|
Springfield prison
Chelmsford. |
Springfield Convict Prison, as it was originally known, in Chelmsford, Essex was constructed on six acres of land between 1822 and 1828 to the designs of Thomas Hopper, the County Surveyor. There was an octagonal shaped house for the governor and six wings radiating out for the inmates. In 1844 two wings were remodeled to accommodate prisoners under the “Separate System” that was then in vogue. The prison was enlarged and altered over the years. From 1915 to 1919 it became a military prison, reverting to civilian use in 1930. In 1978 the buildings were badly damaged by fire and the prison was closed for two years, before becoming a Young Offenders Institution. From 1988 it has been a Category B Local prison for men with a capacity of 700 and is located at 131-135 Springfield Road, Chelmsford. Here is a drawing of the frontage showing the Porter’s Lodge on top of which the public hangings were carried out. Here is a more modern ariel view of the prison.
There was a total of 43 executions at Springfield.
Public hangings on the flat roof of the porter’s lodge.
21 men and two women.
James Winter, alias Reuben Martin, was executed on the 10th of December 1827 for the murder of Thomas Patrick, landlord of The Yorkshire Grey public house at Colchester. His body was dissected after hanging.
John Turner, alias Newman, was hanged on the 21st of December 1827 for robbery at Ramsden Crays.
On the 8th of August 1828 John Williams was hanged for horse stealing at Epping.
The 26th of December 1828 saw a triple hanging when Robert Oades was executed for horse stealing and Michael Cashon and John Brien were hanged for robbery.
16 year old James Cook was hanged for arson at the farm where he worked on the 27th of March 1829.
Captain William Moir was executed by William Calcraft on the
2nd of August 1830 for the murder by shooting of William Malcolm who was
trespassing on his property. A broadside was printed for this execution.
Calcraft would carry out all the public hangings from here on at Chelmsford.
On the 13th of August 1830 John Stammers suffered for sodomy.
James Ewen was executed on the 24th of December 1830 for arson together with Thomas Bateman who was to die for a burglary.
46 year old William Jennings was hanged on the 5th of August 1831, also for arson at Writtle.
21 year old John Hills was executed on the 10th of August 1832 for rape.
James Pasfield, age 33, was hanged for arson on the 27th of March 1835.
George Cranfield was another arsonist who was hanged on the 7th of August 1835.
Abraham Hilliard was executed on the 22nd of March 1839 for the murder by shooting of Mrs. Susanna Playle.
On the 14th of August 1848, 38 year old Mary May was hanged for the murder of her half brother, William Constable by poisoning at Wix, to obtain money from a burial club.
On the 25th of March 1851 a double hanging occurred when 42 year old Sarah Chesham dubbed “Sally Arsenic” by the press, was hanged for the attempted murder by poisoning of her husband, Richard. She was the last woman to die for attempted murder. With her was 23 year old Thomas Drory who suffered for the murder by strangling of his pregnant girlfriend 20 year old Jael Denny. A detailed broadside was printed for this execution.
|
Charles Saunders was hanged on the 30th of March 1853 for the murder of |
Thomas Stoller at Chadwell. |
62 year old Micheal Crawley was
executed on the 29th of July 1857 for the murder of his wife, Mary in
Stratford.
With him on the gallows was Charles Finch who was to die for the murder of his
girlfriend, Harriet Freeborn.
Francis Wane, aged 48, was put to death on the 28th of December 1864 for the murder of Amelia Blunt. A broadside was printed for this execution.
Ferdinand Kohl became the last man to die here in public, when he was hanged for the murder of Theodore Furhop on the 26th of January 1865. This hanging also merited a broadside.
Private executions. 20 men.
Michael Campbell, aged 28, was hanged by Calcraft on the 24th of April 1871 for the murder of Samuel Galloway at West Ham.
21 year old Richard Coates was executed by William Marwood in the prison yard on the 29th of March 1875 for the rape and murder of six year old Alice Boughen at Purfleet. Coates was given a drop of six feet but his neck was not broken.
Charles Revell, aged 25, was hanged by William Marwood on the 29th of July 1878 for the murder of his wife, Hester in Epping Forest.
45 year old James Lee was executed by James Berry on the 18th of May 1885 for the murder by shooting of Police Inspector Simmons near Romford.
On the 21st of November 1887, 17 year old Joseph Morley was hanged by James Berry for the murder of his landlady, Mrs. Rogers.
29 year old George Sargent was executed by James Berry on the 15th of August 1888, having pled guilty to cutting the throat of 21 year old Ann Taylor at Wakes Colne. Berry gave him a drop of 5’ 6” and he struggled for a few moments.
The gallows on which Lee, Morley and Sargent were hanged was described as being set up in the male airing yard. The platform was level with the yard and the trapdoors were set over a brick lined pit. There were two uprights and a cross beam with a length of chain attached to it to which the rope was tied. The trapdoors were released by operating a lever.
Thomas Saddler was hanged by James Berry on the 18th of August 1891 for the murder of William Wass at Colchester. Wass was his lover’s husband.
34 year old John Davis suffered on the 16th of August 1893 for murdering Police Sgt. Adam Eves at Hazeleigh. He was hanged by James Billington in a new execution shed in one of the yards. It is assumed that this shed was used for all subsequent hangings here.
On the 4th of December 1894 James Read was hanged by James Billington for the murder of 18 year old Florence Dennis, one of his several mistresses.
William Wilks was executed by James Billington on the 19th of July 1898 for the murder of his wife, Ann.
On the 5th of December 1899, Samuel Crozier, age 35, was executed by James Billington for the murder of his wife, also Ann.
35 year old William Burrett was executed by James Billington on the 3rd of October 1900 for the murder of his wife, Ada Gubb Burrett.
Charles Howell, age 30, was executed by William Billington on the 7th of July 1903 for the murder of his girlfriend, Maud Luen.
57 year old Samuel Dougal was hanged by William Billington a week later on the 14th of July 1903 for the murder of his girlfriend, Camille Cecile Holland.
Bernard White, age 21 was executed by William Billington on the 1st of December 1903 for murdering his ex girlfriend, Maud Garrett.
20 year old Richard Buckham was hanged by Henry Pierrepoint on the 4th of December 1906 for the murders of Albert and Emma Watson.
Frederick Foreman, age 45 was executed by Henry Pierrepoint and John Ellis on the 14th of July 1910 for the murder of his girlfriend Elizabeth Ely. Pierrepoint got into a fight with Ellis and was removed from the Home Office list.
19 year old George Newton was hanged by John Ellis on the 31st of January 1911 for murdering his girlfriend Ada Roker.
William Beal, age 20, was executed by John Ellis on the 10th of December 1912 for the murder of his girlfriend Clara Ellizabeth Carter.
On the 4th of November 1914 the final hanging was carried out here when 71 year old Charles Frembd was hanged by John Ellis for the murder of his wife, Louisa. Frembd was the oldest man hanged in the UK in the 20th century.
After this Essex executions were carried out at London’s Pentonville prison.
