The real Peaky Blinders
Credit : newsteam
The intriguing, thrilling and award winning BBC drama series about Peaky Blinders is a super success. However, this text will leave Tommy Shelby and the boys out for now, and focus on the “real” Peaky Blinders and some facts that differs from one of our favourite series.
Credit : Imdb
The urban street gang was based in Birmingham, England, and operated from the end of the 19th century until the 1920’s. The group, which grew out of the harsh economic deprivations of Britain, consisted mostly of young men (some even as young as 12!) of lower to middle classes. They were also purely a street gang and didn't have the political ambition as Tommy Shelby has in the series. The highly organized gang engaged in robbery, violence, racketeering, illegal bookmaking and the control of gambling for example. Some of the weapons they used ranged from belt buckles, metal-tipped boots, fire irons to canes and knives.
Credit : Imdb
The signature well dressed outfit, worn by members of the gang, included tailored jackets, lapel overcoats, button waistcoats, silk scarves, bell-bottom trousers, leather boots, and peaked flat caps. Because of their distinctive dress, Peaky Blinders was easily recognisable by city inhabitants, law enforcement, and rival gang members. It is somewhat debated if the gangs name, really came from the razor blades in their caps. Some historians suggest that this is most likely a myth, because razor blades were only starting to be used in the 1890s and were extremely expensive at the time. It's more likely that their name came from the peaks of their caps as well as the fact that “blinder'” was slang for their well dressed appearance.
The Peaky Blinders ruled the streets of Birmingham for decades, but by the 1910s they'd lost power to rival gang the Birmingham Boys led by Billy Kimber (seen in season one of the series). Other circumstances that led to Peaky Blinders lost the top spot, were stricter policing and tougher sentencing. Also the fact that children increasingly went to school and learned discipline as well as new boxing clubs opened, gave many young men an alternative to the gang.
Billy Kimber, Credit : Brian McDonald
However, the impact Peaky Blinders had was huge, and it is suggested that the term “Peaky Blinders” came to refer to any street gang in Birmingham. In fact, creator Steven Knight was inspired to write Peaky Blinders because his dad's uncles, the Sheldons, were bookmakers and part of the Peaky Blinders' heritage. We are huge fans of the Peaky Blinders series so we are a bit sad that the next season has been postponed but this story, which the series is based on and really captivates, is fascinating.