Crime in a rapidly changing society
Reading the novels of Jane Austen one might be forgiven for thinking that hers was a calm and relaxing period in which to live (1775-1817).
“Ah! There is nothing like staying at home, for real comfort.”
― Jane Austen
Far from it. The economy of the country was going through the rapid change of the Industrial Revolution. This brought many opportunities, but also many problems. The population of London doubled from 1801 to 1851 – many other towns and cities also grew rapidly. There was high unemployment (“labour displacement”) and poverty was rampant. Few social safety nets existed.
Crime was a major concern for Victorian society. The courts were kept busy but the fear of many was that crimes often went unreported, unrecorded and/or unsolved. London’s Metropolitan Police Force was formed in 1829. Between 1842 and 1877, ninety prisons were built or extended. The Victorians seem to have been keen on locking up a far higher proportion of women (c.17%) than we do today (c.5%).
Old Police Cells Museum, Brighton
Whenever I get an opportunity to look round an historic courthouse, prison or police cells, I snap it up. You can learn a lot from the experience, perhaps even what it feels like to have a cell door slam on you when you’re on the wrong side.
If you ever visit Brighton (Sussex, England), do nip into the Old Police Cells Museum (check the visiting hours first). The Museum is dedicated to ‘charting the history of policing in Sussex from 1830 to the present day’ and is housed in the basement of Brighton Town Hall. It even has a wedding licence, so you can get married there if you have time. The Museum advertises:
Happy couples can swap cufflinks for handcuffs at one of Brighton’s newest wedding venues. Instead of the peeling of church bells, brides and grooms can hear the clinking of jail cells after The Old Police Cells Museum was granted a wedding licence.
There is a lot of information there about the realities of Victorian and post-Victorian crime to take in – or you can just absorb the atmosphere and imagine.
BELOW: ‘Crime & Punishment in the Long 19th Century’ on Pinterest (from The Long Victorian)
The Long Victorian 
I’ll definitely be visiting the museum in Brighton, next time I’m in UK. Sounds fascinating.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Excellent, yes. And there’s a famous fish ‘n’ chip shop there as well, when you’re tired of being locked up! XD http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-23313896
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great idea!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very interesting post. I feel the same fascination for historic crime museums and think this one is particularly atmospheric. It features as the police station in Elly Griffiths’s 1950s Brighton detective novels.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, that’s a piece of information I didn’t know – thank you 🙂 My dad was born in Brighton – it’s an atmospheric place.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great post. If you’re ever in Melbourne there’s a great gaol museum here too. I love cemeteries for similar reasons , although that’s possibly more macabre!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! 🙂 I used to manage a bookshop in Sydney (briefly, long ago), travelled around – other direction – but sadly never got to Melbourne. One for the bucket list – before I’m in the cemetery.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oooh. Where was the bookshop? I’ve spent a lot of time there.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pitt Street, right in the centre. It was a great site for a general bookshop – easy for the city/bank workers to pop in. On a cheap, short lease that kept being extended because the building was to be knocked down. Very close to a light rail station (forgotten what they’re called now). But, strangely, I think I can see it on Google Street View (empty shop). Seems much smaller than I remember – it was a big place inside.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Monorail….!? Tardis-like bookshop; great concept.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ohhh this is very interesting. Adding this to my list of places to see. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ah, glad you liked it! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person