HMP Birmingham, also known as Birmingham County Gaol or Winson Green Prison was opened in 1849 and is still running on the same site hosting category B & C male prisoners today. The prison was created to fulfil the needs of the expanding population after the town gaol was deemed inappropriate a decade prior. It was designed by Mr Daniel Hill, who also designed Lewes Prison and HMP Wandsworth. It hosted both male and female inmates, executions, saw outbreaks of disease and violence, and has made the news repeatedly for administrative failures throughout its tenure.
Background and history of the prison
The prison’s opening in 1849 after four years of construction[1], was heralded as a type of reform, a new setting that could improve the lives of inmates whilst ensuring the safety of those who lived and worked in the local area. Matthew Davenport Hill, the local judge would even refer to it as a “moral hospital”[2]. In less than five years, these ideals had been crushed.
After multiple attempts at suicide by the inmates a government inquiry was held which uncovered widespread abuses from all levels of the administration.
“An old man of 62 years of age, who is put to work at the crank although suffering from disease; he is taken ill in his cell, left without assistance in a filthy condition during the night, and threatened with a whipping if he rings for help[3]”
Another gentleman died from an epileptic fit, the doctor not having been sent for as the guards did not think it worthwhile[4]. There were accounts of water torture, cold water thrown over men who would not (or could not) speak because they were “sulky”. Others experienced such frequent restrictions on their diet that ending their lives was considered a better option. Fourteen suicide attempts were made in all, leading to one of the country’s largest inquiries and public outcry so vehement that changes had to be made.
The inquiry led to the dismissal of several wardens, the arrest of both the physician and governor, William Austin, who was found guilty and imprisoned for 3 months[5].
After 1885 Birmingham Prison took over as the execution location for those sentenced to death at the Birmingham Assizes, and those executed on the grounds were buried in the prison yard by council grave diggers[6]. From 1885 up until the abolition of the death penalty 42 people were executed by hanging at Birmingham, 41 men and 1 woman[7].
Winson Green Prison would later come under scrutiny again for being one of the first UK prisons to force feed suffragettes on hunger strike[8].
After the 1870s the prison was managed by the government rather than the borough as complaints were still in abundance. It would later, in 2011, become the first publicly run prison in the UK to be entirely privatised, however following a further outbreak of deaths and poor practices it was returned to public ownership in 2018.
Inmates of Interest
Birmingham has had many intriguing inmates over its long history, some very well-known like Fred West and Ozzy Osbourne, others, just as historically valuable but less infamous.
Dorothea Waddingham
Dorothea called herself a nurse. She had no training, but with a partner and 2 children to raise she opened her house to paying customers who needed care[9]. Private care or workhouses were the standard for the elderly or infirm in the early 1930s, and whilst people were shifting away from workhouses, private care provisions were basic and limited.
Dorothea took in a mother and daughter pair, the mother elderly, the daughter with MS and she killed both after arranging for will to benefit her[10]. Dorothea confessed to her crime after conviction, and despite being a nursing mother to a three-month-old infant, she was hung at Birmingham Prison on the 16th April 1936. She was the only woman to be executed at Birmingham, and her death had over 10,000 visitors and members of the public protesting the death penalty.
Her execution has been portrayed in the film Pierrepoint (2005).
Henry Kimberley
Henry Kimberley was the first person to be hung at Birmingham Prison. He was convicted of the murder of Emma Palmer, an acquaintance of his ex-partner. He had been attempting to shoot his then ex-girlfriend when Mrs Palmer, wife of the local pubkeeper, unfortunately got in the way. She died almost instantly. A report from the Ashby-de-la-Zouch Gazette 21st March 1885 described the following.
“At 8 o’clock on Tuesday morning last, Henry Kimberley was executed within the precincts of the Winson Green Prison, Birmingham, for the murder of Mrs Palmer, wife of Thomas Palmer, licenced victualler, Paradise Street. During the whole of the time the culprit was at the gaol he maintained the most calm demeanour, and was apparently resigned to his fate. He was attended by the chaplain of the prison (the Rev. F.W. Peart) two and three times a day. On Sunday last he was present at divine service when as usual a sermon was preached by the chaplain, but in it he refrained from making any reference to Kimberley. On Monday night the condemned man slept soundly and rose shortly before six o’clock on the Tuesday morning. The sacrament was administered to him shortly afterwards, and he remained in prayer with the chaplain until a quarter passed seven o’clock, when he partook of a substantial breakfast. Long before the hour appointed crowds of persons could be seen slowly wending their way in the direction of the prison, and by half passed seven o’clock there could not have been less than 2000 persons assembled outside the gaol.
The culprit was visited in his cell by Berry, of Bradford, the executioner, shortly before eight o’clock, and submitted to the pinioning in a quiet and passive manner. The usual procession was then formed, consisting of the prison officials, headed by the prison chaplain, the culprit walking by the side of one of the warders. The condemned cell is situated at the inmost part of the prison, and Kimberley had to walk from this apartment along a corridor, and descended a flight of eleven steps before he reached what is known as the back yard, and in which the room where the execution took place is situated. The bell commenced to toll about ten minutes to eight o’clock, its ominous sound having a most depressing influence. The culprit, upon leaving his cell, walked firmly to the scaffold, which is an entirely new structure. The room in which it is erected is about 16 foot square, and a strong beam goes across the centre, the rope being attached by means of an iron clasp. Underneath there is the well or pit, into which the body falls, and at the side is the staircase leading into it, and by means of which the pit is entered for the purpose of cutting down the body. On the other side – or the culprit’s right – is the lever by which the bolt is drawn. Kimberley, upon entering, gave a hasty glance at all the preparations. He was dressed in convict’s attire, and had a dejected appearance. He had not, however, materially altered since his sentence. His eyes bore traces off severe weeping, and his whole appearance indicated that he was greatly distressed. While Berry was engaged adjusting the rope, the culprit addressed some words to him in an undertone, the purport of which was as to the manner in which the cord would be placed. After which Kimberley was continually ejaculating, “Receive my soul, O Lord,” and “God receive my soul.” He had not stood upon the platform more than thirty seconds before the bolts were drawn and he fell into the pit below[11].”
His death was instantaneous and a final count of the witnesses outside the prison was around 20,000.
The Prison Today
Birmingham Prison came under serious review after a riot in 2016 and was returned to public management after several noted failures in administration. Currently it hosts up to 1000 inmates either awaiting sentencing or undergoing a current sentence. The prison consists of eleven wings, including those for the elderly and inmates recovering from addiction, and encourages the uptake of vocational and educational opportunities for those housed within the walls[12].
[1] Clark, R., 1995. Winson Green prison. [online] Capitalpunishmentuk.org. Available at: <http://www.capitalpunishmentuk.org/Winson_Green.html> [Accessed 13 January 2022].
[2] ibid
[3] The Fermanagh Mail, 1853. The Atrocities at Birmingham Gaol. [online] p.1. Available at: <https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000823/18530929/001/0001> [Accessed 13 January 2022].
[4] ibid
[5] Austin, J., 2018. Lessons from Birmingham prison’s history | Centre for Crime and Justice Studies. [online] Crimeandjustice.org.uk. Available at: <https://www.crimeandjustice.org.uk/resources/lessons-birmingham-prisons-history> [Accessed 13 January 2022].
[6] Clark, R., 1995. Winson Green prison. [online] Capitalpunishmentuk.org. Available at: <http://www.capitalpunishmentuk.org/Winson_Green.html> [Accessed 13 January 2022].
[7] ibid
[8] Uk Parliament. n.d. Winson Green force feeding. [online] Available at: <https://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/transformingsociety/electionsvoting/womenvote/case-study-the-right-to-vote/the-right-to-vote/winson-green-forcefeeding/> [Accessed 13 January 2022].
[9] Rowland, John., 1960. Poisoner In The Dock: Twelve Studies in Poisoning (New York: Archer House – Arco Books)
[10] Wilson, Colin and Pitman, Pat., 1961 Encyclopaedia of Murder (New York: G. P. Putnam’s Sons)
[11] Ashby-de-la-Zouch Gazette, 1885. Execution of the Birmingham Murderer. [online] p.6. Available at: <https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002621/18850321/062/0006> [Accessed 13 January 2022].
[12] GOV.UK. 2022. Birmingham Prison. [online] Available at: <https://www.gov.uk/guidance/birmingham-prison#life-at-birmingham-prison> [Accessed 13 January 2022].