User:Cheltjules/CRIME THROUGH TIME COLLECTION AT LITTLEDEAN JAIL

CRIME THROUGH TIME COLLECTION AT LITTLEDEAN JAIL is the home of the United Kingdoms most politically incorrect privately owned collection that is open to the public.

This former house of correction, police station and courthouse is the county’s most talked about, most unorthodox, not to be missed historical visitor attraction set in the Royal Forest of Dean.

The 'Alacatraz of the Forest', Littledean Jail is not only home of the infamous 'CRIME THROUGH TIME MUSEUM' - the only museum of it's kind in the World open to the public, but it also houses the largest collection of 'QUADROPHENIA' memorabilia.

On top of these two fabiulous collections, Littledean Jail also contains a unique, thought provoking and unrivalled private collection of worldwide interest... without fear or favour... witness for yourselves an ‘Aladdin’s cave’ of true crime material, ephemera, murderabilia - a menagerie of freaks of nature, beasts of the jungle, oddities & curiosities - Nazi holocaust years exhibition, Nazi SS militaria, historic, nolstagic, vintage and modern day signed photographs, tv & film memorabilia & much More!

LITTLEDEAN JAIL A BRIEF HISTORY

Standing at the gateway to the Royal Forest of Dean, this former House of Correction – Littledean Jail was designed and built by the Pioneer of Prison Reform – Sir George Onesiphorous Paul and leading Prison Architect of his day – William Blackburn. As a result of the sudden death of Blackburn it was completed under the supervision of his new brother-in-law, architect William Hobson in 1791. This remarkable Grade II* listed building was built as the most up-to-date, revolutionary House of Correction of its time, and was later seen as the Government’s role model for London’s Pentonville Prison and taken across the seas for the world famous Philadelphian Cherry Hill Penitentiary System in America. It was built for the miserly sum of £1,650. The building work was started in 1788 by Gabriel Rogers, who went bankrupt as a result of not being able to complete the work at such low costs. London Builder J. Fentiman was brought in to finish the job.

Behind the austere gatehouse entrance, the prison, with it’s formidable sandstone façade remains much as it was when first built. Steeped in history and infamy, its awesome appearance provides a stark reminder of the hard labour and craftsmanship needed to build this architecturally important jailhouse. Life Inside... Life inside the Littledean Jail was seemingly far better than life outside - for most of the Forest community. Life outside was certainly hard, most if not all those that lived in and around the Forest of Dean in the 18th century were destitute, disease ridden, illiterate and very, very poor.

Those that were imprisoned here were at least guaranteed food, a place to sleep and some form of education, if only in religious instruction - namely Catholicism.

Crimes Committed... On 18th November 1791, Joseph Marshall, a 19 year old labourer was the first inmate admitted here. His crime - stealing a spade. Convictions here ranged from petty theft, lewd women (prostitutes), military deserters, fraud and embezzlement, assault and battery to murder.

Children as young as 8 years old were incarcerated here and whipped with the birch, cat of nine tails and kept in solitary confinement. Between 1837-1838 three babies were born here, though only one survived.

First Gloucestershire Policeman killed in the line of duty! Police Sergeant Samuel Beard stationed here at Littledean Jail was the first policeman in the County to be killed in the line of duty at Speech House Hotel in the Forest of Dean in 1861.

There is a tombstone in Littledean churchyard sacred to the memory of this brave officer.

Witchcraft... The last woman in Gloucestershire to be charged with witchcraft was tried here at the Jailhouse in 1906. Cinderford wise woman, Ellen Hayward (known as Old Ellen) conducted her own defence and was subsequently found not guilty!!!

Redundant... In 1854 Littledean Jail was no longer used as a House of Correction, used instead as a Police Station, remand prison and petty sessional Court from 1874. It was also to serve as a headquarters for the County’s mounted police, stabling horses here inside the one time treadmill outbuilding.

It was also used as a barracks and archive store during the war for Gloucester Cathedral and the County’s Public Records Office.

Saved... In 2003 the new owners moved in Change of Ownership The police station itself was closed here in 1972 and the last court session sat here on 24th October 1985. The end of an era!

It was sold to Ecclesiastical Insurance Group in 1986 and used for their computer mainframe, archive records store and disaster recovery unit.

The Year 2003 - New Inmates Arrive! In September 2003 the Jail was purchased by its new owners and refurbished partly as a Baronial style family home and partly to house one of the world’s largest and finest private collections of crime related memorabilia, ephemera and curiosities - ‘The Crime Through Time Collection’.

Andy Jones, some say controversial owner of the Jail and the collection, inherited with the property the title of ‘Master of the Gaol’ and his wife Nicola (‘the boss’), the flattering title of ‘Matron’. They moved into the property along with their six children in September 2004.

Film Set... The titillating Hammer House of Horrors cult film - ‘House� of Whipcord’ was set and filmed here in 1974 - still very much a cult film today. Littledean Jail still retains its magnetism as the perfect location for film location projects.

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WHAT TO SEE INSIDE THE JAIL 

Here’s a brief insight into what to expect here on display...

The Grim Reaper ∙ The Guillotine and Body Cages ∙ Instruments of punishment and torture through the ages ∙ A model of Littledean Jail created from 56,000 matches ∙ A seriously sad and disturbing exhibition area relating to the horrors of the Nazi, Holocaust Years, including genuine death camp and Nazi SS uniforms, insignia etc. (lest we forget) ∙ A genuine murder victim’s full size skeleton ∙ Oswald Mosley’s Blackshirts, British Freikorps, Fascism in Britain ∙ Bizarre fetishes and fantasies, an interesting selection of the tools of the trade!!� Ku Klux Klan uniforms/insignia etc. ∙ Cons to icons insight including personal exhibit items ∙ The works and personal exhibits of Britain’s maddest, hardest and most dangerous prisoners in the UK including Charles Bronson, The Kray twins and many more ∙ Witchcraft memorabilia - including voodoo dolls ∙ Tools and weapons used by the criminal underworld and street gangs ∙ Dr. Who Dalek ∙ The UK’s largest private collection of British and foreign Police memorabilia, including police weapons, uniforms, Victorian hand painted truncheons, tipstaffs and insignia ∙ Hangman’s noose used on “the man they couldn’t hang” - John ‘Babbacombe’ Lee ∙ Freaks of nature, oddities and curiosities ∙ Gypsy caravan ∙ Indonesian fertility statue (dare you touch the forbidden fruit?). Please note we cannot guarantee pregnancy!! ∙ An impressive signed pictorial history of crime, including a vast collection of autographed and signed materials from world-renowned infamous and notorious real life alleged villains and criminals ∙ Popular fictional, TV, cinema screen characters and glamour queens�From the hands of Death… Artwork and correspondence from the world’s most infamous and notorious serial killers - An intriguing and psychological insight for sure! ∙ Celebrity sleaze and scandals ∙ banned violent toy collections ∙ Lady Diana's letters and lots, lots more...!!!

The Crime Through Time Collection

Once you enter the jail, through where the old courthouse once stood (sadly demolished and ripped_out by its previous owners back in 1986) you will come face to face with an extraordinary Aladdin's Cave of curiosities. This eclectic private collection touches on a great many sad, disturbing, quirky and at times taboo subject matters - so again be warned!!!

It is an intriguing collection which includes a great many rare and historically significant exhibit items including the hangman’s noose that was used on the man they couldn't hang - John 'Babbacombe' Lee. The skull remains of the last man in Britain to be gibbetted, then hung, drawn and quartered and touching closer to more modern times, you'll find the tools and belongings of Gloucestershire’s infamous serial killers... Fred and Rose West on display.

Dave Courtney, 'Pretty Boy' Roy Shaw, Bruce Reynolds, Charlie Richardson, Freddie Foreman "Yes, it's bizarre, macabre, disturbing, hard-hitting and ‘in-your-face’ in places. It's also a bit titillating here and there... at times ‘tongue in cheek’... but there’s also a light hearted bit of banter in the way some of the collection is presented. I'm sure that once you have seen all that is here you will agree that it's certainly different, unique and well worth the visit ???" Andy Jones - The Jailer

'Mad' Frankie Fraser, The Krays, Kenny Noye, Martin McGuinness & Jerry Adams “Crime in itself is not a pleasant subject matter and hence should not be presented or portrayed in a pleasant manner either!!!” Andy Jones - The Jailer

Fred & Rose West, Harold Shipman, Myra Hindley, Ian Brady & Peter Sutcliffe

............................................................................................................................................... The Nazi SS & Holocaust Years (lest we forget!)

There's a remarkable, though very sad and disturbing exhibition and collection relating to the Nazi Holocaust years and Nazi SS militaria (lest we forget).

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Freaks of Nature There are strange looking creatures on show too, including the products of Victorian taxidermy that were exhibited in this era. They include a six-legged piglet, a kitten with five legs, a three-eyed puppy with two mouths, an eight-legged lamb with one head and four ears and a two headed calf. There's a 10 foot long man-eating crocodile and various other beasts of the jungle too.

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The Quadrophenia Collection

This remarkable and nostalgic collection was acquired by Littledean Jail In November 2007 and subsequently added to its own Quadrophenia collection. Opening here in April 2008 …being the 30th Anniversary of when the films was filmed in 1978 and released in cinemas around the UK in 1979.

Quote: “This is the best collection of Quadrophenia memorabilia I have ever seen!!!”

Franc Roddam …Quadrophenia Film director… (1978-1979) at the Quad Reunion 2007, Earls Court, London, UK.

More about the bikes... Wow!! Two of the most famous bikes on two wheels in the world… Ace Face (Sting)… customised Vespa GS/Rally scooter.

This now fully restored scooter had been previously acquired by David Wyburn from Allstyles Scooters in Portsmouth. As is well known and documented within scooter clubs throughout Britain they had acquired and previously owned both Ace Face and Jimmy’s scooters following the release of the film back in 1979 A total of some of four customised Vespa GS/Rally scooters had been made for use in the film – built by Ron Pymm of Stirling Scooters in London. These were to be used in various scenes including of course the climatic cliff top crash at the end of the film. The two scooters used in this scene were obviously destroyed on the rocks below. It is still believed that there is one other of theses scooters still in existence today owned by a Jim Baxter in Scotland, though badly damaged and in poor condition. Believed to be in bits requiring welding, major repair, rebuilding and re-spraying. This partly remaining scooter has no accessories or wing mirrors at all was offered to David Wyburn at a cost of some £10k for spare parts.. This scooter had in fact been badly crashed and smashed up during filming. The Ace Face scooter seen here on display is the highly prized and acclaimed one used and ridden throughout the film by both Ace  Face and Jimmy, was the one stolen by Jimmy from outside the Grand Hotel, Brighton… being the workplace of Ace Face as a bell-boy for the hotel…much to Jimmy’s displeasure.

Jimmy’s (Phil Daniels) Lambretta Scooter

The scooter seen here on display has been entirely rebuilt and restored… being a 100% accurate replica of one of the two used and ridden throughout the film. This, with additional extras on her from the original scooters used … acquired from Allstyles Scooters. For those of you who have seen this great British film you will no doubt recall and remember that Jimmy’s scooter was in fact crushed and written off by a Post Office van in the film. (remember Jimmy’s heartfelt plea- “You killed my scooter””) The original seta from Jimmy’s scooter is also here on display. Jimmy’s lambretta scooter used throughout the film was in fact hires from one of the film extras for the sum of £300 per week (a lot of money back then!!).

About the Film Quadrophenia (1978-1979) The greatest British youth film ever made!!

Filmed in Britain in 1978 and released in 1979 Quadrophenia is still to this day highly regarded as being one of the greatest British films of all times. It still retains its own iconic magnetism and has a massive cult following worldwide.

The film when originally released was panned by critics for its large amounts of drug-fuelled, pill-popping, sex, bad language, violence, profanity and drug use throughout the film, which at the time were fairly uncommon in Film (unlike today’s Film and TV industry that seemingly appear to revel and rely upon using as much sex, violence, drug use and bad language).

Other Quadrophenia exhibits on display include:

A superb array of authentic autographed photographs, film still, posters and memorabilia signed by the star cast of the film Original film script, signed by it’s director Franc Roddam Parkas and clothing as worn in the film. Jimmy’s key ring (RAC) as used when stealing Ace Face’s scooter. Rare, signed Quadrophenia albums And many more items of interest.

Andy Jones (Curator & Jailer!) sitting on Sting'sVespa GS/Rally scooter used in Quadrophenia.

Quadrophenia – The Film (1978-1979). The greatest British youth film ever made!!

Filmed in Britain in 1978 and released in 1979 Quadrophenia is still to this day highly regarded as being one of the greatest British films of all times. It still retains its own iconic magnetism and has a massive cult following worldwide.

The film when originally released was panned by critics for its large amounts of drug- fuelled, pill-popping, sex, bad language, violence and profanity and drug use throughout the film, which at the time were fairly uncommon in Film (unlike today’s film and TV industry that revels and relies upon the need to introduce as much sex, violence, drug use and bad language).

Quote: “I myself was punk rocker at the time the film Quadrophenia was released in 1979. It was always one of my most favourite films of all time and still is, despite preferring the heavy rock music to that of the Mod scene.

It is a great privilege to now own and display such a fantastic collection and hope that it remains a shrine here in it’s own right to most, scooter and rocker fans to what is still highly acclaimed as on of Britain’s greatest ever films.”

Andy Jones, the Jailer, Littledean Jail.

Please note:

During the Winter season when closed here at Littledean Jail from end of October – Easter some of the Quadrohphenia Collection may well be available to hire for travelling exhibitions, themed events, photo-shoots, memorabilia shows etc.

Please contact Littledean Jail for more details.

..............................................................................................................................................  Celebrity Sleaze & Scandal Littledean Jail is a haven for those of you who like to know what's gone on in the world of show business and celebrity circles - especially local celebrities and 'Tinsel Town'.

As you wander through you'll find wall to wall galleries of authentic and vintage signed photographs and ephemera from some of the world's most notorious villains and criminals, and iconic celebrity figures slated and brought to heal by the tabloid newspapers.

From Marilyn Monroe to Marilyn Manson, Boy George to Britney Spears and from Abi Titmus to John Leslie, there's a vast array of the sex, sleaze and scandal that these and many more celebrities are not wanting to have on show at Littledean Jail.

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OPENING TIMES

EASTER to end of OCTOBER IMPORTANT!!! Please note that we're only open from Thursdays to Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays. (All other times - solely at owner’s discretion!!!) When are doors open and when they're slammed shut! Day visits are from 10am to 5pm (last entry 3.45pm) Occasionally special Corporate, Mystery Tours and Evening Visits for groups of 20 or more can be arranged, but only by kind permission from The Jailer (He’s only a little scary!).

Schools and College visits are also welcome, but must be under strict supervision, as The Jailer has been known to lock trouble makers in the spare cells if compromised!

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