From the Papers

Hill Hall, an experimental prison for first offenders at Theydon Mount, Essex. At Hill Hall, a red brick Elizabethan mansion standing in its own grounds, are thirty women prisoners with nothing between them and freedom. There are no bars or locks and the prisoners are not even put on their honour to stay. The prisoners wear gingham dresses—they have five colours to choose from —and lipstick.

They are issued with hair curlers On Sundays the women are allowed to attend service at the village -church. The women get up at 6.45 a.m. and at 8.30 the day's work begins washing, gardening, cooking, and cleaning for a weekly wage of from 10d. to 2s. 3d, There are evening classes, and talks on such subjects as home-making and baby welfare.

From the Daily Mirror 14th October, 1954

ESSEX QUARTER SESSIONS

Sarah Twights was convicted of stealing from the person of George Flack labourer of Stanford Rivers, a purse containing a sovereign and 7s 6d in silver. Prosecutor was drinking in the tap-room of the Two Brewers Public House, High Ongar, when the prisoner who sat on the settle by the side of him, put her hand into his pocket and took out his purse. Being detected she threw the purse across the table to two men, one of whom emptied it of its contents, threw the purse back and ran out.

Sentence – 7 years transportation.

Source: Chelmsford Chronicle 24 Ocvtober, 1834.

SHEEP STEALING

So numerous have been the depredations upon sheep belonging to farmers in the neighbourhood of Chipping Ongar, that as many as 50 have been stolen within a very short period. Mr Jonathan Lewis of Water End Farm, is one of the principal sufferers.

Source Chelmsford Chronicle 14th March, 1834