Your Stories

Lincoln Castle Prison

Kelvin Pickford, volunteer at Lincoln Castle, shares some of his favourite vistas of Lincoln Prison on a sunny, Spring afternoon. Lincoln Castle was used as a gaol from early times. In 1788, a county gaol was constructed in the Castle…

Cranford’s Village Lock-up

Paige Chaplin from Heritage of London Trust, reveals the story behind the restoration of a rare historical monument in 21st century London. Cranford’s village lock-up housed many criminals before the area gained a police force. Located just off the old…

Phrases and sayings – from Prison History Part 2

Thanks to local historian and regular Prison History contributor, Rob Keep, we have some more phrases and sayings from prison history to share: 1. Go West Tyburn was west of Newgate Prison, and prisoners taking the journey to the gallows…

Phrases and sayings – from prison history

Ever wondered where the phrases and sayings we use in everyday conversation come from? Well, at least some have their origins in prison history! Andy Griffin treats us to a description of a few – can you think of any…

Unidentified prison – Can you help?

Can you help us to identify this prison? A correspondent from Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, recently got in touch to ask for our help in identifying a prison which appears in a stained glass window in his church, St Peter’s Episcopal. The…

Prisoners at Horsemonger Lane Gaol

A scandalous affair! Local historian and author, Chris Hicks, tells us about some of the earliest prisoners at Horsemonger Lane Gaol. One early occupant of Horsemonger Lane Gaol was one Richard Vining Perry together with his pregnant wife and her…

Kirkdale House of Correction

Local historian, Rob Keep, tells us some interesting facts about the the Kirkdale House of Correction. This House of Correction was built in conjunction as many were, with a Sessions House, which opened in 1821, and where the Quarter Sessions…

Wymondham Heritage Museum

Neil Haverson, one of the curators at the Wymondham Heritage Museum, tells us the fascinating history of this former county Bridewell and police station. The first Bridewell in the market town of Wymondham, dates from 1619 when the basement of…

Middlewich House of Correction

Local historian Rob Keep tells us more about the Middlewich House of Correction in Cheshire. As shown in a local history plaque, on Queen Street, the original House of Correction was built in the 1630s, on the site of the…

Lock-ups in Tring, Hertfordshire

Opened in January 1914, Tring Police Station is the oldest station still in use in Hertfordshire. Shelley Savage, from the Tring & District Local History & Museum Society, gives us a tour ‘behind the blue door’, and tells us the…