Mugshots of Victorian thieves as young as 11 who were sentenced to hard labour for stealing clothes and metal just to get by.
Staring into the camera, some with defiance and others in child-like wonder, these scruffy boys and girls look like any other group of Victorian urchins.
But while some of the children may appear to be a picture of innocence, the gallery is in fact a collection of young criminals from the 1870s.
The rogues' gallery of offenders, some as young as 11, includes thieves and pickpockets who stole anything from cash to clothes and even odd pieces of metal.
The fascinating Victorian images, which all feature children from the Newcastle area, have been released recently by Tyne and Wear Archives and Museums.
The petty criminality detailed in the charges may be the same as in Britain now, but the mixture of scruffy clothing and more formal Victorian street attire worn by the children "is a world away from the hoodies, trainers and sportswear of many of today's lawless youth"
Staring into the camera, some with defiance and others in child-like wonder, these scruffy boys and girls look like any other group of Victorian urchins.
But while some of the children may appear to be a picture of innocence, the gallery is in fact a collection of young criminals from the 1870s.
The rogues' gallery of offenders, some as young as 11, includes thieves and pickpockets who stole anything from cash to clothes and even odd pieces of metal.
The fascinating Victorian images, which all feature children from the Newcastle area, have been released recently by Tyne and Wear Archives and Museums.
The petty criminality detailed in the charges may be the same as in Britain now, but the mixture of scruffy clothing and more formal Victorian street attire worn by the children "is a world away from the hoodies, trainers and sportswear of many of today's lawless youth"
Richard Rimmington, 15, was expected to do hard labour for stealing a pipe,
but instead his parents paid a fine.
but instead his parents paid a fine.
Michael Clement Fisher, 13, a choir boy from good stock but was jailed for two
months for breaking into three houses in 1873. The media at the time blamed the
boys crime on their penchant for the 'wrong sort of books' on characters like notorious
18th-century highwayman Jack Sheppard
months for breaking into three houses in 1873. The media at the time blamed the
boys crime on their penchant for the 'wrong sort of books' on characters like notorious
18th-century highwayman Jack Sheppard
George Lamb, 17, was sentenced to four months for stealing money
James Scullion, 13, was told to complete 14 days hard labour for stealing clothes
Margaret Cosh, 15, who had no previous convictions, was given two months
hard labour for stealing a coat.
hard labour for stealing a coat.
Isabella Hindmarch, 16 , served one month of hard labour for stealing money
11-year-old Ellen Woodman was given a week of hard labour
for stealing iron
for stealing iron
Ellen Woodman's accomplice, Rosanne Watson, 13, was given the same punishment.
However a newspaper article from the time suggests it is not clear whether the girls
were actually stealing or just playing in the ship yard
However a newspaper article from the time suggests it is not clear whether the girls
were actually stealing or just playing in the ship yard
Henry Leonard Stephenson, 12, (accomplice of Michael Clement Fisher)
were choir boys from good stock but were jailed for two months for breaking
into three houses in 1873. The media at the time blamed the boys' crime on their
penchant for the 'wrong sort of books' on characters like notorious 18th-century
highwayman Jack Sheppard
were choir boys from good stock but were jailed for two months for breaking
into three houses in 1873. The media at the time blamed the boys' crime on their
penchant for the 'wrong sort of books' on characters like notorious 18th-century
highwayman Jack Sheppard
Catherine Kelly, 17, was given three months for stealing bed linen
Isabella Dodds, 17, was dealt a four month prison term for stealing a gold watch
14-year-old Henry Miller received two weeks hard labour for stealing clothing
John Reed, 15, was given two weeks hard labour and five years reformation
for stealing money in 1873
.
for stealing money in 1873
.
Jane Farrell, 12, stole two boots and was sentenced to 10 days hard labour
Innocent-looking Mary Hinnigan, 13, was given a week of hard labour for stealing iron
