winson green prison

[Shera]

i have a book listing the 40 people who were hanged at winson green prison. the last murder was of a thomas bates at his newsagents shop at 176 lee bank road, edgbaston in june, 1962. there is a picture of the shop in the book.

i was surprised that the last hanging was as late as nov 1962. i thought the death penalty had gone by the fifties. i remember mom saying how the crowds would gather outside the gate to see the death notice being posted on the door.

 

[terryb18]

I had'nt long left school then and I can remember clocking in at work and everyone talking about it, cause they were hanged at 8am,saying things like another 5 minutes and he's gone, good riddance, shame, all different reactions.

Terry

 

[maggieuk]

Shera whats the name of the book ..would love to read it

 

[Shera]

Shera whats the name of the book ..would love to read it

maggie i bought it from asda. its called "hanged at birmingham" by steve fielding. if you dont get it i will lend it to you on the next meet up.

 

[Shera]

Hi Shera, any chance of you putting the list on the forum for us to see please....you never know there may be names for all our trees...thankyou

these are the persons hanged and the date of the execution (first 20. will do another list of the other 20)

henry kimberley of pershore rd. bham. 17th march 1885
george nathaniel daniels of castle street, bham. 28 august 1888
henry benjamin jones of park lane, aston. also 28 august 1888
frederick davis of st. stephens st. off newton row, bham 26 august 1890
frederick william fenton of st. james st. lozells 4 april 1894
frank taylor of vyse street, bham 18 august 1896
john joyce of price st. bham 20 august 1901
charles samuel dyer of inge st. bham 5 april 1904
samuel holden of coventry st. bham 16 august 1904
frank greening bham. 13 august 1913
william allen butler of bath terrace, chequers walk, bham 16 august 1916
louis van der kerkhove bham 9 april 1918
henry thomas gaskin of hednesford hill, cannock 8 august 1919
samuel westwood of bentley lane, short heath 30 december 1920
edward o`connor of sash street, stafford 22 december 1921
elijah pountney of pheasant inn, broad st.bilston 11 august 1922
william rider of elborrow st. rugby 18 december 1922
john fisher of wright st. small heath 5 january 1926
george sharpes of southam, warwick 13 april 1926
james joseph power of heath green rd. bham 31 january 1928

 

[Shera]

Hi Shera, any chance of you putting the list on the forum for us to see please....you never know there may be names for all our trees...thankyou

second lot of 20

victor edward betts of barton st. bham 3 january 1931
jeremiah hanbury of brierley hill 2 february 1933
stanley eric hobday of west bromwich 28 december 1933
dorothea nancy waddingham of nottingham 16 april 1936
peter barnes & james richards (ira bombing in coventry) 7 february 1940
eli richards of weoley castle 19 september 1941
arthur peach of green rock lane, bloxwich 30 january 1942
harold oswald merry of hewell rd. redditch. 10 september 1942
william quayle of bath row bham 3 august 1943
james farrell of dormington rd. kingstanding 29 march 1949
piotr maksimowski of beaconsfield, bucks. 29 march 1950
william arthur watkins of clifton rd. balsall heath. 3 april 1951
horace carter of caversham rd. kingstanding 1 january 1952
leslie terrence green of barlaston, staffs 23 december 1952
frederick arthur cross of great haywood, staffs. 26 july 1955
corbett montague roberts of frederick rd. aston 2 august 1955
ernest charles harding of coventry 9 august 1955
dennis howard of smethwick 4 december 1957
matther kavanagh of hillmorton rd. rugby 12 august 1958
oswald augustus grey of cannon hill rd. balsall heath 20 november 1962

thats it folks. hope none of these are yours!!

 

[maggieuk]

Shera was the Frank Taylor that one that murdered the little girl in Vyse Street

 

[Shera]

yes maggie, it was 10 year old may lewis who failed to return to her home in smith st. after leaving school. there is a page or two about each case in the book.

 

[Big Gee]

I was at school with a boy whose father did death-watch at Winson Green, presumably for one of the last three hanged there.

The last hangings in the UK were in 1964.

One of my true-crime interests is the A6 Case (James Hanratty) of 1961.

Big Gee

 

[Big Gee]

big gee, ive read several books on the hanratty case. its a very interesting and complex case. i believed he was definitely innocent from the info in the books but in recent years they have said he was guilty. i still dont really believe it.

Hi Shera.

The A6 Case is still hotly debated. It became very political in the 1970's when Paul Foot of 'Private Eye' magazine wrote a book in which he claimed that Hanratty was wrongly convicted. In 2002 DNA tests proved that without a doubt he was guilty. If you go to www.casebook.org (in fact a website dedicated to Jack The Ripper but with loads of info on other notable crimes) you'll find an absorbing debate on the A6 Case. That it's complex is an understatement....

Big Gee

 

[les hancock]

I have found this link for anybody who is interested https://www.capitalpunishmentuk.org/hanged1.html

 

[oldMohawk]

Not an 'hanging story', but I went in Winson Green Prison one night in the 50's. I had an accident at the Ice Rink and was taken to Dudley Rd Hospital. After injuries were stitched etc, an ambulance was laid on to take me home. Another chap was also carried into the ambulance and when we dropped him off, I was aware of large doors opening and then uniformed men taking him out, and looking closely at me. The ambulance drivers then told me where I was....

 

[Big Gee]

In the 1970's a former work-colleague of mine was employed by a specialist paint company that manufactured supposedly graffiti-resistant paint. His company got a contract to decorate parts of Winson Green nick. He said he delivered all the paint (very expensive stuff) one evening so the painters could make a start the next day. When they turned up at the clink in the morning every last container of paint had disappeared, never to be seen again. My friend said that a serious search was started, at the end of which it stayed a mystery - how a large number of 5-gallon drums of paint could be 'disappeared' overnight was never explained.

Big Gee

 

[tiggy]

Hi there, Im new to the forum, unfortunately one of the list of exercuted was my uncle James Farrell, Ive been researching my family history because my Mom & her other brother were separated at the time of the hanging & only n=met up again last year, it is a tragic story & we are keen to know the details so that the guosts can be laid to rest, any info would be most welcome

 

[Shera]

hello tiggy, was it the crime that you wanted to know about? the murder of joan mary marney aged 14yrs took place on 21st november 1948 in sutton park. james farrell was 18yrs and a soldier in the royal army service corps. james strangled the girl when she spurned his advances. james address at that time was 4 bevis grove, dormington rd, kingstanding. joan mary marney lived 75 sidcup rd kingstanding.
the hanging took place on 29th march 1949 by albert pierrepoint and james farrell was just a few days more than 19yrs. he was one of the youngest men to be hanged in the twentieth century.

if you want to get the book it is "hanged at birmingham" by steve fielding. there are 3 or 4 pages about the murder. there are no pictures of james farrell but there are pictures of the victim. the murder was known as the "holly bush strangler".

hope this helps.

 

[Astonian]

HI GUYS

judge jelf sentenced william yarnold to death for the murder of his wife tippty toe Lil
was her name she left him when he was away at war he came back from war she was living with
another man , he begged her back but she said no ;
so he stabbed her in the back several times
he was sentences by judge jelf at the quarter sessions in worcestershire 1925
judge jelf ordered henry piepoint from bradford to come to worc gaol and hang him ;
and like all people whom was hanged through out the country when hunged
they are burried within the prison walls
best wishes Astonian ;

 

[paul stacey]

Hi All
Anybody know about a case called the "tow path murder" I remember my dad talking about it, when three young men were hanged for the murder of a friend who was out with his girl friend and they met up with three other young men who they knew, and they 'joshed' him about his girl, a scuffle took place and they took his wrist watch which had fallen off in the fight, one of the boys jokingly kicked out with his winkle picker shoes and he pierced the others scull he had a medical condition called "eggshell skull" totally by accident and he died, because of the watch incident it was deemed a capital offence and they all three hung sometime in the late 50's or early 60's they were in their teens.
paul

 

[col h]

In the mid 90s I prepared a quote for some work at Winson Green which involved quite a lot of cabling. We were not allowed to include any underground ducting as there are a lot of remains buried within the walls since 1845 when the prison opened, and there were no accurate records of where a lot of thr earlier ones are. Apparently the gas board had tried to lay pipes some years before, but had to abandon the work when they found that they were disturbing the remains.

I was also told that the'Topping Shed' is still there, and kept in working order.

 

[bobbyb]

Having spent time in the "green" for poll tax, the "topping Shed" no longer exists and I was told that when Hanging was abolished it was made into the Prison Shop, but in the refurbishment it was completely stripped and no longer exists, it used to have a extension outside which was demolished, so no it is not kept in working order. Looking on Google the wing where it was housed is now a car park, Pity the old Gate House was demolished though.

 

[col h]

Having spent time in the "green" for poll tax, the "topping Shed" no longer exists and I was told that when Hanging was abolished it was made into the Prison Shop, but in the refurbishment it was completely stripped and no longer exists, it used to have a extension outside which was demolished, so no it is not kept in working order. Looking on Google the wing where it was housed is now a car park, Pity the old Gate House was demolished though.

The bit about the shed ame from a maintenance guy, could have been winding us up I suppose, bearing in mind he said working order, not ready to use. I s'pose that need only mean a hook and a trap door really. But this was way before the 2000/01 refurbishment programme got under way.

Pison staff probably wouldnt give too much information about potentially lethal / suicide apparatus to prisoners, if you think about it.

The nformation re civils not being allowed came in writing from elsewhere though, so I have no reason to doubt it.

 

[tiggy]

thankyou, I will get a copy of the book, this episode caused my mothers family to disintergrate, nan had a breakdown & went into All Saints for the rest of her life, grandad became an alcoholic & drank himself to death, my Mom was left to fend for herself age 8 & was picked up by the priest whilst digging up & eating raw potatoes because she was hungry, she was taken to her aunts house to live, but nans familiy blamed my grandads belfast genes for Jimmys behaviour & nans breakdown & did not want a farrell child in the house, other brother was abandoned also & looked after by a barmaid. Mom was told that her Dad & brother had gone to Ireland without her, her brother was told Mom had been adopted, neither story was true. They then lived only a few miles away from eachother forthe rest of their lives and only met again last year whe my cousin & I found eachother on the internet. Funny old world

 

[Phil]

Having worked in several of the Prisons around the midlands Winson Green being one of these I can tell you the that the "Topping Shed" was on "A" wing (the long term wing) and was indeed converted to the Prison Canteen (shop) after the death penalty was abolished.

I was told that the shop was the condemned prisoners cell and the cell next to it which I never saw opened was the actual place where the execution was carried out. I have just taken a look on Google maps and it looks to me as if "A" wing is still standing.

Phil

 

[Wendy]

thankyou, I will get a copy of the book, this episode caused my mothers family to disintergrate, nan had a breakdown & went into All Saints for the rest of her life, grandad became an alcoholic & drank himself to death, my Mom was left to fend for herself age 8 & was picked up by the priest whilst digging up & eating raw potatoes because she was hungry, she was taken to her aunts house to live, but nans familiy blamed my grandads belfast genes for Jimmys behaviour & nans breakdown & did not want a farrell child in the house, other brother was abandoned also & looked after by a barmaid. Mom was told that her Dad & brother had gone to Ireland without her, her brother was told Mom had been adopted, neither story was true. They then lived only a few miles away from eachother forthe rest of their lives and only met again last year whe my cousin & I found eachother on the internet. Funny old world

Tiggy that is such a sad story how the actions of one person can destroy a whole family. I can only say I am pleased your Mom and her brother have been reunited after all these years. My best wishes to you and your family especially your Mom and Uncle.

 

[Shera]

what a sad story tiggy. it just shows there is not just one victim for these crimes. apart from the families and friends of the victim of course, the family of the perpetrator also can suffer for the rest of their lives, as your mom, her brother, gran and grandad did.

 

[Hughes]

Its a bit late in the day but I have just come across this.In the 1940's I was working at Avery,10 mins walk from Winson Green Prison.
One day riding on the 11 bus we passed the prison about 7.45 am,there was a small crowd outside the gates,I did not know a hanging
was due.At the works usually a busy and noisy place.just before 8 am all activity and noise stopped,I suppose the idea of some one
being killed made every one think about what was happening.
Keep smiling
John H

 

[fatfingers]

Slightly off topic, but didnt Charlie Wilson the train robber escape from the green ? by climbing a ladder that had been left against the wall ?

Anyone know of any other 'daring escapes ? Must've been a few over the years.

 

[bobbyb]

Yes I remember that and wasn't there some talk that he had inside help to get from his cell to the wall and he escaped on the canal side of the wall and his cell was in the basement secure area.

 

[Astonian]

Hi bobby
Yes it Was very true it was An officier that helped and set up the escape
he was an londoner and lived in the front houses of the prison officiers houses that used to be
on the front of the prison walls there back gardens was the back garden prison walls
he escaped from the right hand wing witch was on the cannal side behind the officiers mess club house
with a big furtiture wagon wich was loaded with matresses
this guy was later arrestest and charged and kicked out of he service and ended up behind bars himself
i actualy knew the guy and the family
there was another serious escape from the green any years ago where a prisoner a hardened crim;
whom was a big time in brum in the fortys or the fiftys
whom actualy walked out thethe main gate the prisoner made a gun out of soap and painted it black
the officier whom i will not name for legal reasons because of his family being alive was over powered
and marched through the prison by this crim; to the gates where he held this dummy gun to the officiers back
no other prison officier at the time would challenge him and he walked out with him at the gate and drove off
the prison officier was so embarrassed later because he got the nick name by other prisoners
shouting and calling bang bang , ? , by his name
and i think maggies dad may have been working around that time because he was an officier at the prison years ago it could have been before his time he started there
in those days th prison officiers was hardened men and stood no messing ,they was the HMP .Officers
and the prisoners had to call them sir when asked any think and say yes sir to them
along with the govenors they showed no passion
bread and water and sew mail bags in a dim lit cell
not like the so called bunch of half baked security firms of today dress scruffy half intrested in there jobs
and they loose more prisoners than locked up
you can see there prison vans sitting in lay byes or on garage forecourts waiting for the shift to end
in the days of the good old HMP , It would never happend and no drugs would get passed them
coming into the prisons
theres more money and druggs inside prison than there is out side in civvy strret
and alot is brought in by prison security officciers
have a nice day every body best wishes Astonian ;;;;

 

[Hughes]

Shera's list of hanging at Winson Green Prison.
The name of Harold Merry.hanged on 10 Sep. 1942 is of great interest to me.On 29th March 1942 Harold murded Joyce Dixon.Joyce lived
at 10 Rowan Way,Northfield.A small cull-desack on the Austin Village.I lived at 8 Rowan Way then aged 12.I can not remember Joyce
but I was freinds with her younger sister.At the time I knew some details of the crime but some time ago I obtained a copy of
The Executed of the Twentieth Century by John J Eddleston.It covers the Merry case plus all the ones on Shera's list1941 to 1952 at Bimingham
plus many more.The Merry case is rather sad.He was about 39 and she was 27.He was married with 5 Children,they both worked at the
Austin.They started an afair and fell in love.To cut the story short.he could not get a divorce,Joyce was in trouble with her mother who
wanted her to end the afair.The two lovers according to his defence made a suicide pact indeed a piece of paper was found saying they
had agreed to end it all signed by both of them.He tried to strangle Joyce and then put her into a pond on farm land behind her house.He
said he tried to kill him self but failed.After her body was found the cause of death was drowning.He was tried starting 17th July.He was
found guilty.An appeal was heard on 26 th August and lost,As we know he was strung up 10 th Sept.They did not mess about
in those days.
Hope this is of interest
John H

 

[ladywood]

I was at school with a boy whose father did death-watch at Winson Green, presumably for one of the last three hanged there.

The last hangings in the UK were in 1964.

One of my true-crime interests is the A6 Case (James Hanratty) of 1961.

Big Gee

I went to school with a boy who's father as the governor of the prison around 1958

ladywood