Source Guides and Timelines

Read our source guides and follow the timelines of criminal justice journeys

Source guide for tracing your transported criminal ancestors

Transportation records

Researching your prison ancestors: an introductory guide

Prisons

old blue police box

Find out more about the history of policing in Britain

Police

More Stories

Latest Updates on Twitter

Retweet on TwitterOur Criminal Past Retweeted
MangoBooksUKMango Books@MangoBooksUK·
13h

Looking for #PoliceHistory books?
They’re all here... https://mangobooks.co.uk/collections/police-history
@PolHisSoc1985 @MPSHeritage @Police_Gazette @PoliceHistory

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ourcriminalpastOur Criminal Past@ourcriminalpast·
17h

⁦@prisonhistoryuk⁩ Watchet Court Leet Lock Up, Market St, Watchet, Nth Somerset. Court app still meets annually & ceremoniously ‘true men of Watchet’, at Bell Inn since 1643.

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mshedbristolM Shed@mshedbristol·
20h

A doll dressed in the uniform of the Clifton Industrial School for Boys. Pupils at schools like these made uniforms for dolls that were then sold to raise money. In 1857 the law gave magistrates the power to send 7-14 yr olds to one of these institutions for vagrancy.
#DollDay

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tolhousemuseumTolhouse Museum@tolhousemuseum·
29 Jul

On 29 July 1864, Solomon Allies was appointed as Borough Gaoler @tolhousemuseum
Great Yarmouth Local History & Archaeological Society have kindly given us permission to share an article about the last gaoler & predecessors at the Tolhouse.
Read full post http://ow.ly/JC4Y50AETWQ

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helenrogers19cHelen Rogers woman & feminist #expelme@helenrogers19c·
29 Jul

@tolhousemuseum @timetidemuseum Very interesting article on last gaol keeper in Great Yarmouth @tolhousemuseum @prisonhistoryuk @ourcriminalpast

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GC_ArchivesGlasgow City Archives@GC_Archives·
25 Jul

Great view of Glasgow Cross showing the tolbooth building before its demolition in 1921 Archive Ref: P9629
#Archivesathome #Glasgowlifegoeson

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ourcriminalpastOur Criminal Past@ourcriminalpast·
24 Jul

Was your ancestor punished by transported? Get started with guide for tracing your transported convict ancestor(s) - Our Criminal Ancestors #familyhistory #genealogy #ancestors https://ourcriminalancestors.org/source-guide-for-tracing-your-transported-convict-ancestorss/

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ourcriminalpastOur Criminal Past@ourcriminalpast·
24 Jul

Tracing your police ancestors? Some simple tips to get started - Our Criminal Ancestors #familyhistory #ancestors #genealogy https://ourcriminalancestors.org/police-ancestors/

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ourcriminalpastOur Criminal Past@ourcriminalpast·
24 Jul

Looking for introduction to where to find criminal justice system records - start here - Our Criminal Ancestors #familyhistory #genealogy #ancestors https://ourcriminalancestors.org/where-to-find-criminal-justice-system-records/

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ourcriminalpastOur Criminal Past@ourcriminalpast·
24 Jul

Researching your prison ancestors: an introductory guide - Our Criminal Ancestors #familyhistory #genealogy #ancestors https://ourcriminalancestors.org/researching-your-prison-ancestors-an-introductory-guide/

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Latest Blogs

Portraits of the criminal past

May 26, 2020

A new blog devoted to a fascinating collection of criminal ‘mugshots’ held by Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire Archives has been launched by City Archivist, Phil Astley.

Cot in a Victorian bedroom

Bastardy before the courts in nineteenth-century Hull

March 16, 2020

Dr Joanne Chilman looks at bastardy cases that came before the courts in Hull during the nineteenth century to reveal the rich history of the women and families involved in these courtroom trials.

Crime, criminality and the provincial press

March 16, 2020

In his latest blog, Dr Ashley Borrett examines the pages of the provincial press and reveals the ‘voices’ of some of the key players in the crime and criminal justice debates of interwar Hull.

Upcoming Events

Street Scene

Genealogy and Social History: Know your Ancestors

September 26, 2020

The Register of Qualified Genealogists (RQG) conference entitled “Genealogy and Social History: Know your Ancestors” will be held at the The Science and Industry Museum, Manchester on 26 September 2020.