top of page

Isaac (Ikey) Solomon

1785-1850

New North Road

Ikey Solomon, a notorious receiver of stolen goods, is often now identified as one of the inspirations for the character of Fagin in Dickens’ Oliver Twist.


Solomon was living in lodgings in Lower Queen Street (now Queensbury Road), Canonbury, at the time of his arrest in New North Road in 1827. The police officer who visited his lodgings straight after the arrest found ‘a vast quantity of property, lace, handkerchiefs, veils, Irish linen, a watch, some bobbinet, and a quantity of caps … and a great quantity of Valencia waistcoat pieces … there was a large trunk full; all the articles were new, and might be worth £300 or £400 altogether’. This would be equivalent to perhaps £30,000 today.


Solomon was remanded to Newgate Prison pending his trial at the Court of King’s Bench, which was in Westminster. On the day of the trial, when he and his under-gaoler (misleadingly named Smart) reached Westminster Bridge, they were mobbed. They dived into a pub and had a glass or two of brandy. The next thing Smart knew he was too drunk to control events, and Solomon escaped, assisted by his father-in-law who had been privy to the pre-prepared plan.


Solomon’s wife had already been transported to Van Diemen’s Land, as Tasmania was then known, on similar charges. Solomon now made his way there voluntarily, but was soon tracked down by the authorities and taken back to London to face trial. On conviction, he was sentenced to 14 years transportation. Back to Tasmania he went, where he eventually won his freedom. He ended his days there, feted as a folk-hero for his exceptional derring-do.

Isaac (Ikey) Solomon

CONTACT​

info@jewishislington.co.uk

020 7700 6974

Chabad-Lubavitch of Islington

OUR SPACE

1-3 Elliott’s Place

London N1 8HX

Venue hire

OUR CHARITY

Chabad-Lubavitch of Islington CIO is an independent and registered charity. Registered Charity No. 1164760.

big_edited.jpg

STAY IN TOUCH

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Thank you for signing up to our newsletter. About once a month we will send you an email with all the events and activities happening at Chabad Islington.

The privacy and security of your personal data is important to us. Our Privacy Policy tells you what we do with the information you give us and about your rights, and can be viewed here.

WE ACCEPT

visa-full-color-800x450.jpg
mc_vrt_opt_pos_53_3x.png
AXP_BlueBoxLogo_EXTRALARGEscale_RGB_DIGI
pp-logo-150px.png
bottom of page