The “Littlehampton letters” refer to a real-life historical event that involved a series of obscene letters sent to residents of the English seaside town of Littlehampton in the 1920s.
Here’s a breakdown of the key points:
* **Targets:** The letters were sent to various residents, including a conservative local named Edith Swan.
* **Content:** The letters were filled with offensive and vulgar language.
* **Suspect:** Suspicion initially fell on a rowdy Irish migrant named Rose Gooding, who was not well-liked by some in the town.
* **Investigation:** The townswomen, including the targeted Edith Swan, suspected something was amiss and decided to investigate themselves.
* **Twist:** Police Officer Gladys Moss eventually discovered that the real culprit was none other than Edith Swan herself! She was trying to frame Rose Gooding.
* **Outcome:** Both Edith Swan and Rose Gooding were ultimately charged and convicted. Swan received a harsher sentence of 12 months’ imprisonment with hard labor.
The “Littlehampton letters” case became a national sensation and is remembered for its unexpected twists and exploration of social tensions in the town.
Here are some resources if you’d like to learn more:
* **Wikipedia:** [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Littlehampton](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Littlehampton) (This source may be restricted depending on your location)
* **Findmypast Blog:** [https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-11326785/The-shocking-true-story-Olivia-Colmans-new-film-Wicked-Little-Letters-revealed.html](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-11326785/The-shocking-true-story-Olivia-Colmans-new-film-Wicked-Little-Letters-revealed.html)
* **IMDB – Wicked Little Letters:** [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt20234774/](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt20234774/) (This is a movie based on the event)