‘Women Behind Bars: Life in Newcastle Prison’ is a fascinating exhibition that you can see at Newcastle Cathedral this spring. They’re also having a special launch event on 4 March.

My interest in the now long-gone Newcastle Prison was piqued last year after reading ‘Newcastle Prison: A History 1828-1925’ – a truly superb book from Tyne Bridge Publishing. And this new exhibition draws on that book to bring to light the stories of young girls and women affected by poverty and addiction who wound up the prison, alongside suffragettes who challenged the boundaries of the time. The exhibition is running for nearly two months, but there’s a special launch event on 4 March which will feature short talks from all four authors of ‘Newcastle Prison’. There will also be poetry, folk tunes and ballads, and an update from Changing Lives on the legacy of the Story Chair, which was developed for Newcastle Cathedral in 2023 through a unique collaboration involving women with lived experience of the criminal justice system. The launch event is ticketed on a ‘Give As You Feel’ basis, with a suggest donation of £5. Booking is encouraged to help the cathedral plan seating. DP

Women Behind Bars: Life in Newcastle Prison, 5 March-27 April, Newcastle Cathedral. Launch event is on Wednesday 4 March. More info and booking etc: newcastlecathedral.org.uk