The Female Gang Who Took London for All the Riches They Had

The Forty Elephant Gang

Think of London and gangs, and you automatically think of the Krays and Richardsons. Not many would name the Forty Elephant Gang. It is not just their anonymity which makes them unique, but also the fact that they were a gang of women.

Women from the Victorian Era refused to have men control their money; instead, they decided to take matters into their own hands and earn a wage. As far as what they earned, it is safe to say it was a decent wage; regarding how they got their money, it was less than decent.

The gang, which operated out of Southwark’s Elephant and Castle, knew how to use their female charm and innocent looks to their advantage, parting many a gentleman and establishment from their money. The first mention of the gang is in the late 1800s.