The sixth and final episode of this second series of ‘Grundy Goes’ produced by Tyne Tees Television and written and presented by architectural historian and broadcaster John Grundy about the building that people have constructed over the centuries to help themselves work, live and enjoy themselves. In this final programme John visits some of Northeast’s courts, jails and prisons to see how more than 700 of British justice has helped shaped the construction of some of the region’s most...

The sixth and final episode of this second series of ‘Grundy Goes’ produced by Tyne Tees Television and written and presented by architectural historian and broadcaster John Grundy about the building that people have constructed over the centuries to help themselves work, live and enjoy themselves. In this final programme John visits some of Northeast’s courts, jails and prisons to see how more than 700 of British justice has helped shaped the construction of some of the region’s most impressive buildings. Over a montage of John Grundy wearing various costumes and maps of the region the opening credits. Title: Grundy Goes… To Jail A montage of the Northumberland village of Stamfordham with its Market or Butter Cross on the village green alongside the village kitty or lock-up. As presenter John Grundy attempts to introduce the programme, he is distracted by the voice of someone inside the jail shouting ‘let me out!’. After he explains that the jail was used only for miscreants who had committed minor offences, he opens the door of the jail and appears to hit the person calling out from inside. Returning to the camera John explains for more serious offences a whole range of deeply impressive building have and continue to be built today. The high security walls of Holme House Prison near Stockton-on-Tees with a HM Prison flag flying from a pole. Over a montage of its features John explains how these modern prisons are the most frightening buildings he has ever seen being faceless, bland and oppressive. Along the Newcastle Quayside the modern Newcastle-Upon-Tyne Crown Court described by John as one of the best new buildings in the area. Another modern court building that John admires, this time Teesside Combined Court Centre at Middlesbrough which creates a ‘real big town feel’ to the space in front of it. These, explains John, are just the latest examples in a tradition of splendid legal buildings that stretches back more than 700. Over a montage of the Northumbrian town of Hexham John explains that the Northeast is in a fortunate position to have one of the oldest surviving courthouses and prisons in Britain. Following views of the Hexham Old Gaol and nearby Hexham Abbey John comes through The Priory Gatehouse or St Wilfred’s Gateway making his way up the large stone staircase to the first floor and its Moot Hall which was the local court room or Manor Court where more serious cases were presided over by the Lord of the Manor. Performing a humous sketch as three different characters, John walks over and hits someone in the face before being sentenced to jail in the nearby Old Gaol by a judge in robes. Standing outside the gaol he looks up at the fearsome building and talks about some of its original design features including having only one window and once having a parapet. Inside as he climbs down a ladder into its dungeon, he describes it as an ‘oubliette’ from the French word ‘to forget’. Walking around the empty featureless space using a torch he tries not to think about those poor souls who would have been thrown down here and forgotten. Look up at the entrance 12ft above him he explains how it would be impossible to get out without assistance. Over a montage of the Castle Keep at Newcastle John talks about a 14th century battle over the justice system with central government wanting to wrestle away powers from the Manor Courts. Justices of the Peace were appointed by government with court buildings and prisons set up inside castles. Across the road from The Keep Newcastle’s Moot Hall. In York a car drives around the bailey at York Castle passing the cities old prison re-built beautifully twice in the 18th century and the nearby York Assizes also an 18th century building. Over a painting showing judges from London arriving in Newcastle to attend the twice-yearly assizes court, John provides details on how justice was dispensed during the 18th century and why court rooms became symbols of civic pride. A montage of the York Assizes with John explaining why such buildings often looked like palaces. Standing outside John is pleased that it is still being used as a court today with one side of the building dealing with civil cases while the other criminal court. Inside another montage first of the Criminal Court with its rotunda and John explaining how it feels both overbearing and claustrophobic followed by the Civil Court which has describes as having a mood and atmosphere which is much lighter. Sitting on one of the benches John states that these courts are some of the best 18th century rooms he has ever seen. With John again playing all the characters a criminal case taking place at the historic 17th century courtroom inside Newcastle Guildhall. Prisoner Grundy is escorted to the docks where the charge of making ‘scurrilous statement of English justice in the 18th century’ are made. From the dock John goes into detail about some of the courtrooms historic architectural features, but states that the justice that went on in rooms like this often left a great deal to be desired. He goes into details about the number of crimes punishable by death, the problems of bribery amongst judges and the inappropriate party atmosphere which took place in courts such as these. Sitting on the bench is Judge Grundy sentences John to prison. Taking the programme into a commercial break a prison door is opened, and John is thrown inside, the door being closed and barred. Through a peephole in the door John sits solemnly on his bed. Title: End of Part One Grundy Goes…. Part Two The cell peephole is opened again as John gets up and looks out his window. Over a montage of Berwick Town Hall at Berwick-upon-Tweed in Northumberland, John explains that on the top floor of what was once the town courthouse is an extraordinary survival of a perfectly preserved and rather sobering 18th century jail. Standing in the cell for female prisoners John talks about how the room has only one bed where only four of the women could sleep at one time. The cell also has considerable defences including chains on the wall and bars under the floorboard, a cage within a cage remarks John. Being thrown into the drunkard’s cell John explains why the bed in there is sloping. In another cell specially designated for sailors he admires the graffiti carved into the wooden wall. Coming into another room John explains how awful 18th century jail were. Laid out on a table a selection of standard jail implements of that period including manacles, a kidney bottle, a licking stone and a branding iron featuring the Berwick Bear. John goes onto explain that prisoners weren’t fed and had to pay the jailer a fee to stay in the prison as well as pay the ‘turnkey’ to allow them to leave at the end of their sentence. In the Condemned cell John talks about its last occupant Grace Griffin in 1823 and why he finds the room absolutely chilling. The door is closed leaving John in darkness. Over drawing of prisoners during the 18th century and some of the manacle and chains seen previous, John talks about the overcrowding, filth and smells where diseases such as Typhus, also know and ‘jail fever’, were rampant killing judges and jurors as well as prisoners. Returning to the courtroom inside Newcastle Guildhall Judge Grundy asks John has his time in prison taught him a lesson. Yes, not only were 18th century courts unsatisfactory, but the prisons were a national disgrace and that it was ‘jolly good job’ that somebody came along to do something about it. Sitting in the Judge’s Parlour John talks about the remarkable John Howard of the Howard League for Penal Reform and his report on prisons in 1770 which led to the building of some of the most extraordinary buildings ever to be built. John passes the judge a plan of the now demolished Newcastle Gaol built in Cariol Square and designed by local architect John Dobson. He talks about how it was devised using the ‘panopticon’ design developed by social thinker Jeremy Bentham. Over archival images of the prison John describe it as an amazing building. John hands the judge another prison plan also produced by John Dobson of a jail at Morpeth in Northumberland. Holding John Dobson plan for Morpeth Court in his hands John walks through the surviving gatehouse into a car park which was originally part of the jail. Looking over the plans John describes what the prison would have looked like in the early 19th century and how prisoners were separated by their crimes. A montage of both Durham Assizes, now Durham Crown Court, as well as the entranceway next door leading into Durham Prison itself. Standing beside the doorway John explains how the penal reform movement that brought about both Newcastle and Morpeth Jails also brought about Durham which is still going strong today. Playing what appears to be a drunkard, John comes to stand beside himself and describes Durham Prison as being nothing more than a ‘horrible place’. John begins to talk about the influences of John Howard and about the prisons architect Ignatius Bonomi. Over a montage on the cell blocks inside of the prison, John compares the layout in the early 19th century to today. A second montage featuring an exercise yard and cells and prisoners in one of the cell blocks with John providing details of how each type of prisoner could be treated appropriately. Walking along darkened tunnel John explains these tunnels are in fact a ventilation shaft built at Durham and known as the plenum system that allowed fresh air to be drawn into the cells and it to be filtered up towards large chimneys on the roof. A montage of both the cell blocks described by John as being designed simply and plainly but deliberately well-proportioned and the courts outside built solemnly in the classical style, all designed to emphasis the dignity and weighty majesty of the law. Returning to John’s still standing outside the prison main gate, he asks the drunkard beside him if he understands why Durham is an important part of the penal reform movement? Replying ‘no’ John proceeds to hits him in the face. Back in the courtroom inside Newcastle Guildhall John performs again as multiple characters, including the twelve-man jury. Both the programme and this series comes to an end with John as the Judge sentencing John for a ‘series of offences against public taste.’ John is led away. Credit: Written and Presented by John Grundy Photography Mike Parker Sound Paul Graham Electrician Ken Hird, John Mason Costume Tom Robson Graphics Alan Davidson Dubbing Mixer Charles Heath Editor Bernard Helm Director / Producer Roger Burgess Title: © Tyne Tees Television 1998 End title: A Tyne Tees Television Production © Tyne Tees Television MCMXVIII