Dr Isaac Massey Presents His Grand Emporium of Criminal Curiosities from the Cabinets of Crime

Come and be amazed by a new and exciting exhibition that takes you on a journey through the dark contents of Dr Massey’s Cabinets of Crime.

Meander through the dimly lit maze and see if you can find the Executioners Box, the Scold’s Bridle and the Whipping Frame hidden amongst other criminal curiosities such as restraints, weapons, murderer’s gravestones and coffins…

Place your feet where the condemned last placed theirs – on the creaking trapdoors from England’s last operational gallows and as if in prayer raise your eyes and see the beam from the last surviving public execution gallows.

Using objects never seen before, come on a journey through seven scenes of crime and punishment: The Model Prison; The Criminal Trinity; Instruments of Fear; Path of Punishment; The Gallows Theatre; The Anatomy of Incarceration before sighing with relief as you approach the Road to Redemption.

Resources and time in the exhibition

Resources have been created to engage groups with the exhibition, to interpret the artefacts and concept areas and to spark discussions and further work following the visit. These are recommended for KS3 and KS4.

Facilitated guide and discussion

Book time with a facilitator to talk your group through a particular section of the exhibition followed by a discussion about the issues. Please specify which area of the exhibition you would like your pupils to focus on. These are recommended for KS3, KS4 and KS5.

You may like to link this activity with a mock trial, for example, if you are taking part in the William Saville mock trial you could book a session with a facilitated guide in the Capital Punishment section of the exhibition.