimed they could trace their lineage back to the Pilgrim Fathers. And while the two brothers, Austin and George, claimed they were "innocents abroad," they were actually career criminals who had carried out crimes all over the United States. 
 
Booth will tell the full story of the Bidwell brothers and his research in writing "The Thieves of Threadneedle Street," the first full chronicle of an international caper. 
 
Nicholas Booth is a writer and broadcaster who lives in Cheshire, England. After working in newspapers and television, he wrote the book "Zigzag," about the double agent Eddie Chapman, and followed that with "The Thieves of Threadneedle Street."
 
The lecture will be held via Zoom. Registration via the Museum event page is required, https://www.bidwellhousemuseum.org/event/the-thieves-of-threadneedle-street-with-nicholas-booth/
 
Details for how to access the event will be sent via email a few days in advance.
 
 
 
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

GB Public Theater hosts Conversation with Berkshire Theater Artists

GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — Great Barrington Public Theater (GBPT) holds the third in a series of live talks with theater professionals, Monday, March 18, 6:30pm at St, James Place.
 
GB Public Associate Artistic Director Judy Braha sits down with a group of stage artists who reside locally and, often working together, create nationally acclaimed theater right in the Berkshires. 
 
The multi-accomplished group includes Director James Warwick, Playwrights Mark St. Germain and Jessica Provenz; Actor Peggy Pharr Wilson; Costume Designer Brittney Belz; and Lighting Designer Matthew Adelson. 
 
They all work on GBPT productions and with the many other theater companies that call the Berkshires home. The moderated onstage discussion will explore how their combined talents, creative skills, shared aesthetics and industry know-how are brought together to bring passion, tension, themes of comedy and drama to life onstage, and what makes living and working professionally in the Berkshires possible. Their conversation will be followed by an audience Q&A.
 
This is a free live event, with a $10 suggested donation, but space is limited. Reservations can be made now by emailing Tristan.GreatBarringtonPublic@gmail.com
 
View Full Story

More South Berkshire Stories