Newgate novel Newgate novel The Newgate novels (or Old Bailey novels) were novels published in England from the late 1820s until the 1840s that were thought to glamorise the lives of the criminals they portrayed. Most drew their inspiration from the "Newgate Calendar", a biography of famous criminals published at various times during the late 18th and early 19th centuries, but usually rearranged or embellished the original tale for melodramatic effect. The novels caused great controversy and notably drew criticism from William Makepeace Thackeray, who satirised them in several of his novels and attacked the authors openly. Among the earliest Newgate novels
Newgate Prison she presented evidence to the House of Commons improvements were made. In 1858, the interior was rebuilt with individual cells. In November 1835 James Pratt and John Smith were the last two men to be executed for sodomy. From 1868, public executions were discontinued and executions were carried out on gallows inside Newgate, in a shed built in an inner yard. Dead Man's Walk was a long stone-flagged passageway, partly open to the sky and roofed with iron mesh (thus also known as Birdcage Walk). Executed criminals were buried beneath its flagstones and their initials engraved into the stone wall