By the beginning of the Victorian era, the county gaol at Oxford was no longer a ramshackle, unsanitary enterprise, but a rigorous and austere modern institution. The rowdy, disorderly Georgian gaol became a regimented, eerily quiet Victorian version. At Oxford, the magistrates crushed what was left of the old gaol culture of graft and gambling […] The post Victorian Crime and Punishment appeared first on Oxford Castle & Prison.| Oxford Castle & Prison
A look back on the force, in the words of our very own tour guide, Paul Kyberd… “Well let me start by saying, I suppose I am lucky that throughout my police career I served in three police forces, without leaving Oxford. Let me explain… on 1st January 1968, Thames Valley Constabulary was formed, amalgamating […] The post On The Record: My Time In The Thames Valley Police Force appeared first on Oxford Castle & Prison.| Oxford Castle & Prison
Oxford Prison eventually closed its doors as a prison in 1996 and remained closed until 2006 when it opened up as a hotel and attraction. You can find out more about us on Facebook! Here is a picture when it was a prison taken by Thames Valley Police’s helicopter: You can clearly see A Wing, […] The post On the record: Looking back at HMP Oxford appeared first on Oxford Castle & Prison.| Oxford Castle & Prison
One of the characters at Oxford Castle Unlocked is a man known as Rowland Jenkes who, while appearing at Oxford Assize Court in the 16th century, put a curse on the court and as a result, over 300 people died in the city of Oxford. It is a fascinating story brilliantly portrayed a fellow tour […] The post On the Record: The Black Assize appeared first on Oxford Castle & Prison.| Oxford Castle & Prison
Our Queen, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has two birthdays, her actual birthday on 21st April and another on the second Saturday of June known as the Queen’s Official Birthday. This was first celebrated in 1748 under the reign of King George II to celebrate the birthday of the Monarch with what is now known […] The post On the Record: The Queen’s in Oxford appeared first on Oxford Castle & Prison.| Oxford Castle & Prison
On Saturday 13th May, it’s ‘Train Day’ with events taking place throughout the country. Trains takes my mind back to a robbery that took place in Buckinghamshire in 1963. This is known as The Great Train Robbery. The Great Train Robbery In the early hours of one morning a train was stopped and then robbed […] The post On the Record: Train Day & The Great Train Robbery appeared first on Oxford Castle & Prison.| Oxford Castle & Prison
This Sunday we celebrate St George’s Day. A day of celebration. Friends getting together and enjoying a good St George’s Day lunch which always includes Roast Beef and Yorkshire puddings. St George’s day was celebrated in St George’s Crypt up until the closure of Oxford Prison in 1996. As a Detective I would often attend […] The post On the Record: St George’s Day celebrations appeared first on Oxford Castle & Prison.| Oxford Castle & Prison
Oliver Butler was the last person to be executed in Oxford. Here is the second in our ‘On The Record’ blog series with one of our tour guides Paul Kyberd, a former Oxfordshire Constabulary Police Detective. In his blog series, he’ll be sharing stories of his experiences in the police force and his many visits […] The post On The Record: The Execution of Oliver Butler appeared first on Oxford Castle & Prison.| Oxford Castle & Prison