Crime and punishment in Leicester

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In the 18th century Leicester had four gaols (the Georgian spelling of jail), all sited on or near to the Highcross. Damp, dirty and overcrowded, inmates would be forced to work on a treadmill or turn a winding machine known as ‘the crank’. Food consisted of oatmeal gruel, bread, meat, potatoes, and cocoa. The County Gaol was demolished in 1880 but a small part of one of its walls was left in place and can still be seen today from Highcross Street. BBC Leicester’s Ben Jackson went to find out more with Leicester author Joanne Mungovin. Produced by Pete Wardman. If you want to know as soon as a new episode is available, make sure you subscribe to Secret Leicestershire on BBC Sounds and have push notifications turned on.