Prison Records

[0rinoco]

I am trying to trace a couple of ancestors who spent time in Strangeways Gaol, Manchester, during the 1800s Can anyone suggest a good source of information?
Thanks in advance.

[crisane]

This site is very informative and at the bottom of the page it gives the records available for Strangeways prison
http://www.manchester-family-history-research.co.uk/new_page_16.htm

[0rinoco]

Well, thank you. I've just looked and it seems very interesting. Wish me luck!

[uk2003]

I was looking for some records a few weeks ago "not Strangeways" and someone at the prison told me to write to the MOJ as they were very old records not held at the prison.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/request-your-personal-data-from-moj

In my case I got my cheque back as all the records from that time had been destroyed some time in the past.

But maybe worth a lookup and another option.

[BashLad]

I often find that if someone's done something serious enough to land themselves in prison then it'd have been reported in a newspaper.

[0rinoco]

Thanks for the replies. One problem I have, is that I only have the year of the imprisonment, the name of the prison, Strangeways, and the prisoner's name. However, it turns out that I have to visit Manchester for a reunion in a fortnight's time, so I shall pop into the Central Library, where all the records are held, and hopefully strike lucky.
Thanks once again.

[pendlelad]

Belle Vue, Hyde Road and West Gorton prison records are online (Find my Past) covering 1847-1881 but Strangeways is not for some reason..

[0rinoco]

Thanks for that. I am perplexed as to why these resources are sold off to private companies, making them virtually inaccessible to tax-paying citizens, who may only require one or two items of information, unless they are prepared to buy an expensive subscription. A short while ago, I took a one month trial with UK Census Online. I then discovered (they didn't tell me at the time ) that I was the subject of a recurring monthly debit via my Paypal account. Fortunately, it's not too difficult to cancel this. I thought it was a bit underhand, though.

[LesL11]

A long shot, but if the person you are looking for was originally arrested by Manchester City Police you could try the police museum on Newton Street, Manchester. They have many police records and mug shots of convicts. You may just find yours there along with a photo.