Three hundred years before Banksy made graffiti an art form, prisoners made their own permanent mark on the walls of Lancaster Castle. Their graffiti is now the subject of a special tour
Castle guide Dr Colin Perry started researching the graffiti that litters the walls of the castle when Shire Hall was closed for six weeks for re-cabling work with the help of his trusty torch
Dr. Penny says the graffiti carved in the castle walls, doors and corridors helped him to unravel the fate of those locked up in the prison
He then spent hours examining court records, execution lists and transportation documents to try to build up a picture of what happened to each prisoner. "Many were transported to Australia," says Colin
One of the first things visitors see when they enter the prison are the words "I LOVE GOD" carved into the gatehouse wall
"It's a fascinating historical document," says Colin of the graffiti which spans several centuries. Sadly, some of the carvings aren't available to the public. "The best examples are inside the prison walls which is out of bounds to the general public."
He found that it was not only prisoners who left their mark; family of gaolers, members of the jury in the Crown Court and people watching the trials also contributed to the graffiti
Dr. Penny's favourite find is a carving of a violin he describes as "a work of art" which is accompanied by "Committed for kissing, April 15, 1741". Colin wonders if it was a musician caught kissing someone from a higher social status or a man?
The graffiti tours are now available to the public at The Shire Hall. Contact (01524) 64998 or www.lancastercastle.com for more information
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