Social media such as Facebook and Flickr have become a significant way of communication. Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums have some fantastic and interesting collections that can’t always be shown on display and instead need to be stored away, in order to keep them safe.

Working with archives and the history team, I have selected some of these collections to share on social media sites, giving more people the chance to engage and appreciate some of these collections.

One of these collections from the archives includes photographic records of convicts who spent time in the Newcastle City Gaol and House of Correction between the dates December 1871 – December 1873. The particulars of criminals convicted of a crime specified in section 20 of the Prevention of Crimes Act, 1871 and reported to the Secretary of State [Home Secretary] as being imprisoned in Newcastle Gaol, numbers 1079-1303.

Here’s a taster.

Aged just 12 years old, Jane became a convict at Newcastle City Gaol.

Jane Farrell stole 2 boots and was sentenced to do 10 hard days labour at Newcastle City Gaol. The details below were documented on her criminal record.

Age (on discharge):12                                                                         Height:              4.2                                                                      Hair:                  Brown                                                                    Eyes:                 Blue                                                                                                 Place of  Birth: Newcastle

To see more of these photographs visit our Flickr page – click here

I will continue to upload more photographs to Flickr and will keep you informed on what there is to see.