In this revealing three-part documentary series, Rob Rinder takes viewers behind the walls of Britain’s prisons, uncovering a hidden history that spans centuries. The series explores the lives of inmates, from petty criminals to notorious gangsters, and examines the brutal regimes, explosive riots, and the infamous hangmen that shaped their world.
In Episode 2, Rinder looks at one of the darkest chapters in Britain’s criminal justice history: capital punishment. He visits Shrewsbury Prison in Shropshire, which holds a grim distinction as the birthplace of Britain’s most notorious dynasty of hangmen, the Pierrepoint family. This family led hundreds of prisoners to their deaths and left an indelible mark on the country’s penal history.
Rinder explores the family’s history, examining how they came to be executioners and the impact they had on the prisoners they executed. He also examines the broader context of capital punishment in Britain, including the public’s fascination with hangings and the eventual move towards abolition.
Through first-hand accounts, archival footage, and expert interviews, this episode presents a comprehensive look at a practice that has shaped Britain’s criminal past and continues to spark debate today.
Britain Behind Bars: A Secret History, Episode 2, airs on Channel 4, Sunday 28 July 2024, at 9:00 pm.
