The Ballad of Sophia Constable

A life without choice, a future restricted,
but all the same found guilty - convicted.
Guilty of stealing by 'devious deception',
and the law to be followed, without exception.
Sophia and her mild transgression,
Sophia Constable aged just eleven.


Northallerton has a new attraction, the latest sculpture by Ray Lonsdale a renowned artist who has installations across the north. 

In the 1870s Sophia Constable, of Whitby, was the youngest inmate ever sent to the Northallerton prison. She had stolen a 3d loaf of bread. She served 3 weeks hard labour followed by 4 years in a reformatory.

This new piece took 2 years to make and is now found on the site of the old Northallerton Prison. I have mentioned the prison before, the area is now called Treadmills after the fact the prison once had the biggest treadmill in the world. Some of the old buildings have been repurposed such as the old women's prison seen in the background. Other areas have had shops, restaurants and a very nice cinema built. 

Times have changed...