In 1806, five men were tried and executed for ‘sodomy’ at Lancaster Castle, following a raid on the house of Isaac Hitchen in Warrington. Eleanor Levin has researched and written up this story into a folk song. Here she explains the background to this song, ‘Isaac Hitchen’s House’.
Following this project, Eleanor and her band, The Grievous Angels, were inspired to write more songs about some of those who have faced trial at Lancaster Castle.
Isaac Hitchen’s House: The Trial and Execution of Isaac Hitchen and others at Lancaster Castle in 1806
Posted by Eleanor Levin
The Calendar of Prisoners from Lancaster Castle, 1806, which lists Isaac Hitchen and the other men arrested and awaiting trial for ‘unnatural crimes’
In the early 1800s there was a vibrant social and sexual scene for men which revolved around the house of Isaac Hitchen in Great Sankey near Warrington. Meeting places like this were known as ‘molly’ houses in the parlance of the day. In May of 1806 a large group of the men were arrested following a raid on the house. Some escaped, but many of them were charged with ‘sodomy’ or an ‘unnatural crime,’ which in England carried the death penalty from the 1530s until 1861.
Some escaped, but many of them were charged with ‘sodomy’ or an ‘unnatural crime,’ which in England carried the death penalty from the 1530s until 1861.
The trial took place at Lancaster Castle and attracted a lot of public interest and press attention across the country. This extract from The Newcastle Courant on 17th May 1806 is a good example:
The Calendar of Prisoners from Lancaster Castle, 1806, which lists Isaac Hitchen and the other men arrested and awaiting trial for ‘unnatural crimes’
‘A discovery has lately been made in Warrington, and its vicinity, sufficient to freeze the bosom of humanity with horror. – The detestable crime of Sodomy appears to have been there systemized in such a manner, as to assume the form of a regular society, at the head of which are some of those men whom fortune had placed high in the list of respectability. About seventeen of the delinquents have been committed to Lancaster castle for trial, and some others found means to escape. The volunteers of that town were last week called out, and laudibly exerted themselves not only in securing the prisoners, but in protecting them against popular resentment.’ – Statesman.
The trial took place at Lancaster Castle and attracted a lot of public interest and press attention across the country.
In September of 1806, five of the men, including Hitchen himself, were sentenced to death by hanging.
‘Isaac Hitchen’s House’ tells of the story of these men, and the attitudes of the authorites, in song. It is written and performed by Eleanor Levin, Nina George and Scott Millington of the Grievous Angels and produced by Clearlight Media with grateful acknowledgement to Harry Cocks, Richard Norton, and Lancashire Archives (see below).
‘Isaac Hitchen’s House’ tells of the story of these men, and the attitudes of the authorites, in song.
- Harry Cocks, an academic from Nottingham University, has written the article ‘Safeguarding Civility’ about the Isaac Hitchen case. He describes how punishing what was deemed at the time to be immoral without either normalising this behaviour or implicating members of the Establishment was a fine line for the authorities to tread.
- Rictor Norton has a website with extensive material about gay history. It contains newspaper cuttings and court transcripts about the Isaac Hitchen case.
- Lancashire Archives. It is possible to view the Calendar of Prisoners from Lancaster Castle at the Archives, which lists the Warrington men held at the prison in 1806 and the charges they faced.