19.4.08 - The Condemned Cell. I played the tourist guide today for a friend, and one of the places we visited was the Old Prison in Lincoln Castle. The exhibit has changed a lot since I was last there, and I was very impressed, not to mention profoundly moved. The cells had presentations using shadow play, as different prisoners told their stories. This cell was where condemned prisoners spent their last night, and the shadow play was of a woman pleading her innocence to the priest who came to prepare her for death. She was the first person to be executed in private, previously it was a public spectacle. She was convicted of poisoning her husband, and was executed by the "long drop" method of hanging. As an aside, this method was invented in this prison. Years later an ex-lodger confessed to the murder, so her death was a terrible mis-carriage of justice. As someone passionately against the death penalty this re-affirmed my belief.

It was interesting to watch the reaction of other visitors. The adults were visibly moved, and the children were talking about "the ghosts" in the cells.

19.4.08 - The Condemned Cell. I played the tourist guide today for a friend, and one of the places we visited was the Old Prison in Lincoln Castle. The exhibit has changed a lot since I was last there, and I was very impressed, not to mention profoundly moved. The cells had presentations using shadow play, as different prisoners told their stories. This cell was where condemned prisoners spent their last night, and the shadow play was of a woman pleading her innocence to the priest who came to prepare her for death. She was the first person to be executed in private, previously it was a public spectacle. She was convicted of poisoning her husband, and was executed by the "long drop" method of hanging. As an aside, this method was invented in this prison. Years later an ex-lodger confessed to the murder, so her death was a terrible mis-carriage of justice. As someone passionately against the death penalty this re-affirmed my belief.

It was interesting to watch the reaction of other visitors. The adults were visibly moved, and the children were talking about "the ghosts" in the cells.