Just discovered that my wife's g grandmother, Agnes Budd, was sentenced, at the age of 17, to 3 months hard labour for stealing a wedding ring.
According to newspaper reports she was charged at Tonbridge Petty Sessions in January 1870 and committed for trial with no bail allowed. She was subsequently tried at the Kent Quarter Sessions in Maidstone on 3rd March, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 3 months hard labour.
I'd love to find out where she would have been held while awaiting trial, and where the sentence would have been carried out. Anyone have access to the Quarter Sessions records and/or gaol records?