Prison riots and executions featured in exhibition

Letters and photos documenting the Hull prison riot of 1976 will be part of an upcoming exhibition.

The protest against alleged staff brutality involved about 100 prisoners destroying their cells, smashing doors and furniture, and throwing slates at passers-by.

Within These Walls, which will be in the old governor's house as part of Heritage Open Days, will include the general history of the site, including prisoners' death certificates, artwork and smuggled weaponry.

The prison report from governors, as well as newspaper clippings, photos and documents from before, during and after the riot, will be on display in the exhibition, which runs from 10:00 until 14:00 BST on 16 and 17 September.

Following the 1976 riot, Hull prison was out of use for a year and the cost of repairing the damage was estimated to be up to £4m.

The story behind the trial and execution of a woman who died at the prison after murdering her husband will also be on display.

Ethel Major, a middle-aged Lincolnshire housewife from the 1930s, was hanged after being found guilty of poisoning her husband with sandwiches full of strychnine.

Mike Covell, a local historian who is hosting the exhibition, said: "We've got to remember all those people who were executed at the prison. Their bodies are still held within these walls."

He added: "Ethel is supposed to still walk the walls.

"People, especially prison staff, have seen on several occasions a woman walking around the buildings.

"I've had three witnesses come forward saying they've seen a lady dressed in a long grey shawl walking around the building on an evening."

He said prison staff had also reported hearing footsteps, moaning and groaning.

HMP Hull is a Victorian prison on Hedon Road which first opened in 1870.

Covell said the new wings of the prison, built over the former 7 Alleys, which stretched from Southcoates Lane all the way up to Hedon Road Cemetery, hold their own folkloric tales.

"The alleyways had a local folklore – people would tell ghost stories about them and bet each other to run down them at night," he said.

"They were knocked down and, in response to that, new wings of the prison were built on top of these places.

"For years, locals talked about them in hushed tones."

Within These Walls was created by former prison officer Rob Nicholson and is opening its doors exclusively for Heritage Open Days.

The exhibition will be on the western side of the prison's main gate, and will be accessible for people in wheelchairs and on mobility scooters.

Covell said: "People will get to see the history of Hull prisons, from the early days of the house of correction and places like that – very terrible, scary, awful places – all the way up to the modern prison."

Listen to highlights fromHull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, and watch the latest episode of Look North.

Download the BBC News app from the App Storefor iPhone and iPad orGoogle Play for Android devices