A haunting collection of criminal mugshots from a Victorian prison reveals girls as young as 11 locked up for offences ranging from stealing a chicken to mugging and drunken behaviour. These photographs, dating from the 1870s when photography was in its infancy, are part of an exhibition at Newcastle Cathedral that documents the untold stories of female prisoners.
The Prison and Its Inmates
Newcastle Prison stood in the city's Carliol Square between 1828 and 1925, housing a diverse array of offenders. Author and researcher Dr Clare Sandford-Couch, who studies the history of women in this former prison and co-wrote a book on the jail, notes that some of the women come across as incredible characters. She highlights striking criminals in the mugshot collection, such as Bridget Creggans, who appeared before magistrates an astonishing 250 times, though no mugshot of her exists.
Young Offenders and Their Crimes
Among the youngest offenders, Ellen Woodman, aged 11 and standing just 4ft 3in tall, was sentenced to seven days' hard labour for stealing iron in 1873. Her accomplices—Mary Catherine Docherty, 14, Mary Hinnigan, 13, and Rosanna Watson, 13—received the same punishment. Another young thief, 12-year-old Jane Farrell, faced ten days' hard labour for stealing two boots.
Other cases include Mary Erskine Christie, 20, jailed for six months after mugging someone for money in 1873, and cleaner Ann Kirk, 35, who racked up convictions for stealing money and served three months. Isabella Hindmarch, convicted of stealing money with no prior record, served one month with hard labour.
Defiance and Rebellion in Mugshots
Custody photos were relatively new at this time, and offenders were typically ordered to pose sitting down, facing the camera with hands clasped. However, some women rebelled against this uniformity. For instance, Alice Mullholland, 18, spent three months in prison for stealing a pair of boots; in her sepia mugshot, she frowned furiously at the camera.
Similarly, Ann Garrett, 22, refused to have her hands together in her photo, instead resting one hand on the back of a chair with the other in her lap. She was convicted six times of stealing money over three years, serving a total of 42 days in prison.
Prolific Thieves and Prostitution
Stealing was rife in late 1800s Newcastle, with many women resorting to prostitution out of necessity. Prostitute Catherine Cain King, 23, had a string of convictions, including for 'drunken conduct' (seven days in jail) and stealing a pocket watch (three months' hard labour in 1871). Another prostitute, Sarah Cassidy, 27, was charged six times for breaking by-laws and stealing money.
Prolific thief Elizabeth Rule, 54, racked up five convictions for stealing clothes and bedsheets between 1867 and 1872, serving 11 months and 14 days in prison. Meanwhile, Jane Carlisle, a 'hawker' or mobile street seller, was jailed for two months for stealing bed linen, and Jane Cartner, 22, received six months for stealing a silver watch.
Varied Sentences and Hardships
Sentences varied widely, from a few days to months of hard labour. For example, Mary Patterson, 25, was jailed for six weeks in 1873 for stealing a chicken. Margaret Cosh, 15, stared defiantly at the camera after being caught stealing a coat; with no previous convictions, she was spared jail but sentenced to two months' hard labour.
Harriet Davison, 39, a laundress and widow, was convicted of stealing money in 1873 and sentenced to two months' hard labour on March 27 of that year. Most women and girls were jailed for stealing money and clothes, reflecting the harsh realities of poverty and survival in Victorian Newcastle.
This exhibition sheds light on the forgotten lives of these female prisoners, offering a poignant glimpse into the social and economic struggles of the era through their haunting mugshots and stories.
