Join us as we delve into the lives of Victorian criminals, discussing photographs used by the police, types of punishment and prisons in the late nineteenth century.

This episode of Acid Free focusses on two unassuming leather bound volumes in our collections known as the “Mug Shot Books” featuring photographs of convicted criminals alongside physical descriptions and details of their crimes. The majority of criminals featured were convicted in Ruthin, although a proportion were convicted elsewhere. They were put together by Superintendent J. Bradshaw and the police would have used them to identify felons with connections to North Wales.

Our guest for this podcast is Richard Ireland.

Richard Ireland taught in the Law Department at Aberystwyth University for 40 years before retiring, specialising in the history of crime and punishment. He has written many articles and a number of books on the subject, including Land of White Gloves? A History of Crime and Punishment in Wales. He has also made several appearances on radio and television, including a piece for BBC 1's The One Show on criminal photography, filmed in Ruthin Gaol.

Richard is interviewed by our Community Engagement Officer, Katie.

Music: No.3 Morning Folk Song - Esther Abrami