During a project to uncover Newcastle Gaol’s history, Dr Patrick Low discovered that of the 15 recorded burials of executed prisoners, two bodies were missing. With public assistance, one of the missing bodies was identified during demolition works, leaving only one unaccounted: Jane Jamieson, the last woman executed in Newcastle. Despite exhaustive research, Jane’s burial location remained elusive until Dr Low stumbled upon a note in John Bell’s ephemera collection at Newcastle University. The note revealed that Jane’s remains were interred in Ballast Hills Burial Ground.
Jane Jamieson’s execution in 1829 captivated public attention, but reports never mentioned her burial. Post-mortem punishments often excluded Christian burials, leading to speculation about her final resting place. Bell’s collection, however, detailed Jane’s burial in Ballast Hills Burial Ground, a crowded Dissenters’ burial ground. Despite its poor condition, the burial site was significant as Jane was the only capitally convicted felon from Newcastle Gaol buried outside its walls. This discovery offers closure and underscores the ongoing public fascination with Jane’s tragic story. For more details, read the full article on the Newcastle Gaol blog.
