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 remodelled 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.
There was a total of 43 executions carried out at Springfield between 1827 and 1914.
Public Hangings on the Flat Roof of the Porter’s Lodge (1827–1865)
Between 1827 and 1865, 23 people (21 men and two women) were hanged in public on the flat roof of the porter’s lodge, utilizing the New Drop apparatus rather than older cart methods seen in the short drop method, as recorded in our historical survey of execution sites from the late 18th century to abolition in 1964:
1827–1830: Early Capital Offenses
- James Winter (alias Reuben Martin): 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): Hanged on the 21st of December 1827 for robbery at Ramsden Crays.
- John Williams: Hanged on the 8th of August 1828 for horse stealing at Epping.
- Robert Oades, Michael Cashon, and John Brien: 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.
- James Cook: Sixteen-year-old James Cook was hanged for arson at the farm where he worked on the 27th of March 1829.
- Captain William Moir: 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. William Calcraft carried out all the public hangings from here on at Chelmsford.
- John Stammers: On the 13th of August 1830, John Stammers suffered for sodomy.
- James Ewen and Thomas Bateman: James Ewen was executed on the 24th of December 1830 for arson, together with Thomas Bateman, who was to die for a burglary.
1831–1848: The Bloody Code and Murder by Poisoning
- William Jennings: Forty-six-year-old William Jennings was hanged on the 5th of August 1831, also for arson, at Writtle.
- John Hills: Twenty-one-year-old John Hills was executed on the 10th of August 1832 for rape.
- James Pasfield: James Pasfield, aged 33, was hanged for arson on the 27th of March 1835.
- George Cranfield: Another arsonist who was hanged on the 7th of August 1835.
- Abraham Hilliard: Executed on the 22nd of March 1839 for the murder by shooting of Mrs. Susanna Playle.
- Mary May: On the 14th of August 1848, 38-year-old Mary May was hanged for the murder of her half-brother, William Constable, by arsenic poisoning at Wix, to obtain money from a burial club.
1851: Sarah Chesham and Thomas Drory
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 in England for attempted murder.
With her on the scaffold 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.
1853–1865: Final Public Executions
- Charles Saunders: Hanged on the 30th of March 1853 for the murder of Thomas Stoller at Chadwell.
- Michael Crawley and Charles Finch: On the 29th of July 1857, 62-year-old Michael Crawley was executed for the murder of his wife, Mary, in Stratford. With him on the gallows was Charles Finch, who died for the murder of his girlfriend, Harriet Freeborn.
- Francis Wane: Aged 48, 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 Inside the Prison Walls (20 Men)
Following the Capital Punishment Amendment Act 1868, all executions were moved inside the prison walls.
Twenty men were executed privately at Springfield between 1871 and 1914:
| Execution Date | Condemned Name | Age | Hangman / Assistant | Crime and Victim |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24/04/1871 | Michael Campbell | 28 | William Calcraft | Murder of Samuel Galloway at West Ham |
| 29/03/1875 | Richard Coates | 21 | William Marwood | Rape and murder of Alice Boughen (6) at Purfleet |
| 29/07/1878 | Charles Revell | 25 | William Marwood | Murder of wife Hester in Epping Forest |
| 18/05/1885 | James Lee | 45 | James Berry | Murder of Police Inspector Simmons near Romford |
| 21/11/1887 | Joseph Morley | 17 | James Berry | Murder of landlady Mrs. Rogers |
| 15/08/1888 | George Sargent | 29 | James Berry | Murder of Ann Taylor (21) at Wakes Colne |
| 18/08/1891 | Thomas Saddler | — | James Berry | Murder of William Wass at Colchester |
| 16/08/1893 | John Davis | 34 | James Billington | Murder of Police Sgt. Adam Eves at Hazeleigh |
| 04/12/1894 | James Read | — | James Billington | Murder of mistress Florence Dennis (18) |
| 19/07/1898 | William Wilks | — | James Billington | Murder of wife Ann |
| 05/12/1899 | Samuel Crozier | 35 | James Billington | Murder of wife Ann |
| 03/10/1900 | William Burrett | 35 | James Billington | Murder of wife Ada Gubb Burrett |
| 07/07/1903 | Charles Howell | 30 | William Billington | Murder of girlfriend Maud Luen |
| 14/07/1903 | Samuel Dougal | 57 | William Billington | Moat Farm murder of Camille Cecile Holland |
| 01/12/1903 | Bernard White | 21 | William Billington | Murder of ex-girlfriend Maud Garrett |
| 04/12/1906 | Richard Buckham | 20 | Henry Pierrepoint | Murders of Albert and Emma Watson |
| 14/07/1910 | Frederick Foreman | 45 | Henry Pierrepoint & John Ellis | Murder of girlfriend Elizabeth Ely |
| 31/01/1911 | George Newton | 19 | John Ellis | Murder of girlfriend Ada Roker |
| 10/12/1912 | William Beal | 20 | John Ellis | Murder of girlfriend Clara Elizabeth Carter |
| 04/11/1914 | Charles Frembd | 71 | John Ellis | Murder of wife Louisa |
Gallows Facilities and Execution Incidents
On the 29th of March 1875, 21-year-old Richard Coates was executed by William Marwood in the prison yard 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.
The gallows on which James Lee, Joseph Morley, and George 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, implementing the evolution of the long drop in the 20th century.
There were two uprights and a crossbeam with a length of chain attached to it to which the rope was tied.
The trapdoors were released by operating a mechanical lever.
On the 15th of August 1888, 29-year-old George Sargent was executed by James Berry, having pleaded guilty to cutting the throat of 21-year-old Ann Taylor at Wakes Colne.
Berry gave him a drop of 5 feet 6 inches, and he struggled for a few moments.
On the 16th of August 1893, 34-year-old John Davis was hanged by James Billington in a new execution shed in one of the yards for murdering Police Sergeant Adam Eves at Hazeleigh.
It is assumed that this shed was used for all subsequent hangings here.
The Pierrepoint and Ellis Altercation (1910)
Frederick Foreman, aged 45, was executed by Henry Pierrepoint and John Ellis on the 14th of July 1910 for the murder of his girlfriend, Elizabeth Ely.
Following this execution, Pierrepoint got into a heated fight with Ellis in their lodgings; as a direct result of this physical altercation, Henry Pierrepoint was removed from the Home Office list of approved executioners.
Charles Frembd: The Final Execution (1914)
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 holds the historic distinction of being the oldest man hanged in the United Kingdom in the 20th century.
After this execution, capital punishment ceased at Springfield Prison, and all subsequent Essex capital executions were transferred to London’s Pentonville Prison up until the abolition of capital punishment in Britain in 1965.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Springfield Prison in Chelmsford built?
Springfield Convict Prison was designed by County Surveyor Thomas Hopper and constructed between 1822 and 1828 on Springfield Road, Chelmsford, featuring an octagonal governor’s house and six radial wings.
How many executions took place at Springfield Prison?
A total of 43 executions took place at Springfield Prison: 23 public hangings on the flat roof of the porter’s lodge (21 men and two women between 1827 and 1865) and 20 private hangings inside the prison yards and execution shed (all men between 1871 and 1914).
Who was Sarah Chesham (“Sally Arsenic”)?
Sarah Chesham was executed on March 25, 1851, alongside Thomas Drory. Convicted of attempting to poison her husband Richard with arsenic, she was the last woman in Great Britain executed for the crime of attempted murder.
Why was executioner Henry Pierrepoint dismissed following an execution here?
After the execution of Frederick Foreman on July 14, 1910, Henry Pierrepoint engaged in a physical fight with his assistant John Ellis. The incident was reported to prison authorities, leading to Pierrepoint’s immediate removal from the Home Office list.
Who was the last person executed at Springfield Prison?
Seventy-one-year-old Charles Frembd was the final person executed at Springfield Prison on November 4, 1914, hanged by John Ellis for wife murder. He was the oldest man executed in the UK during the 20th century.
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