lancaster castle famous prisoners
(Image: Manchester Evening News) The castle also served as a prison from the 17th century, housing prisoners up to the year 2011. ", "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. They disappeared outside the pub for about twenty minutes before returning and then asked that they be shown to their chamber. 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. [48], During the Roman era in the 4th century,[50] the fort was surrounded by the "Wery Wall" which is believed to translate as the 'green wall'. 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. Read more. 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 Bentham's famous panopticon design. Since being established by the Romans the castle has been a home to monarchs, a place of trial and execution, and a working prison right up until 2012. The procession from the Castle would pass along Moor Lane and Moor Gate, and tradition has it that they stopped at the Golden Lion public house at the corner of Brewery Lane so that the condemned could take their last drink, accompanied by their friends and relatives. 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. They arrived in Lancaster to find the streets thronged with people and the air filled with hooting and hissing and maledictions against the bloody murderers. Eventually the coach stopped in the market place where the prisoners alighted. Owned by the serving monarch, HM Queen Elizabeth II, through the Duchy of Lancaster, Lancaster Castle is a wealth of English history. Contents show 1 Who was the last person hanged at Lancaster Castle? If it was Roger who began construction, the structure would have been built of timber, probably incorporating the earthworks of the Roman fort into its defences. 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. Her evidence complete, her husband now took the stand. In the late 1190s certain local knights were appointedKeepers of the Peace by the king. Its latest incarnation was as HMP Lancaster, a Category C prison which was operational on this site right up until March 2011. During their history, lay magistrates have had responsibility for: Today their role is almost exclusively judicial, and JPs are appointed on behalf of the Sovereign by the Lord Chancellor. Michael claimed that Bleares struck Alexander at the same time for no reason. The blow glanced over her throat, whereupon Michael threw her to the floor and struck her again, the second time driving his knife deep into her face before rushing out of the pub. The gaol was re-opened by the Home Office in 1955. On the evening of Monday May 22nd 1826, between five and six oclock, a stranger entered the Jolly Carter and asked for a glass of beer. Limited tours, lasting 30 minutes, take place throughout the day but only cover the external courtyards and one of the prison buildings. King Charles was executed in January 1649 and shortly after Parliament again ordered the slighting of the castle, apart from buildings necessary for administration and use as a county gaol. A rule of total silence was strictly enforced and the spaces on the wheel were partitioned to frustrate communication between the prisoners. Limited tours, lasting 30 minutes, take place throughout the day but only cover the external courtyards and one of the prison buildings. In 1195, Richard I commissioned certain knights to preserve the peace in unruly areas they were known as Keepers of the Peace. [9] The war came to an end in 1153. Construction in stone would have been a costly and time-consuming exercise, taking around five years and costing about 1,000. However the cells were used to hold German prisoners during the first world war. The talk takes place on May 27 from 12-1pm and admission is 4 including tea/coffee. When prisoners finished their 15-minute stint, they would climb down to sit on a stool, whilst the prisoner who had been resting took his place. The McKeans On Monday August 21st 1826 two brothers, Alexander and Michael McKean went to the gallows in Lancaster for the murder of Elizabeth Bate. He was hung, drawn and quartered, and part of his body exposed on top of the John O Gaunt Gateway. Self-procalimed 'King of the Robbers' George Lyon was not quite the romantic figure that local legend would have us believe. Lancaster Castle has served as a prison since the 12th century. Lancaster Castle is owned by The Queen - who is the Duke of Lancaster - as well as being a fortification, the Castle was also Europe's longest-serving operational prison until its closure in March 2011 - plus its courtrooms have witnessed many famous and infamous trials over the centuries - including those of the Pendle Witches who were convicted The Pendle Witches were tried there in 1612, while other famous prisoners. England. The last prisoners will leave the castle's jail by Saturday and the Duchy of Lancaster, landlord of the site, plus Lancashire county council which owns the actual buildings, will put on their . The castle role as a prison was becoming increasingly important, with the Gatehouse rooms being occupied by debtors. The Shire Hall is currently not accessible for tours while work is undertaken to upgrade the Fire Alarm. Why bother going upstairs where there was a potential witness in the shape of William Higgins? England. The Shire Hall is currently not accessible for tours while work is undertaken to upgrade the Fire Alarm. Lancaster Castle has long been associated with both the trial of criminals and their detention. As Joseph Hall wrote the grave has closed over them (and) the searcher of all hearts can only adjudicate. Given a chance to speak the men all pleaded innocence. Because of the legend, a statue of John of Gaunt was placed in the empty niche in the 19thcentury. Firstly, how culpable was Michael in the crime, and secondly, what was the true motive behind the slaying of Elizabeth Bate? Nowells investigation led him into a series of claims and counterclaims of witchcraft between three local families. The Lancaster Martyrs: During this period of history fifteen Catholics were executed in Lancaster for their faith. 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. March 25th 1865. It is 20 metres (66 feet) high with four storeys; each floor divided into two rooms. They even named the tower after the famous Roman Emperor Hadrian. Often they were mixed in with other categories of prisoners and overcrowding began to be a real problem. Are not the men here in safe custody and will not justice have its course with them? The tower was, however, built in the early 13th century, probably during the reign of King John. [18], After the Scottish invasion of 1389, Lancaster saw no further military action until the English Civil War. A prison cell in Lancaster Castle. Six years later much of the pomp had been lost - the High Sheriff arrived by train. 3 Can you go inside Lancaster Castle? She saw the shutters partially down, but through the window she could see Margaret Marsden slumped in her chair with her back to the window. Michael asked her if her husband went to bed when he was drunk, and if not whether she stayed up with him as well. [13] Lancaster was one such castle. On Wednesday 26th April, the tours will consist of the courtyards only as A-Wing is being used for a private event. 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 And Joseph Bleares found himself, at last, the master of what was undoubtedly a going concern.. 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. The talk takes place on May 27 from 12-1pm and admission is 4 including tea/coffee. Alexander and Michael were both dressed in blue coats and black cravats, and Alexander wore a black waistcoat, while Michaels was brown and white striped. The second world war saw the armed forces taking over the castle, and the Royal Observer Corps used it as a local control room. He had stared so hard at her that she ran away. Clearly visible, in profile, were the outline and features of a womans face. The buildings were returned to being under the control of the Queen,in her role as the Duke of Lancaster. He was careful not to arouse their suspicions and merely acknowledged them before riding past. The scene inside the pub was one of carnage. 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. This dual courts and prison function would continue right through the Medieval period up into the 21st century. No doubt they all purchased refreshment from the good landlord after they had done so. Alexander was very anxious to speak to the landlord. The castle has a long judicial history. [47] The medieval hall stood south-west of the keep and was dismantled in 1796 during the remodelling of the castle. It was all to no avail. Faraday went on ahead of the constable and spotted the McKeans trudging along the road to Appleby. [1][2] Little is known about Lancaster between the end of the Roman occupation of England in the early 5thcentury and the Norman Conquest in the late 11th century. The mere fact that he had agreed to the act, and that he had taken up a position at the foot of the stairs in order that his brother should not be disturbed in the commission of it, was sufficient to make him as guilty as Alexander. What happened next was described in chilling detail at the trial by the boy, William Higgins, who was asleep in the room upstairs. [22] After the slighting of the castle, including the demolition of the Well Tower, it was militarily redundant. 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. The Shire Hall is currently not accessible for tours while work is undertaken to upgrade the Fire Alarm. Until 1835 the only Assize for the county, Lancaster Castle saw a vast number of accused people pass through its doors, many of whom would have been on trial for their life. One witness, Adam Halwell, had taken William Collins to gaol after his arrest and happened to see him on the day he was released. England. Ten people convicted of witchcraft at the Summer Assize in Lancaster Castle went to the gallows on the moors above the town. . The conspiracy charges to blow up the castle and commit murder may well have been trumped up, but nevertheless eight women and two men were brought to trial. The Shire Hall is currently not accessible for tours while work is undertaken to upgrade the Fire Alarm. 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. It had been a busy assize, one which resulted in a higher than usual number of executions. The trial of Alexander and Michael McKean for the murder of Elizabeth Bate began in the castle on Friday August 18th 1826. [10] Building in stone was expensive and time-consuming. In a time of civilunrest, what we would now recognise as political prisoners were held at the castle. Their days were spent playing games in the courtyard, and any musicians who were imprisoned would often play at concerts or dances to amuse their fellow debtors. There is no trace of a motte, so it may have been a ringwork[6] a circular defended enclosure. Faraday knocked him down but Michael realised what was happening and attacked Faraday with a stick. Amid sobbing and screaming from wives and family members all four men loudly protested their innocence, so much so that the judge reprimanded them and the bailiffs and to struggle to regain order. Amid more accusations of corruption, mostly levelled against Joseph Nadin, the men were finally removed from the dock and taken down to the cells below. [43][44][45], The keep is the oldest part of the castle. [30] The prison closed in 1916 due to a national decrease in the number of prisoners, although for part of the First World War it held German civilians and military prisoners of war. There is a large sweeping public piazza, allowing access to the cloistered area, renovated in 2019. If Alexander had gone further than he intended in killing Betty then Michael could not be held responsible for his actions, as he had not agreed to them. The landlord of the Jolly Carter was Mr Joseph Blears, who ran the establishment with his wife Martha. George and Elizabeth Youngson were Lancaster's youngest convict transportees to Australia, for the crime of theft. After the Georgian remodelling of the castle, it was decided it would be more convenient to perform executions nearer the castle. He seems to have given a cogent and simple account of what must have been a terrifying ordeal. This was the crux of the matter as far as Michaels fate was concerned. Lancaster Castle consists of many historic buildings encompassing the 12th Century Norman Keep, the 14th Century Witches' Tower and the 15th Century Gatehouse. Between 1583 and 1646 eleven priests and four catholic laymen were sentenced andkilled at Lancaster, perhaps the most famous amongst them being Edward Arrowsmith. Visitors to Lancaster Castle are advised to check opening times by telephoning 01524 64998. They were moved to the castle itself in an area that became known as hanging corner, near the churchyard. 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. Our engaging educators respond to the castle and its . Knowing that Michael was not far behind, Faraday left Alexander in the charge of the two workmen then went back outside. Notwithstanding this, he again made it clear that it was the act itself they had to judge: a reason for it was not necessary for a verdict to be reached. In 1322 and 1389 the Scots invaded England, progressing as far as Lancaster and damaging the castle. Whilst in prison they could continue to work to earn money, in the hope they would be able to pay their debt off. The castle buildings are owned by the British sovereign as Duke of Lancaster; part of the structure is used to host sittings of the Crown Court. He thought it a little strange that they appeared so tired at such an early hour but, thinking that they had simply been travelling through the night, he gave it no more thought. However, Alexander managed to get free of his captors and tried to make a run for it. The large internal courtyard is now accessible to the public, for the first time in decades. A manhunt began, with posters bearing very accurate descriptions of both men being despatched to all corners of the county. Hunted men now, their details posted for miles around and with a price on their heads, the McKeans were on the run. However, the Judge hit upon an interesting point at this stage in his summing-up: it appeared, he said, that the brothers showed no express malice against this unfortunate woman and this is one of the most striking things about the whole case. George and Elizabeth Youngson were Lancaster's youngest convict transportees to Australia, for the crime of theft. He replied that he held them in his room, not upstairs. [16] A further devastation of the town, as had been inflicted in 1389, would have been an embarrassment for the new king; his expensive programme of building at the castle helped protect against this. . RF CP6TGD - Lancaster Castle main entrance. They returned just two minutes later and pronounced that they had found all four men guilty. The fact that these men did no such thing left many people concerned that they had, in fact, been as innocent as they proclaimed themselves to be. More damningly, James Ashcroft snr had allegedly confessed his guilt to a cellmate while in gaol in Manchester awaiting trial. They seem to have walked first to Sutton, near Skipton, then to Addingham before heading up Wharfdale towards Hawes. The next witnesses all testified to having seen the accused after 4pm, and therefore after the murders must have taken place. His was a considered and even-hand appraisal, which luckily still exists. He noted that spinning and knitting were being carried out by those detained. Lancaster Gaol housed one of the largest Debtor's prisons in A former prison and courthouse famous for witch trials and hangings. Debtors could have beer, wine and tobacco but not spirits. He intimated that, had the victim been Joseph Bleares it might have made some kind of sense. Forensic science did not exist, and in many cases eye-witness testimony or the most circumstantial of evidence was enough to secure a conviction. She gave a graphic account of the attack upon her, and identified Michael as her assailant, recalling that she distinctly remembered the sound the handle of the knife had made as it fell to the floor, leaving its blade embedded in her face. The monarchy was restored in 1660, and CharlesII visited Lancaster on 12 August and released all the prisoners held in the castle. 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. Children in Prison She also saw the dresser sprinkled all over with blood but strangely, did not raise the alarm until a second visit, at 7pm that evening. Before Mrs Blears could do anything he attacked her and tried to stab her in the neck. The day was a warm one, the roads dusty, and the two men both exhausted. Lancashire's High Sheriff and Justices of the Peace petitioned the king to repair the castle. 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. The Honour changed hands several times. It also addressed other matters that must still appear relevant to anyone who reads this case today. The Lancaster Martyrs: During this period of history fifteen Catholics were executed in Lancaster for their faith. By 1801, executions were no longer being carried out at the area known as Tiburn on Lancaster Moor. Find out more Executions Until 1800, condemned criminals at Lancaster were executed at a place called Gallows Hill, on the moors close to Williamson Park In response, the Royalists dispatched an army to retake Lancaster. They could buy newspapers, food and clothing, follow their trades or professions, and have visitors from 8 am to 8 pm. This is the story of a tradesman incarcerated for insolvency. [27] In 1802 the castle received more funding and Joseph Gandy was commissioned to complete the interiors of the Shire Hall and Crown Court. Thomas Holden sentenced to 7 years Transportation to Australia for 'Administering An Illegal Oath' to Isaac Crompton. [13] The Rolls show that John spent over 630 on digging a ditch outside Lancaster's south and west walls, and for the construction of "the King's lodgings". Out of 200 executions at Lancaster Castle, only 43 were for murder; other crimes included burglary, passing forged notes, robbery and cattle-stealing. William was woken by a noise and, by the light of the candle Betty had placed in the window between the two beds, he saw Alexander with his left arm around Betty, who was struggling with him. Women and men in poor health often never left at all since the County did not transport those thought unable to support the rigours of the voyage or unlikely to find employment at its destination. One such case was the Pendleton Murders of 1817. The Capital Punishment Amendment Act 1868 ended public executions, requiring that criminals be put to death in private, after which 6 executions were performed inside the castle, at first from the Chapel steps, then later in a purpose-built execution shed, on the inside wall of Hanging Corner. 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. Alexander asked her whether her husband slept soundly when he got liquor, although why he should want to know this puzzled her. [34], The Crown Court continues to sit at the castle. RM B860TG - Lancaster Castle John O Gaunt Gateway Lancaster England UK. Ely Dyson saw James Ashcroft jnr and his uncle leaving the house at around 4 oclock, carrying small bundles. RM EPHG7C - Inside a cell at Lancaster Prison, part of the Castle in the city of Lancaster, England. The Royalists unsuccessfully tried to recapture Lancaster in April and again in June; the town and castle remained under Parliament's control until the end of the war. He described his incarceration: Then I was put into a tower where the smoke of the other prisoners came up so thick that I could scarcely see the candle that it burned, Besides it rained in upon my bed in this manner did I lie all that long cold winter till the next assizes; in which time I was so starved with cold and rain, and my body so greatly swelled and my limbs benumbed.. Limited tours, lasting 30 minutes, take place throughout the day but only cover the external courtyards and one of the prison buildings. Thomas Holden sentenced to 7 years Transportation to Australia for 'Administering An Illegal Oath' to Isaac Crompton. 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. [52], Letitia Elizabeth Landon's poetical illustration Lancaster Castle., to a picture by Thomas Allom showing the Shire Hall and the Priory, was published in Fisher's Drawing Room Scrap Book, 1837.[54]. For more serious crimes the assizes courtswere held twice a year and defendants would bekept in prison for months, awaiting the time when the next assize came around. To see most of the interior of the buildings you need to take a guided tour, but it is free to enter the courtyard. 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.. Castles & Fortified Towers, Georgian Lancashire, Medieval Lancashire, Victorian Lancashire. Other infamous inmates included serial killer Frederick Bailey Deeming - suspected by some to be Jack the Ripper - and vicious gangster Squizzy Taylor. Finally, just before the trap fell they began to sing a hymn : Ill Praise My Maker While Ive Breath and when, some four minutes later all four men were dead, there was said to be scarcely a tearless eye among the crowd, while many of the women wept aloud, A passing reference in Cross-Fleurys Time-Honoured Lancaster tells of a death-bed confession by the real killer some twenty-six later, although it must be stressed that there is no corroboration for this, and that the book, while an immensely interesting and valuable source, is often reduced to anecdote and gossip for its content. Part of the agreement was that the King of Scotland would relinquish the Honour of Lancaster, which would be held by William, Stephen's son. Battlements project over the gatehouse, and would have allowed defenders to rain missiles on attackers immediately below. The castle has around a thousand years of rich history. [53] However, it is unclear where the wall would have been. He became a regular visitor, selling tea, silks and cotton to the proprietor. [28], Those sentenced to death before c. 1800 at the castle were usually taken to Lancaster Moor, near where the Ashton Memorial now stands, to be hanged. [49] Two semi-octagonal towers flank a passageway protected by a portcullis. Lancaster Castle has long been associated with both the trial of criminals and their detention. There were two other patrons in the bar until about eleven. In the last two decades of the century, around 30,000 was spent rebuilding Lancaster's county gaol. [40], The latest phase, started in September 2017 and completed in November 2019, has opened up the former prison kitchen yard. In the 18thcentury it became more common for county gaols to hold longer-term prisoners; as a result they began to suffer from overcrowding. In the face of this kind of testimony the defence counsel had little to offer. 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. Under his auspices, the Gaoler's House was built in 1788 in a Gothic style. Lancaster Castle was used as the main gaol in the city. A small Parliamentarian force captured the castle in February 1643, established a garrison and set about building earthworks around the approaches to the town. Get all the latest updates from Lancaster Castle. The Castle Courtyard opened to the public seven days a week in May 2013 and now has a cafe, NICE @ The Castle and regular events now take place every month. 5. They had, it was said, the ordinary appearance of decent journeymen tradesmen Both men pleaded not guilty to the charge. Despite her protests he prevailed upon her to allow them both to spend the night. She was arrested in 1684 after leaving a Quaker meeting and brought to the castle prison. Lancaster Castle is still used today as a Crown Court. They were James Ashcroft (53) his son, also James (32) David Ashcroft (48) brother and uncle respectively to the aforementioned men, and William Holden (47). Until 2011 it was a fully functioning HM Prison and was also Europe's longest-serving prison. A lot of the evidence hinged around the shutters on the kitchen window. The foiled scheme would mean that Nowell, a former High Sheriff of Lancashire, would have security very much on his mind. It looked for a time as though the pair would not live long enough to see the gaol as the mood of the crowd had grown darker on seeing the two accused. Betty had managed to crawl across the landing to the club room where she died. Betty had plainly put up a fight, but died as a result of the wound to her throat. On the ground-floor of the tower is the Drop Room which contains relics of the many executions, and can be visited today on the guided tour. Lancaster's use of the treadwheels was almost unique as most prisons did not harness the energy in any useful way. Martha Bleares, who was described as nearly fifty years of age and rather lusty, was clearly in a terrible state. It may well have been that their first thought was to make for Scotland.
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