The Dark and True Story of The Peaky Blinders Gang
Historian Dan Snow heads to Birmingham to discover the true story of the infamous Peaky Blinders gang. Joined by author and local historian Carl Chinn, he sorts the facts about this 19th century gang from the popular myths.
This is the true story of the Peaky Blinders, the criminal gang from Birmingham made famous by a TV show of the same name. But who were the real Peaky Blinders? And how did they get their name?
The true story behind the name Peaky Blinders and the emergence of gangs in Birmingham is explored in this video. Contrary to popular belief, they did not use razor blades in their caps, but instead relied on various items such as boots and belts. The police's ongoing battle with the Peaky Blinders in the 19th century led to stronger policing and initiatives to keep young men from joining gangs.
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Пікірлер: 1 100
I love to see how carl talks about the peaky blinders so passionately it’s inspiring
@josm1481
2 жыл бұрын
There's always something captivating about someone with passion for a subject. He tells a good yarn too.
@praisejesusrepentorlikewis6218
2 жыл бұрын
Repent to Jesus Christ “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” Ephesians 6:11 NIV O
@Crusade6539
2 жыл бұрын
@@praisejesusrepentorlikewis6218 amen, although weird time brother
@rudewallace5410
2 жыл бұрын
Your pretty inspiring yourself
@razworthers_3601
2 жыл бұрын
I enjoy the history of past gangs, but what i notice is how the police force was built to stop these gangs i think we need to look at the passed and copy, to many officers are a total joke, when i was a teen i would laugh at them, most are fat unfit and are just a joke. Having strong fit male and female officers policing on the streets i believe would gain more respect than these out of shaped no good officers that cannot chase down the average criminal on foot.
This should be titled "The True History of the Peaky Fookin Blinders!"
@eniasluis
2 жыл бұрын
@terrancehenry4893
2 жыл бұрын
😂😂😂
@benjaminwalkenhorst235
2 жыл бұрын
Good one!
@whoisjuice875
2 жыл бұрын
Read In Arthur voice 😂😂
@mootongkumeiei8261
2 жыл бұрын
5555555
I love the man's passion in this subject! And how he doesn't glam up his great grand-dad, but states what a horrible person he was.
I wish we could turn back the clock and give Carl a role in Peaky Blinders. Have him play the local constable or something. He deserves it because my god, this is so exceptionally well researched and fascinating history. Carl did incredible work putting all this information together and you can just tell how passionate and interested he is. Brilliant work.
@kennethfordjr4214
2 жыл бұрын
Carl please come to Baltimore
@xploitalpha5907
2 жыл бұрын
Probably wouldn’t be happy with some of the decisions for the show
@chaztower3090
2 жыл бұрын
I mean it’s not too late
@monkeytennis8861
2 жыл бұрын
What are you on about?
@hermanjacobs4425
11 ай бұрын
If Carl were to be given a role in Peaky Blinders, he would be a boxing club owner who allies with the Peaky Blinders, helps train new lads, and bribes the police for Tommy.
"In a society where they have nothing, the street is about all they own" True to this day
@patriciaspaugy9288
Жыл бұрын
He stated at the end, walking the streets free from gangs as he walks right by a spray painted signal on the wall for a drop off. Don't everyone jump on me at once. I was only half kidding.
That's dead coincidental that the historian's name is Carl, his great grandmother was named Ada and that she had loads of brothers just like the characters in the show
@DazaGaming
2 жыл бұрын
Hes the author thats why
@finnmacmanus5723
2 жыл бұрын
@@DazaGaming he had nothing to do with the show
@khalidmohammed4403
2 жыл бұрын
@@DazaGaming he is the author of a different book
@jordanvaughn7614
3 ай бұрын
It literally said he's the author of peaky blinders
@CanisoGaming
3 ай бұрын
Well maybe, just maybe, the show writers did do their research and most probably talked to this guy, which is why the name ada was decided for the sister? 🤔
This man is a treasure! Well-informed, well-spoken and passionate!
@1unsung971
Жыл бұрын
And he's a really nasty bloke. Ask his brother
@ivorjones1540
Жыл бұрын
good series want more like that
I like the way Carl instantely paints a picture of how reprehensible these people really were and doesn't glorify them
@djquinn11
Ай бұрын
Yeah, he deserves a lot of credit for that.
I could listen to Carl tell stories all day, what a wonderful gift to be able to bring history to life so vividly!
As a brummie, I love seeing our streets represented by a true local who knows his stuff
Carl is a very knowledgeable person in this subject, hopefully his accounts of these streets will be remembered and his great history lessons will live on. Many of these young people at this time were later lost in the First World War and that changed many horizons in Britain usually for ever. Another great video by Dan, and another history lesson well given. Thanks for this Dan and Carl.
@jakekonig9664
2 жыл бұрын
4
@jakekonig9664
2 жыл бұрын
P
@praisejesusrepentorlikewis6218
2 жыл бұрын
Repent to Jesus Christ “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” Ephesians 6:11 NIV J
@natecote1971
2 жыл бұрын
Ww2 you mean
@deusvult6920
Жыл бұрын
@@natecote1971 no. The gang issue was mostly taken care of pre ww1 the dude literally says that.
Now there's a man who knows his stuff, what a specialist. I've much respect for anyone with such passion and deep knowledge.
It's great seeing Dan around again, as a kid watching Battlefield Britain on BBC Canada, he was like the older history loving brother I always wished for, I hope his father is still around, they were a great duo
@jgrovess5378
2 жыл бұрын
I used to love that show growing up, the little battle scenes on the board thing they had. Do you remember 20th century battlefields too the other show he did with his dad?
@NjK601
2 жыл бұрын
@@jgrovess5378 The graphical style and little re-enactor videos they did were always memorable, and I did manage to see most of that later, on The Military Channel, Battle Castle was also quite good, though nearly impossible to find these days.
@minaturespook4350
2 жыл бұрын
Do you know where you can find battlefield Britain episodes?
@NjK601
2 жыл бұрын
@@minaturespook4350 kzread.info/head/PLr0ujGB62788p-OX0XuG_BZmq7q2UMxlc
@HistoryHit
2 жыл бұрын
thanks!
i really hate how little the host is impressed with the historian guiding him around.
@michaelsedor6807
Ай бұрын
Some people can’t be happy unless something is making them outraged.
very weird watching this as a University of Birmingham student, recognising these places and knowing I've enjoyed many a pint in the Old Crown. Great doc!
The passion with which Carl narrate the accounts really reflects what a life's work he put in to write his book "Real Peaky Blinders" i reckon it is worth reading.
@praisejesusrepentorlikewis6218
2 жыл бұрын
Repent to Jesus Christ “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” Ephesians 6:11 NIV G
@DA-to6gi
2 жыл бұрын
@@praisejesusrepentorlikewis6218 wrong place for propaganda...
@marmadukescarlet7791
2 жыл бұрын
@@praisejesusrepentorlikewis6218 ye will likewise perish anyways. 🤷🏻♀️
@trevorolearain3394
2 жыл бұрын
@@praisejesusrepentorlikewis6218 hail satan
@Cm-lp4mu
Жыл бұрын
Yeah the guy interviewing could use some passion.
Went on this tour many years back. Carl Chin is a legend on Birmingham’s social history. Found a few dozen copies of his Brummagem knocking around. Fascinating stuff
Both these guys are so authentically passionate about the topic, I love it!
This man is so excited to tell his story of these people..makes you smile just watching him..
what an extremely engaging fellow alongside a fantastic presenter for completely allowing him to tell his side, great story
This guy is brilliant! He is so passionate and eloquent and really knows his subject. I really enjoyed this episode.
I could listen to Carl for ages, i absolutely love how much he knows and how passionate he is!
@1unsung971
Жыл бұрын
He's a really nasty person. Very cruel to his brother
I did the peaky blinders history tour when I went to Birmingham with Carl. It was really good.
I am an archaeologist for the Mexican Government (43 yrs so far), and part of my job is to give tours to many of the highest diplomats from the world over; Presidents, Prime Ministers, Military, Royalty, Clergy of all sorts, etc. It has always been my pleasure to do it, and I must not be too bad at it, or they certainly would have not asked me to do it for decades. But I must say that the gentleman who gave this tour and explanation to the host and film crew is one of the top notch I have ever seen ... Ever! The film crew was excellent, the host was great and did not interrupt him with too many questions; I have been on a number of documentaries and you don't always get that. Outstanding piece of work. What I wouldn't give to spend hours talking to this eloquent gentleman who can still bring everything down to a level that regular folk (like me) can understand. Bravo!!
"By order of the Peaky fookin Blinders"...BEST line EVER!!!
Enjoyed this a lot. Very interesting to learn about the history of the real thing and seeing the actual places. As a big fan of history, this was a really awesome documentary. Thank you for sharing.
My great great uncle was Henry Lightfoot- one of the first men to be named a Peaky Blinder by the press (so I’ve read). Uncle Hen and my son have a very uncanny resemblance to each other! Uncle Hen is who Arthur Shelby’s character is based on! 20:17 is a photo of him
@jmdyt3626
Ай бұрын
That’s so cool,
He tells the story of the Peaky Blinders with such enthusiasm, like a man whose studied them all his life in the hopes that one day someone would ask him about them . . . But no one ever did. Then, one day he gets a call. BY GEORGE! MY TIME HAS COME! THIS IS IT BOYS! THE MOMENT WE'VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR!
@frenchartantiquesparis424
Ай бұрын
LOL.... Truth. Although maybe he had some hand in the making on the TV series.
Brilliant analysis. The best of historical research and interpretation. Carl Chinn provided the historical context which was missing. Excellent!
Wow that story Carl told of the murdered man who got mocked for drinking a nonalcoholic drink is similar to episode 1 of the new series. When Tommy Shelby drinks in the Canadian pub.
Carls passion and knowledge is great to see when talking about the peaky blinders
I've been wondering about the truth behind the show and you deliver it! Thank you
i just recently started watching peaky blinders and this research has really put me into the show more to actually see what times were like in those days
@Heygoodlooking-lk9kg
Ай бұрын
I'm 74, didn't fancy peakys at first but saw a couple of clips on yt, so I got the whole boxed series, love it
I respect the way he's keeping it 100 about his family, no sugar-coating
@1unsung971
Жыл бұрын
He's a mean individual
@beckybliss4394
Жыл бұрын
Wow, it is great to hear from their descendant.
I love how absolutely passionate this man is
I normally never even comment on video's. But i really enjoyed learning about these times, and i could listen to these men for hours!
i enjoyed this more than i thought i would, this is well done!
Nice! Great watch. Question that everyone wants to know though. When is Dan going to bring history hit down here to New Zealand to study and share some of the vast British history and campaigns endured by the empires subjects??. There’s a lot to explore!!
Excellent Post, Thank You for Sharing.
What an awesome video. I love history. It's a great show when the experts and/or historians are allowed to just talk, uninterrupted, and give so much information in a short period of time. No long, drawn out, useless air time. 👍👍
Carl Chinn is such an amazing man. I love listening to him telling us all about more modern history.
American here and that show was one of the best I've ever seen, with excellent acting
Great Video and its good to see Carl, this guy knows his stuff
Really enjoyed this video on the history of gangs a hundred plus years ago. 💪🏻🙏🏻✨
A true historian knows their sources. This dude lives his sources. A bit worship and certainly indicated, but dude knows his sources and lives them. A true historian. Respect. One Love.
Fascinating. Certainly brought us Cillian Murphy-easy on the eyes🤗Always enjoy people who bring history alive with such passion❤️
Dan is such a lovely guy. He rocked up to my dads site on his father in laws estate in Chester out of the blue to check out what was going on at the continuous Neolithic to post Roman occuption site. Not just a presenter, just a real history fanatic. Few and far between.
@godzillas6301
2 жыл бұрын
Mans stuck up his own arse . After his calling everyone who voted for brexit fools he isnt fit for purpose IMO .
@kunakuna8742
2 жыл бұрын
2
@TooLittleInfo
Жыл бұрын
That's awesome, it's great to know that they are real history nerds just like us lol. But tbh I think you can really see it in the way they present the videos too, the way they listen intently and ask questions. I really enjoy this channel bc of that
@davideddy2672
Жыл бұрын
Dan if you do a bit of research …
Carl Chinn! 👍 What a passionate, engaging storyteller! A pleasure to listen to. A very entertaining report, Dan Snow did a great job. I wish the channel continued success. Note from a non-native speaker: You should definitely watch the Peaky Blinders series in the unsynchronized original language. Anything else would be a real loss, even if you don't understand every word, because of the dialect.
@berryreading4809
Жыл бұрын
Given that the time period is totally fictional I'll let the the accents slide... although they should've matched locations... I guess you could blame post war job relocation unless everyone was claiming to be a multi-generation local 🤷♂️ I'm gonna wait and watch it all in one go... But as an ignorant American with only a limited knowledge of regional British/Irish/Scottish (mostly British and still limited) accents I'm sure it won't ruin it for me too bad... Although bad regional British English accents do annoy me worse than poorly done American English region accents 🤣 I'd rather hear a terrible Boston/New York/Southern Georgia accent in a film or show then a poorly done Brummie/Cockney/Welsh portrayal... And I haven't even been to the UK yet! 😂 If it's natural and consistent I can usually stand it, but when it's really out of place it might as well be an American doing a Cockney style accent to represent all of British English 🤦♂️
@mothball5425
6 ай бұрын
@@berryreading4809My family lived in the street by that viaduct in the 1900-1920s. I've not been able to watch PB due to the accents being off 😂 Carl's on the other hand, gives me nostalgia chills for my hometown 😅
Carl gave me a trophy along with the Birmingham mail (local heroes) as a kid. Great guy
Fascinating stuff I remember watching a video with Carl talking about this a year or so back and know this and this is absolutely great thank you for this friends
Really enjoyed watching. Another great Vid, well done 👍
This is so interesting. Thanks Dan. I have only just started watching Peaky Blinders. It’s fantastic. Our family has links to Liverpool through our mother and grandmother. I love the history. Love England. Best regards to you from South Africa.
Well done for resurrecting this channel! fantastic history coverage!
could listen to his stories all day great vid
Loved this. I wanted it to last for hours. Amazing episode
Carl Chinn does AMAZING work in this video. Wonderful!
The brummie legend Carl chinn always great to listen to him a very passionate historian of Birmingham I’ve met him on numerous occasions and he’s always got time to talk to you such a nice guy
I could listen to this wonderful, passionate historian all day, beautifully done, what a lovely, lovely man though!! So informative❤
Fantastic and engaging content, thank you!
Wow, this guy is amazing. One question I really wished Dan would have asked of Carl is what sort of gangs, if any, more closely resembled the fictionalized version of the Peaky Blinders. I know he mentioned there being those who moved into racetrack business, which is something we saw the Blinders be all over in the first couple seasons, but I'd like to know even beyond that. Obviously I don't imagine there were any gangs where their leader rose to the height of being a bloody MP or anything but yeah.
@FanksCast
7 ай бұрын
Yeah that was a bit much with the MP thing ngl
I went to the National Trust Back To Backs Museum on Hurst Street to see how the poor lived in Birmingham's old days. They charge £10 to get in, I didn't have a spare tenner on me, so I couldn't even afford to study poverty.
@moappleseider1699
2 жыл бұрын
Nothings free. Get over it.
@alecmiddleton1842
2 жыл бұрын
@@moappleseider1699 Thank you for the generously free advice :)
@moappleseider1699
2 жыл бұрын
@@alecmiddleton1842 You're welcome lol
@peterlarkin762
2 жыл бұрын
Education should be free, it's part of the reason for slums and gang violence.
@peterlarkin762
2 жыл бұрын
@@moappleseider1699 very grown up.
Amazingly well done and well told! Props to the street artists that hit those walls with their talent too
Here after watching season 6 trailer of Peaky Blinder. Great sharing!
Hell's bells! Wish Carl Chinn had been my history teacher at school! Isn't he great?
Love this guys passion
this is rapidly becoming my fav channel
Dan Snow makes a lovely interviewer. The word 'enabler' (not a word im fond of but descriptive) came to mind. He allows the interviewee to run the show.
@cillianmurphy5939
Жыл бұрын
Hello my dear,how are you😘I would like to use this great opportunity to personally thank you for the love and support,I guess you might be scared or surprised when you first saw my messages on here but trust me your safety matters a lot to me
As an American, can I just say, "Thank goodness for auto-generated closed captions!"
What a fantastic story teller 👍
Fantastic interview!
Carl Chinn is brilliant! This episode is so engaging.
Ive played so many gigs at the Rainbow but never had a clue it was so closely linked to the Peaky Blinders story. Played a fair few at the Wagon and Horses which appears behind them too. So strange how much history is under our noses and we dont even know.
Fantastic stuff. I might live a few thousand kilometres away now but I'll always be a proud to be from Birmingham, a city with such down to earth, but relatable and captivating history. Carl Chinn is a Brummie legend in his own lifetime.
@Leo_de_janeiro
2 жыл бұрын
why went away then
@colintrend4913
2 жыл бұрын
@@Leo_de_janeiro why do you ask?
@HealthWatchDog
2 жыл бұрын
bro if i was u i would permenatly go to that place and smoking like a mad man
@timetraveller3123
2 жыл бұрын
Imagine being proud of being from Birmingham 😅
@colintrend4913
2 жыл бұрын
@@timetraveller3123 must be jealous
The passion of the historian regarding the topic.....wow
absolutely fascinating Dan
As a descendant of a large Black Country family that was known for similar things, it wasn’t just Brum that had gangs back then. The whole of the West Mids like all industrial areas worldwide had similar gangs terrorising people.
@user-vv7cp7ln5d
2 жыл бұрын
ok
@Crusade6539
2 жыл бұрын
As a descendant of a infamous bank robber and bootlegger, this is somewhat true as organized crime sticks to small but industrialized towns to have space between them and the law and later on more bigger cities like Chicago or Kansas.
@Crusade6539
2 жыл бұрын
Or at least back then they did, some gangs purposely start off in county cites for easy influence and territory and spread that way up.
@nigeh5326
2 жыл бұрын
@Nicky L the former it’s a South Staffordshire surname from the medieval period Norman French meaning son of Roger. Why do you ask?
@leggie65
2 жыл бұрын
Glaswegian gangs came down in 1960 many of them descendents of the Billy boys following Rangers v wolves in a euro tie .17 years later they came down to Birmingham to see Rangers v Aston villa these games were well documentated as the villa game was abandoned due to crowd trouble.I never saw season 6 did they kill Moseley and Mcavern i only watched season 5 as it was so weird hearing a song my whole family sang the Billy boys .
Interesting guy. Enjoyed listening to him. 👍
Wish the volume was louder, but great video❤❤❤❤
Loved this!
I was born and raised in Birmingham. I wish we'd been taught about this in school!
Being a fan of the tv show it was interesting to here the history and how much it fits with the show. While the show has changed a lot the story is more authentic than I thought
@kingsaxon
Жыл бұрын
The real Billy Kimbo wiped out the peaky blinders in the 1890s
fantastic video!
Great channel mate! Cheerio!
charming interview with Mr Carl. He has a passion for the material and a family connection. was wonder to watch and listen. you should expand the history on contemporary Birmingham with him. He will sell the show👍👍
@cillianmurphy5939
Жыл бұрын
Hello my dear,how are you😘I would like to use this great opportunity to personally thank you for the love and support,I guess you might be scared or surprised when you first saw my messages on here but trust me your safety matters a lot to me
I love a good read and have only listened to a couple of talking books,but if Carl Chinn hasn't done an edition of his book "The Real Peaky Blinders" then he really should. His passion and skill of verbally telling and selling a story are just brilliant. Really enjoyed this brief watch. 👏👏👏
@Phlowermom
5 ай бұрын
That would be BRILLIANT!!!
Carl is a great story teller!
Wow! Very educational! Thanks!
i already know the story,i went to high school with them,great bunch of blokes
I havent watched PB and I dont know if I will watch series 6. But these bits of real history are fantastic. That Carl really knows his stuff, his enthusiasm is infectious.
@virgoalchemist9235
Жыл бұрын
Watch it now! By order of the Peaky fookin Blinders
@cillianmurphy5939
Жыл бұрын
Hello my dear,how are you😘I would like to use this great opportunity to personally thank you for the love and support,I guess you might be scared or surprised when you first saw my messages on here but trust me your safety matters a lot to me
@helenswan705
Жыл бұрын
@@cillianmurphy5939 i am not your dear . so I do not trust you. try some more flam, see if you can convince me! No doubt you want money but I dont have any, only an overdraft, so you are wasting both your time and mine
@helenswan705
5 ай бұрын
@@youmaycallmeV. there's a lot of it about. I regularly get personal emails from celebrities!!!! usually I don't reply. But sometimes I just get narked.
Carl is awesome. Great video very interesting!
I love passionate people regardless of the category It is something beautiful seeing their minds speak
I would of loved if this man was my history teacher he speaks with passion lol
I was born in the Black Country and was familiar with the word 'blinder' which has a few meanings. It can be referred to a person, as in a dirty blinder, or miscreant, and conversely as playing a blinder, meaning doing something extra special.
@godzillas6301
2 жыл бұрын
blindin ..... as in something thats very good
@markstokes3685
2 жыл бұрын
Or a very good looking girl
@nicolawebb6025
2 жыл бұрын
Also from the Black Country. Thanks for sharing, I hadn't thought of that. You played a right blinder
@hogwashmcturnip8930
2 жыл бұрын
I had never heard Blinder in reference to gangs until I met my father in law. He was born in Ireland in 1912 but was brought to Digbeth by his immigrant parents as a babe in arms. They ended up in Kidderminster working in the carpet factories. He told me about the Peaky Blinders, but Only in regards to football gangs. They put blades (not necessarily Razor blades ) in their caps to use as weapons. Why he has the idea they used them in their caps is odd. I was told by my father in law that it was to smuggle them into the grounds! Or to slash at people .Not from worn! In actual fact the 'Peaky Blinders' were a very small insignificant gang of hoodlums and football thugs. There were many others more significant It was Not a 'catch all' name Remember my father in law was born in 1912. He would have still been a child in the 20s. So Carl's assertion that they did not exist in that time was wrong. In fact I think he is talking about events Before the 'Peaky Blinders' He does have a tendency to change history to suit his agenda.
Fascinating interview.
The street art and graffiti looks amazing. I wish people still had that elegant handwriting font style like those old documents
This channel should have way more views. Nice video along with many others about British history...👍 As ever the greatest crime is the poverty inflicted on them: their reaction is not smart, but they were provoked first and then the organisation of the biggest gang was empowered and supported...even by fellow poor people. Problem, reaction, solution Is today any different? Take a look at London and Birmingham with their gang problems and knife crime.
@moappleseider1699
2 жыл бұрын
Yes, today is very different. With Welfare and government assistance there is no reason for crime. These little thugs you speak of nowadays WANT to be criminals. They think it's cool.
@warped_rider
2 жыл бұрын
@@moappleseider1699 I don't know how it works in England but in the US welfare isn't the cure-all solution you seem to think it is.
@moappleseider1699
2 жыл бұрын
@@warped_rider I never said it was. However, the majority of people on welfare in the US (where I live) aren't really trying to better themselves or get off of welfare. There has to be some sort of personal accountability/responsibility.
@moappleseider1699
2 жыл бұрын
@@warped_rider Also even the poorest people in the US seem to have multiple TV's, cellphone etc so where do their priorities lie?
@HistoryHit
2 жыл бұрын
thanks Marc!
There's no gangs in Birmingham anymore?.....erm 🤔😏
I love this guys beautiful story. A very tough time in any post industrial England and America.
Just listened to Carl’s audio book. Really good read/listen. It’s on Audible
His great great grandmother was named Ada, just like Tommy’s sister Ada Shelby