Local Criminals

Local Criminals

The following details come from two on-line resources:

1.         Bedfordshire Archives and Records Service (BARS) database of entries from local gaol registers etc. It covers 1801 – 1879, with some gaps. Their aim is to eventually add all the surviving County Gaol and House of Correction registers held for 1801 – 1901. [Listed below as from “B”.]

http://apps.bedfordshire.gov.uk/grd/search.aspx

2.         Buckinghamshire Victorian prisoners entering the County Gaol in Aylesbury in the 1870s.  [Listed below as from “C”.]

http://www.buckscc.gov.uk/leisure-and-culture/centre-for-buckinghamshire-studies/online-resources/victorian-prisoners/

…and I thank them, their staff and their volunteers for making such interesting information available and searchable. Researchers are directed to the links above to see if there are further details about the prisoners or cases involved.  I have located further details about a few of these cases in local newspapers, this information is given in [brackets].

I have extracted all details I can find for prisoners who were born or resided, or the offence was committed in Woburn Sands, Wavendon or Aspley Guise. I have included the various spellings of “Hogsty End”, (the previous name of Woburn Sands), “Wandon” (the earlier name for Wavendon) etc, and prisoners who just used “Aspley” as either their birth place or residence.  I have not included prisoners where “Woburn” alone was used for birth place, residence or location of offence.  The only exception to this is the incorrigible Mr. Alfred Hirdle (you will see why……!)

Please note: The fact that a person was committed to goal for a crime is not necessarily an indication of guilt or eventual conviction!  Further research should be done on these cases before using the data in your family history etc.

N.B. Most of the prisoners listed from the BARS database are also listed on another website, Victorian Crime and Punishment, which details Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, and Huntingdonshire prison records from 1817-1898.  This site also describes the Victorian prison system, and is an ideal learning resource for teachers. See http://vcp.e2bn.org/

The Nothampton Mercury, of 24 August 1889, reports on “A Humerous drunkard”. Alfred Hirdle had been found drunk near Woburn Town Hall at 11.30pm on the night of Woburn Flower show.  In Court, asked how old he was, he replied he wasn’t an old man, he was 38, and if sent to prison this time he would have been inside 37 times. He said to the Bench, “What do you think of that all the way you go?” He told them they should see what a diffence a clean shave made to him. On being removed for a month, he said what an easy task it would be!

Luton Times and Bedfordshire Advertiser, November 2nd, 1900:
“Death in Gaol
The death is announced of Alfred Hirdle one of the best known characters in the Woburn district. Hirdle has been convicted of drunkenness etc over 50 times, and when his death occurred he was undergoing a sentence in Bedford gaol. For many years poor Alfred was always anxious to spend his Christmas in gaol because of the special treat provided at that time. The police constables have lost the best customer, for when out of gaol he was invariably disorderly in one of the villages near his home and the Woburn justices will also miss his familiar face. The inquest was held at Bedford prison on Friday, Mr A. G. Western, Governor of the prison stated the deceased was admitted on August 30th from Ampthill, under sentence of 3 calendar months hard labour for wilful damage to the workhouse and for being drunk and disorderly. He died 12:50 a.m. on Thursday. The deceased was described as a labourer and was a married man, but had been living apart from his wife for a number of years.  He  (Mr western) had communicated with his wife and she visited him in company with the prisoner’s sister the day before he died. Hirdle was taken to the infirmary early on Sunday morning and from that time had not been left night or day. He had been taken with a fit and was conscious from that time until he died. Deceased was 49 years of age. When the prisoner came in he was apparently in good health and he made no complaints. Mr R. H. Kinsey, surgeon to H. M. Prison stated that he found the deceased in his bed breathing heavily and there were other signs of profound disturbance of the brain. A day and night nurse was procured for him and he was kept clean and dry and witness saw him twice a day until 8.30 on Wednesday evening when he was sinking. Dr Kinsey attributed death to the effusion of blood on the brain due to a rupture of an artery.  The body was fairly well nourished.  A man who had drunk much was apt to have arteries degenerated prematurely.  The Coroner remarked that there was no suspicion of any neglect on the part of the authorities, but he was bound to hold an inquest in all cases of persons dying in prison.  The jury found that death was due to apoplexy.”

Mr Hirdle was infamous in the area, as his 59 convictions, mostly for being ‘Drunk and Disorderly’ bears testimony! One obituary states he was originally from Ridgmont. Every landlord for miles must have breathed a quiet sigh of relief!

 

Page last updated Jan. 2019.