Lancaster Castle opens fully to the public - BBC News The case centred on accusations and counter-accusations . The castle is still a working court and prison and famous trials include the Lancashire . Executions | Lancaster Castle : Lancaster Castle 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. He was impressed by Lancasters large courtyard and bowling green (for the debtor prisoners) but criticised the lack of hospital facilities. 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. This is the story of a tradesman incarcerated for insolvency. The talk takes place on May 27 from 12-1pm and admission is 4 including tea/coffee. The trial of Alexander and Michael McKean for the murder of Elizabeth Bate began in the castle on Friday August 18th 1826. He was the second English monarch who came from the House of Lancaster. He also made it clear that although James Ashcroft snr had never been inside the Littlewoods home he would, if found guilty, be just as culpable as the men who had actually committed the crime, and therefore as subject to the death penalty as they were. The Judge now asked Alexander if he wished to speak. Read More [21], At the outbreak of the Civil War Lancaster was lightly garrisoned. Hundreds of people died under this roof . One of the four was allowed five minutes ofrecuperationwhile the others turned the wheel. The castle was used as a prison ever since the late 12th century. James was seen once more, this time by Elizabeth Williams, coming out of the Black Horse with his father at 4:30pm. On March 25th 1865 Stephen Burke was hanged for the murder of his wife, this was the last public execution at the Castle. It was the practice of the gaoler to raise the convicted persons hand to show the judge that a fair mark had been made. 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. Self-procalimed 'King of the Robbers' George Lyon was not quite the romantic figure that local legend would have us believe. Mr Bleares later testified that the local Friendly and Orange Societies used this room for their meetings: in fact he had the funds from both groups on the premises, with that of the Friendly Society being in the region of 30. Why bother going upstairs where there was a potential witness in the shape of William Higgins? The tower was, however, built in the early 13th century, probably during the reign of King John. 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. It seems, however, that the constable was less than keen to set off in pursuit, afraid that the McKeans might be armed. These were a group ofprisoners that were not going to be flogged, branded, killed, transported or sent to a house of correction. BBC - Lancashire - Tours and trials at Lancaster Castle The castle became a prison in 1196, and still houses male prisoners to this day, although of course, the guided tour does not take you in to the parts of the building which are still a working prison, which is a shame as some of the most . Another renovated building adjoining the caf is leased to Lancaster University as a campus in the city with small conference facilities. Before the introduction of the Borstal System, children were regularly imprisoned alongside adult offenders. 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. Self-procalimed 'King of the Robbers' George Lyon was not quite the romantic figure that local legend would have us believe. With 1000 years of records, this is one of the world's oldest prison and longest-serving criminal court. 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. An example of a typical case would be that of two boys aged 11 and 13 who in 1899 were convicted of causing wilful damage to a door by throwing mortar at it. 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. They could buy newspapers, food and clothing, follow their trades or professions, and have visitors from 8 am to 8 pm. The layout of the town was influenced by the Roman fort and the associated civilian settlement; the main road through the town was the route that led east from the fort. 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. It was all to no avail. This was a particularly busy assize, with ninety-seven people up 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 Bentham's famous panopticon design. 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. The spot chosen became known as Hanging Corner. England. The buildings were surveyed and repair work estimated at 1,957. Lancashire's High Sheriff and Justices of the Peace petitioned the king to repair the castle. They returned just two minutes later and pronounced that they had found all four men guilty. By the time the defendants in the Pendleton case reached court the assize had been sitting for over a week. BBC - History of the tours and trials at Lancaster Castle This was the crux of the matter as far as Michaels fate was concerned. [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. Lancaster Castle housed two treadwheels one to drive 23 calico looms and one to draw water from the well. It was then William Higgins turn, and as he was the only eye-witness to the crime this must have been a tense moment for all concerned. Catholicpriestswere seen as spies and insurgents and believed to be encouraging rebellion against the Protestant monarchs. During the reigns of Elizabeth I and James I, another targeted out group were Catholic priests. 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. Of those 200 executions, 131 are reputed to have been carried out by one hangman - Old Ned Barlow He later wrote to his brother: I had such a turnit made me tremble to think of the danger he had been in and he clearly believed that this act of bravery entitled him to the fifty guinea reward. Part of the prison is used as a major drugs rehabilitation unit. Lancaster Castle - Lancaster - Visit Manchester Firstly, how culpable was Michael in the crime, and secondly, what was the true motive behind the slaying of Elizabeth Bate? Until 2011 the majority of the buildings were leased to the Ministry of Justice as HM Prison Lancaster, after which the castle was returned to the Duchy's management. [19] During the period 1584-1646 fifteen Catholics were executed in Lancaster for their faith. [31], Between 1931 and 1937 the castle was used by the county council to train police officers. The Pendle Witches. He obtained help from a local publican and auctioneer, a Mr Richard Faraday- described as a spirited individual- and together they set off in pursuit of the McKeans. The oak timbers in the Gatehouse were probably felled in, or around, AD 1404. Lancaster Castle was one of the first gaols in England to segregate its inmates by age and gender. It has been involved in conflict - it was attacked by Robert Bruce and besieged by Royalists in the English Civil War on more than one occasion. 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? Alexander, suspecting nothing, gratefully accepted and as he entered the house he was immediately seized and told by the obviously enthusiastic Faraday that he was his prisoner. One witness, Adam Halwell, had taken William Collins to gaol after his arrest and happened to see him on the day he was released. And why risk so much for such a relatively small sum of money as 30?So, what if the motive had not been robbery? [7], Roger de Poitou fled England in 1102 after participating in a failed rebellion against the new king, HenryI. This fascinating location provides a wealth of evidence from the remains of Roman forts to its life as a prison and visitor attraction. 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. Since the 12thcentury, the monarch appointed a sheriff to maintain the peace in Lancashire, a role usually filled by the duke and based at the castle. Life, harsh as it undoubtedly was for inmates, was often made bearable by the enlightened thinking of the various Governors of the prison. Lancaster Castle has served as a prison since the 12th century. The law as it stood in 1826 was very clear on the first of these two points: if the brothers intention had been to murder Elizabeth Bate it did not matter that Michael was not present in the time it was committed. He was hung, drawn and quartered, and part of his body exposed on top of the John O Gaunt Gateway. They were viciously murdered at the home of their employer, on the outskirts of Manchester, on April 26th 1817. [10] His successor, HenryIII also spent large sums on Lancaster: 200 in 1243 and 250 in 1254 for work on the gatehouse and creating a stone curtain wall. With breathtaking speed, a person could stand trial, be convicted, and within forty-eight hours be in their grave. [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]. In 1322 and 1389 the Scots invaded England, progressing as far as Lancaster and damaging the castle. The jury retired and after five minutes returned with a guilty verdict on both brothers. Lancaster prison hi-res stock photography and images - Alamy George and Elizabeth Youngson were Lancaster's youngest convict transportees to Australia, for the crime of theft. Today the Castle has entered a new phase of lifeafter theclosure of the prison. The Shire Hall is currently not accessible for tours while work is undertaken to upgrade the Fire Alarm. They employed two servants, Elizabeth Bate who was forty-one, and a boy of thirteen named William Higgins. 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. In July 2010 the Ministry of Justice announced it was intending to close it, stating it was outdated and costly. 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. 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. It was designed by Thomas Harrison who was the architect of nearby Skerton Bridge, and built to be sympathetic to the Medieval style of theadjoining structures. More damningly, James Ashcroft snr had allegedly confessed his guilt to a cellmate while in gaol in Manchester awaiting trial. [17] Since then, the castle has remained in the ownership of the Crown. A rule of total silence was strictly enforced and the spaces on the wheel were partitioned to frustrate communication between the prisoners. The next witnesses all testified to having seen the accused after 4pm, and therefore after the murders must have taken place. [18] The instruction was not followed, and in August 1648 the town withstood a siege from the Royalist Duke of Hamilton who led an army south from Scotland. Their founder George Fox (who famously had a vision of his religious missionon Pendle Hill) was imprisoned at the castle. Joseph Hall, Keeper of the Castle at the time, had this to say in his guidebook, written over twenty-five years later: After this execution nothing could exceed the excitement which was kept alive upward of twelve months, everyone being quite satisfied of the innocence of the culpritsThe execution was certainly one of the most extraordinary on record on many points: the whole of the proceedings are too painful for comment. 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 [19] County gaols, such as this one, were intended to hold prisoners for short periods immediately before trial. At the August assizes in Lancaster in 1835 just fourteen prisoners were tried and nine causes were entered in the civil court - the church bells rang a "muffled peal" (Lancaster Gazette, 15 August 1835). This is partly due to its former use as a prison, which has prevented extensive archaeological investigation. They had, it was said, the ordinary appearance of decent journeymen tradesmen Both men pleaded not guilty to the charge. [51] The wall, described as being a 3-metre-thick (9.8ft) 'indestructible mass' with a defensive ditch,[50][51] now only remains visible on the east slope of Castle Hill. He was careful not to arouse their suspicions and merely acknowledged them before riding past. 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 . Orders were given that "all the walls about [Lancaster Castle] should be thrown down". A Dark History | Lancaster Castle : Lancaster Castle 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 It also addressed other matters that must still appear relevant to anyone who reads this case today. 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. When Michael spoke it was to reiterate what Alexander had said. Lancaster, Lancashire | History, Photos & Visiting Information [27] The late-18th- to early-19th-century Shire Hall next to the keep is a large ten-side room. The castle is now open to the public seven days a week and is undergoing a large-scale refurbishment. It may well have been that their first thought was to make for Scotland. The Norman . On Wednesday 26th April, the tours will consist of the courtyards only as A-Wing is being used for a private event. The high level of poverty prevalent at the time often meant that hard labour was the only option available even to children. The history of the structure is uncertain. Out of 200 executions at Lancaster Castle, only 43 were for murder; other crimes included burglary, passing forged notes, robbery and cattle-stealing. As the court and prison were so close, and contained within the castle walls, Lancaster was used for high-security trials. He seems to have given a cogent and simple account of what must have been a terrifying ordeal. Lancaster Castle : The Prisons and Courts - Lancashire Past By nine oclock Joseph Bleares was soundly asleep on the sofa. Ely Dyson saw James Ashcroft jnr and his uncle leaving the house at around 4 oclock, carrying small bundles. The most famous trial and detention in the castles history is that of the Pendle Witches. When he reached the public house at Coupland Beck, three miles from Appleby, he found that there were no men present in the pub and so he alerted two stone-breakers who were working on the road nearby to assist him. Famous prisoners included Father Edmund Arrowsmith who was a Roman Catholic priest who said Mass in the Brindle area between Blackburn and Preston. They were sentenced to five days hard labour or a fine of 7s 6d. Lancaster Gaol housed one of the largest Debtor's prisons in Would you commit a deed for which these unhappy men must very likely pay the forfeit of their lives? The speech eventually had its desired effect on those who heard it, and the McKeans were safely delivered to the castle where, not surprisingly, they were described as being thankful at having reached the prison unscathed.According to the prison authorities the men appeared haggard and shocked. Limited tours, lasting 30 minutes, take place throughout the day but only cover the external courtyards and one of the prison buildings. 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. Any discovered in Lancashire were taken to Lancaster Castle for trial. For most of its history, it was used as a prison and the castle gave Lancaster the nickname of "The Hanging Town". On the 8th the area around Hanging Corner was thronged with people. He made no effort to deny the charge. The castle has a long judicial history. This was justsevenyears after the Gunpowder Plot had so nearly succeeded in killingnot onlyKing James Ibut all the members of parliament too. (See our page on Broughton Tower for a story of another one of the priests who was put on trialat Lancaster here). The oak timbers in the Keep's undercroft were shown to have been felled in AD 1380s, whilst those from the Great Hall were probably felled slightly later, towards the end of the fourteenth century or very early-fifteenth century. The landlord of the Jolly Carter was Mr Joseph Blears, who ran the establishment with his wife Martha. Debtors could have beer, wine and tobacco but not spirits. 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. For over 50 years, the Prison Chaplain was Parson Rowley who is said to have attended 170 criminals to their execution. 3 Can you go inside Lancaster 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 [33] The prison closure was confirmed for March 2011. Five places in Lancaster that are haunted by witches, prisoners, an 1787. New out groups were targeted, including numerous Quakers. The Shire Hall is currently not accessible for tours while work is undertaken to upgrade the Fire Alarm. 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. Heraldry Archive | Lancaster Castle : Lancaster Castle A more serious class of convict started to be housed at Lancaster in Georgian times felons. The Castle is still a working court and prison and famous trials include the famous Lancashire Witches . In the 18thcentury it became more common for county gaols to hold longer-term prisoners; as a result they began to suffer from overcrowding. Her evidence complete, her husband now took the stand. The Lancaster Martyrs: During this period of history fifteen Catholics were executed in Lancaster for their faith. Visitors to Lancaster Castle are advised to check opening times by telephoning 01524 64998. (Image: Manchester Evening News) The castle also served as a prison from the 17th century, housing prisoners up to the year 2011. Thomas Holden sentenced to 7 years Transportation to Australia for 'Administering An Illegal Oath' to Isaac Crompton. The Pendle Witches were tried there in 1612, while other famous prisoners. Lancaster Gaol housed one of the largest Debtor's prisons in The World's Most Notorious Historic Prisons | Historical Landmarks Michael would be considered as aiding, assisting, abetting and comforting the felony. That there was a murder was clear, and that the deed was not an act of self-defence also seemed certain in this case. In 1166 the first assizes court was recorded and in 1196 there was the first written reference to a gaol.
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