Tales of celebrity inmates, haunted cells, escape bids, hunger strikes and public executions have been gathered together in a fascinating account of the Isle of Man prison service.

Senior prison officer Karl Christian has delved into the archives to shed light on more than 800 years of life behind bars in the Isle of Man, from the Cathedral Crypt at Peel Castle through to the current prison in Jurby.

The 240-page book charts the history of Manx incarceration from 1229 when the island’s first prison was established on St Patrick’s Isle.

This dark, dank and cheerless place became notorious as the Bishop’s prison and was used to lock up people for crimes such as swearing, fornication, missing church and playing music on the sabbath.

Karl’s book recalls how one of the crypt’s most famous prisoners - Eleanor Cobham, the Duchess of Gloucester - was jailed in 1441 for her role in the plot to assassinate King Henry VI using witchcraft.

Castle Rushen became the sole prison in the island in 1780 following the release of Thomas Kneale from the crypt in Peel.

Kneale was found to be too weak to serve his seven-day sentence, his condition not helped by his stark surroundings and the severe cold.

The book describes how Castle Rushen provided a similarly bleak experience for debtors and criminals and was described as the ’worst gaol in His Majesty’s dominions’ in 1824.

A year later a soup kitchen, chapel and hospital wing were added.

Castle Rushen was also the site of gallows executions and John Kewish became the last man to be hanged in the Isle of Man in the summer of 1872 after being convicted of the murder of his father.

Karl records the next milestone in the history of the prison service as the construction of a new jail costing £4,350 on a plot known as the Gypsy Field off Victoria Road in Douglas.

train

The 10 prisoners still held at Castle Rushen were taken by train to Douglas on April 8, 1891.

The first reception from the courts occurred three days later when Albert Bell was charged with being drunk in charge of a horse and cart.

The dietary sheet approved by the Lieutenant Governor of the time showed that prisoners serving short sentences in 1891 could expect bread and water for breakfast and dinner, with a pint of gruel for supper.

On Sundays the gruel would be replaced with an ounce of cheese.

An increase in the Isle of Man’s population was reflected in the need to extend Victoria Road with two wings in 1989.

However, the book explains that criticism of the jail continued to mount because of overcrowding and human rights issues. It led to Tynwald supporting the construction of the £41 million facility at Jurby, which accepted the transfer of prisoners from Victoria Road on August 14, 2008.

As well as the history of the prisons as Peel, Castletown, Douglas and Jurby, the book features many previously unpublished images, gaoler journal entries, copies of original documents, newspaper clippings and details of crimes and punishments.

Karl, who has worked for the prison service since 1997, said: ’Researching and writing the book has been a real labour of love.

’I’ve spoken to numerous current and former colleagues and spent many hours looking through old paperwork and photographs. Talking to retired prison officer Norman Quilliam, who wrote the book Keys and Cuffs, was invaluable. He is a real mine of information.’

He added: ’It has been a fascinating project and my goal has been to bring some of the amazing stories to life. The Isle of Man Prison Service has such a rich history and has been home to some colourful characters, both staff and inmates.’

Copies of the History of the Isle of Man Prison Service are available from Manx National Heritage retail outlets, priced £16.99, or by contacting Karl Christian on 891006 or 891060.