The National Justice Museum, Nottingham, was the venue for last October’s History Group trip, with its Victorian courtroom, Georgian gaol, ancient cells and exhibitions depicting the harsh punishments meted out to offenders in the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries.

We were treated to two short performances by costumed actors. The scene left was billed as a public hanging enactment, though we were spared the grizzly details: the poor woman about to put her head through the noose received a last minute reprieve.

And the court scene right, based on a real case, played out the trial in 1812 of a certain Joe Maples, accused of being part of a group of Luddites who broke into a home to destroy framework machinery used for lace making. Unsuspecting members of the audience were press ganged into taking active roles as the accused and witnesses. Member Paul, who surprisingly found himself in the dock as ‘Joe’, handled his ordeal with stoic aplomb. Despite calls for the death penalty by a heartless prosecutor, we, the jury, pleaded for his innocence and Joe (alias Paul) was sentenced to be transported to Australia instead. But not before he was able to join us for a very pleasant lunch!

Our thanks to Jeff P for organising the visit and to Sue L for the photos.