Billingsgate School for Thieves

In 1585 a school for thieves was discovered at Billingsgate, where people, mainly children, were taught how to pickpocket. The pocket was guarded by a bell, and if the pupil wasn't light-fingered enough, the bell would sound. In the 16th century pickpockets were called foysters or nyppers.(nippers).

#Billingsgate #Crime