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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Lancashire => Topic started by: Beeonthebay on Thursday 13 August 15 15:47 BST (UK)
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I have a reference from a prisoner speaking in 1836 about spending time for a previous conviction in "the Penitentiary" in 1829 - I have found there was a Female Penitentiary in Falkner Street, Liverpool, but that seems to be more of a charitable institution for "fallen women" and the attendees had to want to stay there to hopefully get themselves out of their situations.
My prisoner was convicted of a crime, stealing from the person, though it's probable she was also a prostitute.
So which prison would she be likely to have spent her sentence in?
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Can you supply name + dates?
Will try the British Newspaper Archives.
Jackie
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According to the Liverpool Mercury, Walton Gaol which was opened in 1855 housed 407 female prisoners.
http://www.old-merseytimes.co.uk/boroughgaol.html
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Can you supply name + dates?
Will try the British Newspaper Archives.
Jackie
Hi Jackie and thank you, I already have newspaper clippings for this person which TBH don't give much information.
She was tried at Liverpool Quarter Sessions and it's the Female Prison name I am looking for. Could it be Kirkdale or were there others? She's said to have spent three and a half years there.
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According to the Liverpool Mercury, Walton Gaol which was opened in 1855 housed 407 female prisoners.
http://www.old-merseytimes.co.uk/boroughgaol.html
So definitely not Walton then.
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Kirkdale Gaol is a possibility, opened in 1818 at the end of Sessions Rd. Kirkdale!
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From newspaper reports there seems to have been only one place in Liverpool that was known as "the Penitentiary" and that was the charitable institution that you mention.
Lancaster Castle had a penitentiary for female convicts - might that be the one?
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From newspaper reports there seems to have been only one place in Liverpool that was known as "the Penitentiary" and that was the charitable institution that you mention.
Lancaster Castle had a penitentiary for female convicts - might that be the one?
Thank you purlin and ShaunJ, after doing some digging I think Lancaster is the likely contender, and it's not a million miles away from where I live. :D
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Well - look at this site - I googled Female prisoners hanged 1800 - 1850 - my logic was that there will be a list of Penitentiarys in and around Liverpool ...Chester / Broughton / and then I found this - so there WAS a female Penitentiary in Liverpool at the time
09/04/1836
Betty Rowland
46
Liverpool
Murder of her husband
http://www.capitalpunishmentuk.org/fempublic.html
so - was it just called Liverpool Penetentiary ???
ADDED
a long read - but maybe something on here - Liverpool Mercury reports
http://www.old-merseytimes.co.uk/mercury1819.html
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there WAS a female Penitentiary in Liverpool at the time
There was of course a prison in Liverpool but I haven't found any evidence of it being called a penitentiary.
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I hope nobody has spent too much time on this query, as I now believe the prison I was looking for was Millbank Penitentiary in London. :o
I did learn a lot about Lancaster Castle and gaol though which was very interesting and some really interesting links have been put up here, so thank you for that garstonite and others. :)
I am visiting Lancaster Castle and gaol tomorrow as my interest was heightened so much!! Though it will be as a tourist not as a prisoner. ;)
Thanks once again to all, this is a great site. :D