



Jane Farrell: 12-years-old

“Jane Farrell stole 2 boots and was sentenced to do 10 hard days labour.”



Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums historic Flickr sets are amazing, eye-opening and some times a little heartbreaking. I chose to feature female prisoners from the Newcastle City Gaol and House of Correction dated 1871-1873.

I’ll be honest, some of these women I wouldn’t want to tango with in a dark alley, but most of these faces look so sad and utterly defeated by life. Their faces are aged prematurely by poverty, sickness and simply put, being dealt a shitty hand on the day they were born.







Agnes Stewart: 28-years-old

“Agnes Stewart was a married lady from Edinburgh and was convicted of the crime - theft of money.”







Ellen Woodman: 11-years-old

“At the young age of 11, Ellen was ordered to do 7 days hard labour after being convicted of stealing iron when caught with Mary Catherine Docherty, Rosanna Watson and Mary Hinnigan.”







Ann Burns: 18-years-old

“After stealing a waistcoat Ann Burns was sentenced to 1 month imprisonment.”







Catherine Kelly: 17-years-old

“Sentenced to 3 months, Catherine Kelly was found guily of stealing bed linen and was sent to Newcastle Gaol.”







Isabella Dodds: 17-years-old

“Isabella Dodds was sentenced to 4 months at Newcastle Gaol for stealing a gold watch.”







Isabella Smith: 60-years-old

“Isabella Smith was sentenced to 6 weeks at Newcastle City Gaol for stealing poultry.”







Mary Erskine Christie: 20-years-old

“Mary Erskine Christie was sentenced to 6 months in Newcastle City Gaol for thieving money from a person in 1873.”







Ann Kirk: 35-years-old

“Ann Kirk was caught thieving money from people on several occasions, but this time in 1873, Ann was sentenced to 3 months in Newcastle City Gaol.”







Phillis Robinson: 34-years-old

“Phillis Robinson was charged with stealing money from a person and sentenced to 1 month at Newcastle City Gaol.”







Jane Carlisle: 29-years-old

“Jane Carlisle thieved some bed linen and was caught and convicted of this crime. She served 2 months at Newcastle City Gaol.”







Catherine Flynn: 34-years-old

“Catherine Flynn was sentenced to 6 months at Newcastle City Gaol for the conviction of the crime - stealing money from person.”







Alice Mullholland: 18-years-old

“Alice Mullholland was a hawker from Newcastle and was sentenced to 3 months in Newcastle City Gaol after being convicted of stealing some boots.”







Mary Patterson: 25-years-old

“Mary Patterson was sentenced to 6 weeks in 1873 for theft of poultry.”







Mary Ann McCasfrey: 41-years-old

“Mary Ann McCasfrey was given a prison sentence of 4 months at Newcastle City Gaol, for stealing a gold watch from another person.”







Margaret Cosh: 15-years-old

“Margaret Cosh was convicted of stealing a coat, she had no previous convictions and served 2 months with hard labour.”







Catherine Cain King: 23-years-old

“Catherine Cain King was convicted of stealing a pocket watch, she had previously served 7 days for drunken conduct, on this occasion she served 3 months with hard labour.”







Isabella Hindmarch: 16-years-old

“Isabella Hindmarch was convicted of stealing money, she had no previous convictions and served 1 month with hard labour.”







Sarah Cassidy: 27-years-old

“Sarah Cassidy was convicted of stealing money and served 2 months with hard labour. In the previous two years she had been convicted 6 times for breaking by laws and had already served 42 days in prison.”







Elizabeth Rule: 54-years-old

“Elizabeth Rule (AKA Elizabeth Smith, Elizabeth Brown) was convicted of stealing clothing and bed linen 5 times between 1867 and 1872. For these convictions she served a total of 11 months 14 days.”

Via Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums’ photostream