The gaolers received a set fee per mile for each prisoner, no matter how many convicts they took at a time, and could make a good profit by conveying prisoners in groups. The most famous trial and detention in the castles history is that of the Pendle Witches. His was a considered and even-hand appraisal, which luckily still exists. In a time of civilunrest, what we would now recognise as political prisoners were held at the castle. Faraday went on ahead of the constable and spotted the McKeans trudging along the road to Appleby. Joseph Gandy, whohad provided the interior decoration for the court and hall, returned in 1821 to construct something much more grim: a panoptican prison for women. [38][39], A large-scale refurbishment of the castle has been underway since 2011. [43][44][45], The keep is the oldest part of the castle. The scene inside the pub was one of carnage. Improvements were also made to sanitation; in the 18thcentury more people died from gaol fever than by hanging. Just then the maid appeared and Mrs Bleares told her to fetch a candle and show the men where they were to sleep. Ten people convicted of witchcraft at the Summer Assize in Lancaster Castle went to the gallows on the moors above the town. On March 25th 1865 Stephen Burke was hanged for the murder of his wife, this was the last public execution at the Castle. When new gaoler John Higgin started in 1785 he received an annual salary of 200 guineas , in compensation for being no longer allowed to collect fees from debtors (as part of John Howards reforms). From 1833 to 1862 Captain James Hansbrow was Governor of the Castle, and he frequently received letters addressed to debtors, c/o Hansbrows Hotel- giving us a clue about the conditions that existed with the building, for some of the inmates at least. Though the region was generally peaceful, the Scots invaded in 1322 and 1389, reaching Lancaster and damaging the castle. Borstal Prison, later Borstal Institution (Young Offenders) Canterbury, County Gaol 1808 Chatham Convict Prison 1853 Maidstone, County Gaol 1817 Rochester Convict Prison, now a Prison for Women 1873 Lancashire Lancaster Castle 17 th C; Liverpool City Gaol 1854 Manchester, County Gaol 1869 Preston, County Gaol 1799 Strangeways (Manchester) Prison David made a dramatic plea to the court that the evidence against them had been falsified, that witnesses had lied and that he and the others were innocent. This consists of a metal holdfast designed to immobilise the wrist and fingers, whilst a red-hot branding iron embossed with the letter M was applied to the brawn of the thumb. The Honour changed hands several times. A more serious class of convict started to be housed at Lancaster in Georgian times felons. By the time it was over thirty seven of those accused had been sentenced to death, although only eleven of those sentences were actually carried out. They weredreadfully dejected, and hung down their heads in the deepest despondency, while their pale and haggard looks told a horrible tale of what passed within.. Before the introduction of the Borstal System, children were regularly imprisoned alongside adult offenders. One of the four was allowed five minutes ofrecuperationwhile the others turned the wheel. The castle was first used as a prison in 1196 although this aspect became more important during the English Civil War. Throughout its life as a prison, Lancaster Castle has often been viewed as an extremely well-run and humane establishment. Includes the Shire Hall and courtrooms. Insolvent debtors were required to work within the prison and, in return, received, 3ozs bread and 4ozs oatmeal daily, and 1oz salt and 10lb potatoes weekly. The first man, who was in fact Michael McKean, affected not to know his brother and they did not speak to each other until Mrs Bleares had left the room. It became the rule that before a prisoner was tried he was required to raise his hand so that it could be seen whether he bore the brand mark and was therefore a previous offender. He told them of his future plans and invited them both to stay the night. George and Elizabeth Youngson were Lancaster's youngest convict transportees to Australia, for the crime of theft. 213 people Between 1800 and 1865, a total of 213 people were executed at Lancaster Castle Six men were hanged in private between 1875 and 1910. Who was the last person to hang in England? The earliest standing fabric of the Castle is found in the Norman Keep, built in about 1150. The Reverend Joseph Rowley, prison chaplain for fifty four years, attended 168 executions. There were two other patrons in the bar until about eleven. He was hung, drawn and quartered, and part of his body exposed on top of the John O Gaunt Gateway. It was all to no avail. RM EPHG7C - Inside a cell at Lancaster Prison, part of the Castle in the city of Lancaster, England. The Pendle Witches were tried there in 1612, while other famous prisoners. Why attack her while leaving Joseph, albeit asleep, in the bar? The jury retired and after five minutes returned with a guilty verdict on both brothers. It was not to see military action again until the English Civil War. Title: High Sheriff of Lancaster Name: Nicholas le Botelier, Earl of Chester's man Herald date: 1197-1199 Azure, a bend between six garbs Or Title: High Sheriff of Lancaster Name: Stephen de Turneham, the King's Marshal Herald date: 1199 Gules, a lion passant Or between two Mascles Argent Separate prisons were built for men and women. An inquest was held at the Jolly Carter at four oclock the next afternoon and a verdict of Wilful Murder was returned. However the cells were used to hold German prisoners during the first world war. A prison cell in Lancaster Castle. [27] The late-18th- to early-19th-century Shire Hall next to the keep is a large ten-side room. The Lancaster Martyrs: During this period of history fifteen Catholics were executed in Lancaster for their faith. The Norman . It is well worth walking around the exterior (at any time) and also the interior courtyard (during opening times) to see the various remaining Medieval buildings and Georgian and Victorian prisons. 4 What is When Was The Last Execution At Lancaster Castle? The last execution (of Thomas Rawcliffe, murderer) at Lancaster took place in 1910. King James I Conspiracy and Witchcraft Accusations. The final prosecution witness was the man James snr had shared a cell with, and to whom he supposedly confessed. [27] In 1802 the castle received more funding and Joseph Gandy was commissioned to complete the interiors of the Shire Hall and Crown Court. This, coupled with the fact that in 1604 the Witchcraft Act of Parliament had been passed under King James, meant that the accused were ina very serious trouble. Alexander was very anxious to speak to the landlord. England. This is partly because until 1835 Lancaster Castle was the only Assize Court in the entire county and covered rapidly growing industrial centres including Manchester and Liverpool. Todays title of Justice of the Peace dates back to 1361, to the reign of Edward III, and JPs still retain and use some of the powers conferred on them at that time to bind over unruly persons to be of good behaviour. Self-procalimed 'King of the Robbers' George Lyon was not quite the romantic figure that local legend would have us believe. As many as eight or nine condemned prisoners and their coffins would be carried in the bottom of a cart. Our guided tours unlock the fascinating, and often macabre, heritage of this imposing and historically significant monument. Read More On hearing her voice William Higgins chased after her and together they roused the neighbourhood. Life, harsh as it undoubtedly was for inmates, was often made bearable by the enlightened thinking of the various Governors of the prison. Terrified, the boy rushed past him, vaulted over the banister and, evading the arms of Michael McKean who was waiting at the foot of the stairs, headed outside, and ran away to hide in a ditch.Downstairs, Mrs Bleares, who was sitting in the bar with her sleeping husband, heard Betty scream and immediately took a candle and went into the hall, where she was confronted by Michael McKean. [33] The prison closure was confirmed for March 2011. Mr and Mrs Littlewood, as was their custom, left early for their shop in Manchester, leaving the two servants alone in the house. (See our page on Broughton Tower for a story of another one of the priests who was put on trialat Lancaster here). Its latest incarnation was as HMP Lancaster, a Category C prison which was operational on this site right up until March 2011. A lot of the evidence hinged around the shutters on the kitchen window. Faraday had both men bound. However, Alexander managed to get free of his captors and tried to make a run for it. [49] Two semi-octagonal towers flank a passageway protected by a portcullis. Accompanying the proclamation was the promise of a reward of fifty guineas, raised by the inhabitants of Winton, for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the perpetrators of what was fast becoming a notorious crime.But what of the brothers? [8], On the death of HenryII, the Honour passed to his son, Richard the Lionheart, who gave it to his brother, Prince John, in the hope of securing his loyalty. The turnkey (prison officer) in charge of the wheelhouse was in full control and shouted out his orders each time the wheelhouse clock chimed the five-minute interval. The pub was at Winton, a small village on the road to Manchester, just outside Patricroft Bridge. On Wednesday 26th April, the tours will consist of the courtyards only as A-Wing is being used for a private event. They enjoyed considerably more freedom than the felons, being able to use the courtyard in good weather or stay in their rooms if they so chose. [19] County gaols, such as this one, were intended to hold prisoners for short periods immediately before trial. A new Crown Court and Shire Hall were also added in the same decade. [7], Roger de Poitou fled England in 1102 after participating in a failed rebellion against the new king, HenryI. About 1260 Dominican friars came to Lancaster and founded a friary east of the town roughly where Dalton Square is today. Faraday was able to avoid the attack, and with help from one of the men was able to finally subdue Michael as well, but not before Michael had bitten him in the hand and fought and kicked like a maniac in his efforts to escape. [12], In 1554, the martyr George Marsh was held at the castle before standing trial at Chester Cathedral. [13] Lancaster was one such castle. The landlord of the Jolly Carter was Mr Joseph Blears, who ran the establishment with his wife Martha. [20] The notorious Pendle witches trial took place at Lancaster Castle in 1612. Lancaster Gaol housed one of the largest Debtor's prisons in The tower was, however, built in the early 13th century, probably during the reign of King John. He offered him a drink, saying that it was a hot day and that he looked tired. [53] However, it is unclear where the wall would have been. On the 8th the area around Hanging Corner was thronged with people. Research Report 35/2016", "Atkinsons make a move into Lancaster Castle - North West FDMB", "Lancaster Castle Restored and Re-Opened! England. This course takes an innovative approach to exploring history, focusing on Lancaster Castle as a microcosm of broader trends. On the day of the murders Holden had paid a visit to the barber, while Hannah herself was described as looking spruce. Questions were repeatedly asked as to whether Hannah was seeing a man, to which Littlewood always replied that she wasnt, but much was made of her beauty, and if Holden and she were involved a lot might be explained about the various sightings on the day of the murders. The events that brought the two men to trial and execution took place at the Jolly Carter public house on the evening of May 22nd 1826. An interesting relic of this age is the branding iron in the dock. RM HH70K7 - Henry V (1386 - 1422) was King of England from 1413 until his death at the age of 36 in 1422. His efforts to instigate reform led to prisoners in gaols throughout the country being separated by gender and category of their crime. There is no trace of a motte, so it may have been a ringwork[6] a circular defended enclosure. This maximised the amount of surveillance that could be done by the prison staff, whose own numbers could be reduced from the norm. Given a chance to speak the men all pleaded innocence. The spot chosen became known as Hanging Corner. People couldnow be convicted for making covenant with an evil spirit, using a corpse for magic, hurting life or limb, procuring love or injuring cattle by means of charms. The events that brought the two men to trial and execution took place at the Jolly Carter public house on the evening of May 22nd 1826. A recent extension of the Home Office lease means that the use of the castle as . Part of the prison is used as a major drugs rehabilitation unit. The outer wall is 3 metres (9.8ft) thick; along the exterior are buttresses at each corner and in the middle of each wall. On Wednesday 26th April, the tours will consist of the courtyards only as A-Wing is being used for a private event. Lancaster Castle provides a unique snapshot of the history of the judiciary and prison reform in the UK. It may well have been that their first thought was to make for Scotland. None were executed, but some died while detained. Between 1583 and 1646 eleven priests and four catholic laymen were sentenced andkilled at Lancaster, perhaps the most famous amongst them being Edward Arrowsmith. During the summer, male and female prisoners sentenced to hard labour on the treadwheel had to work 10 hours per day at a rate of 96 steps per minute. The prison reformer John Howard visited Lancaster Castle in 1776. Ten people convicted of witchcraft at the Summer Assize in Lancaster Castle went to the gallows on the moors above the town. Lancaster Castle is a medieval castle and former prison in Lancaster in the English county of Lancashire. One of the most famous and dramatic events to take place in Lancashire occurred over 400 years ago in 1612, and has since formed the basis of novels, and radio and television programmes. [17] After ElizabethI was excommunicated in 1570, she retaliated by declaring Roman Catholic priests guilty of high treason. The castle is still a working court and prison and famous trials include the Lancashire . Ordained a Roman Catholic priest at the age of 27, Father Edmund Arrowsmith ministered and said Mass in the Brindle area between Blackburn and Preston. The judge left this for the Jury to reflect upon, but then touched on the question of motive. Self-procalimed 'King of the Robbers' George Lyon was not quite the romantic figure that local legend would have us believe. Ten people convicted of witchcraft at the Summer Assize in Lancaster Castle went to the gallows on the moors above the town. Clearly visible, in profile, were the outline and features of a womans face. In response, the Royalists dispatched an army to retake Lancaster. Often they were mixed in with other categories of prisoners and overcrowding began to be a real problem. The second world war saw the armed forces taking over the castle, and the Royal Observer Corps used it as a local control room. Holden in particular was reluctant to do so, and press reports of the time were quick to conclude that he and Hannah had been lovers. He made no effort to deny the charge. This shed remained until the mid-20th Century, allegedly still containing the Gallows. The Shire Hall is currently not accessible for tours while work is undertaken to upgrade the Fire Alarm. 1788 saw a new Gaolers House constructed between the Gatehouse and the Well Tower and this still stands. Betty had managed to crawl across the landing to the club room where she died. The first one was installed in 1822. Mel Dod has been working at Lancaster Castle for 25 years Visitors - which have included Prince Charles, Princess Alexandra, Tom Conti and Leslie Crowther - are always fascinated by the. He heard her scream and the next thing William saw was blood gushing from a wound in Bettys neck before she was flung to the floor. George and Elizabeth Youngson were Lancaster's youngest convict transportees to Australia, for the crime of theft. There was a plethora of eye-witness testimony that placed them firmly at the scene of the crime, and they were in possession of an unusually large amount of cash when they were apprehended. Over the course of the next hour Bleares appears to have been plied with drink, Alexander at one point pouring his own whiskey into Bleares glass when his back was turned. [3] After the Norman Conquest in the second half of the 11thcentury, Lancaster was part of the Earldom of Northumbria; it was claimed by the kings of England and Scotland. [19] During the period 1584-1646 fifteen Catholics were executed in Lancaster for their faith. In fact several other houses over-looked it, and some of the most damning testimony was to come from people who had witnessed events from these dwellings. On 13 August 50 years ago, Peter Allen and Gwynne Evans were hanged for the murder of John West. To see most of the interior of the buildings you need to take a guided tour, but it is free to enter the courtyard. The men who stood trial in Lancaster in September 1817 for the Pendleton Murders were all local to the area, and well known to its residents. This would have been significant, as there was a belief at the time that a corpse would bleed anew at the touch of its killer. Until 1800, condemned criminals at Lancaster were executed at a place called Gallows Hill, on the moors close to Williamson Park. Today the Castle has entered a new phase of lifeafter theclosure of the prison. He had instigated widespread changes to allgaols which included segregating prisoners on the basis of their crime and gender. The case had excited enormous public interest with its hints of sexual liaisons, the accusations of corruption against the deeply unpopular Nadin, and the continued refusal of the condemned to admit their guilt. [9] The war came to an end in 1153. 2 Is Lancaster Castle still a court? The large internal courtyard is now accessible to the public, for the first time in decades. Debtors could have beer, wine and tobacco but not spirits. Get all the latest updates from Lancaster Castle. Visitors to Lancaster Castle are advised to check opening times by telephoning 01524 64998. Convicted felons awaiting transportation were, in law, entitled to the Kings Allowance of 2s/6d a week, but few ever received it. [15] For many castles, the expenditure is unknown. The high level of poverty prevalent at the time often meant that hard labour was the only option available even to children. Any discovered in Lancashire were taken to Lancaster Castle for trial. Guided tours of the Castle include visits to its 18th century cells, Pentonville-style male penitentiary, dedicated debtors prison area and female penitentiary based on Benthams famous panopticon design. The maid was the ill-fated Elizabeth Betty Bate. They were seen open at 12:30, partially closed at 1:45 and completely shut at 2pm. One by one the men were brought out onto the scaffold and one by one they reiterated their innocence. The men were walking slowly in the direction of Appleby and he noted that they looked very weary. The next person to catch sight of anyone was a friend of Hannahs, Harriet Trowel, who called at the house around 4pm. [28], In the south-west corner of the castle is a cylindrical tower named Adrian's Tower from the popular legend that it was built by the Roman Emperor Hadrian. [4], As there are no contemporary documents recording the foundation of the castle, it is uncertain when and by whom it was started, but it is supposed that Roger de Poitou, the Norman lord in control of the Honour of Lancaster, was responsible. It seems, however, that the constable was less than keen to set off in pursuit, afraid that the McKeans might be armed. England. By 1801, executions were no longer being carried out at the area known as Tiburn on Lancaster Moor. Justice was swift at the start of the nineteenth century. And yet the perpetrators of the crime would certainly have been stained quite severely, given the very nature of the murders. It was the practice of the gaoler to raise the convicted persons hand to show the judge that a fair mark had been made. The jury retired to consider its verdict. Counsel for the Crown, Mr Cross, opened proceedings by informing the jury that the evidence in this case would be largely circumstantial, but argued that it was no less compelling for that. Limited tours, lasting 30 minutes, take place throughout the day but only cover the external courtyards and one of the prison buildings. Famous prisoners included Father Edmund Arrowsmith who was a Roman Catholic priest who said Mass in the Brindle area between Blackburn and Preston. Its early history is unclear, but it may have been founded in the 11thcentury on the site of a Roman fort overlooking a crossing of the River Lune. [17] Since then, the castle has remained in the ownership of the Crown. [52] In his book The Historic Lands of England, Sir Bernard Burke suggests the wall may have been visible in more places 100 years prior to his writing in 1849. Hear about the Castle's famous and infamous prisoners from highwayman, George Lyon to Peterloo speaker, Henry 'Orator' Hunt. The bodies were soon discovered in the kitchen: Margaret Marsden and Hannah Partington were quite dead, their skulls fractured, and the kitchen was covered in blood. 3 Can you go inside Lancaster Castle? The Lancaster Martyrs: During this period of history fifteen Catholics were executed in Lancaster for their faith. They were moved to the castle itself in an area that became known as hanging corner, near the churchyard. Two tread wheels were used as punishment for prisoners sentenced to hard labour in mid 1800s. This is the story of a tradesman incarcerated for insolvency. Between 60 and 73AD, a Roman fort was built at Lancaster on a hill commanding a crossing over the River Lune. Get all the latest updates from Lancaster Castle. Lancaster Castle has served as a prison since the 12th century. They headed north, where the roads were quieter and habitation sparse, although they failed to make much provision for such a long and arduous journey. 5. For the railway station originally named "Lancaster Castle", see, Governors and constables in England and Wales, 'LANCASTER'S CATHOLIC MARTYRS' BY CHRISTINE GOODIER MA, John Wilson-Patten, 1st Baron Winmarleigh, Listed buildings in Lancaster, Lancashire, "Lancaster Castle prison 'may become tourist spot', "Prisons shutdown unveiled by government", "Judge's plea to keep historic city court open", "Lancaster 'to equal Chester or York' for tourism", "Lancaster Castle, Castle Park, Lancaster: Tree-ring Analysis of Oak and Pine Timbers in the Keep and Gatehouse. This is the story of a tradesman incarcerated for insolvency. Under his auspices, the Gaoler's House was built in 1788 in a Gothic style. On Wednesday 26th April, the tours will consist of the courtyards only as A-Wing is being used for a private event. Halwell asked Collins if Ashcroft had said anything to him about the murders, to which Collins replied that they were all as innocent as the child unborn. Cross-examined, Collins denied this. He replied that he held them in his room, not upstairs. The debtors area was later nicknamed as Hansbrows Hotel and a prison inspector said it resembled a somewhat noisy tavern . A small Parliamentarian force captured the castle in February 1643, established a garrison and set about building earthworks around the approaches to the town. During the reigns of Elizabeth I and James I, another targeted out group were Catholic priests. He went on to describe the situation of the house, which was a substantial building set back from the road, but in no way isolated. Limited tours, lasting 30 minutes, take place throughout the day but only cover the external courtyards and one of the prison buildings. David and James jnr were taken at James house in St Georges Road in Manchester, James snr at his home in Silk Street, and Holden at his lodgings. A famous moniker used for Lancaster Castle was 'the hanging town' as it was considered to sentence more prisoners to death than at any other court in England. A glimpse into the history of Lancaster Castle and its use as a place of punishment offers a revealing insight into the nations changing attitudes towards crime and punishment, as well as religious and cultural beliefs through the centuries. ", "New Phase of Works Starts at Lancaster Castle", "Place North West - Contractor picked for second phase of Lancaster Castle restoration", "Conservation Works to Continue Until September 2019", "Lancaster Castle to open for Jubilee and Witch trial anniversary", "Ancient Monuments: Part of a Roman fort and its associated vicus and remains of a pre-Conquest monastery and a Benedictine priory on Castle Hill (1020668)", "Scheduled Ancient Monument - Castle Hill and Vicarage Fields", "RADCLIFFE, Thomas (d.1403), of Winmarleigh and Astley, Lancs", Lancaster Castle official site from Lancashire County Council, Lancaster Castle official site from the Duchy of Lancaster, History of Lancaster Castle Prison from theprison.org.uk, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lancaster_Castle&oldid=1130728968, Buildings and structures in Lancaster, Lancashire, Short description is different from Wikidata, Wikipedia articles incorporating a citation from the ODNB, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 31 December 2022, at 17:46. A choice of 22 rooms was available, priced from 5s (25p) to 30s (1.50p). This probably referred to what is now known as Adrian's Tower. As the court and prison were so close, and contained within the castle walls, Lancaster was used for high-security trials. He became a regular visitor, selling tea, silks and cotton to the proprietor. Over two hundred different crimes could lead to the death penalty, many for crimes against property and theft of items of relatively low value. After William's death in 1164, the Honour of Lancaster again came under royal control when HenryII gained possession of the Honour. The prison closed in 1916 as the number of prisoners detained nationally was diminishing. During the 18th and 19th centuries, until the Bankruptcy Act of 1866, Lancaster Castle housed between 300 and 400 people in the debtors prison at any one time. Murder trials in particular excited enormous public interest, with newspapers always keen to highlight cases that involved brutality, or ones which had sexual undertones. This was the origin of the lay magistracy in England and Wales. In the last two decades of the century, around 30,000 was spent rebuilding Lancaster's county gaol. The prison was closed in 1916 due to the decrease in the number of prisoners, although in the first part of the First World War, it used to hold German prisoners of war and civilians . For over 50 years, the Prison Chaplain was Parson Rowley who is said to have attended 170 criminals to their execution. They disappeared outside the pub for about twenty minutes before returning and then asked that they be shown to their chamber. This is the first 21st-century addition to the castle.
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