Gloucestershire Prison Registers & Mugshots now on Ancestry (General)

by Jefff , West London, Middlesex, Friday, November 03, 2023, 22:50 (379 days ago) @ Baldwin91

Hi,
I'm NOT an expert by any means, but I doubt that mugshot photos were ever taken at Littledean in the 1880s. Partly because photography was still relatively "new" at this time, and an expensive process confined to the large prisons in major cities; but mainly because by this time Littledean was only being used to hold those associated with lesser crimes, youths, etc, who probably wern't thought "worthy" of mugshots. I believe it "only" housed remand prisoners by the 1880s, so prisoners still awaiting trial, so again less likelihood of needing to go thro the mugshot process ?.
At least that's my take of what I've read about Littledean Gaol, but I welcome more-expert input. Some of this comes from the sources listed below.

Whatever Littledean Gaol records do exist appear to be with Ancestry.

Ref:
https://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/archives/researching/search-by-theme/courts-and-crim...

https://www.prisonhistory.org/prisonrecord/page/77/

https://www.littledeanjail.com/index.php/home/history-of-the-jail/more-about-the-histor...

Hope this helps, J.