Foreword

Summary

You might think that the history of a prison would make dull reading. But not so with this study of Bedford Prison, over two centuries, finishing one-hundred years ago. The author Eric Stockdale has made a fascinating story. He gives a fine picture of five great men who were closely associated with the prison. He starts, of course, with John Bunyan, the tinker, telling us of his trial. He goes on to John Howard, the great advocate of penal reform. Then to Samuel Whitbread, Philip Hunt and Lord John Russell. He describes the jails: their building and rebuilding: and the way of life in them. He discusses the punishments and their effect. Transportation among them. But not as a bare recital of facts. At every step — and on every page — you will find the enlivening anecdote and the apt quotation. The research must have taken many hours to collect the material. The presentation — in such clear and vivid language — is a model which all historians should try to emulate. And all this done by a Circuit Judge — in the midst of his busy life sending the criminals of today to prison — as his predecessors did to Bedford prison in days long past. His work at the Bar and as a judge, has, I am sure, been of great value to him in the writing of this book. His knowledge of modern conditions enables him to have a better insight into the conditions of the past. This is a book which deserves to be read, not only by criminologists, penologists and historians, but also by ordinary folk who like to read a good true story.