Thieves, thugs and a conman who impersonated a vicar: The first-ever criminal mugshots taken in Britain revealed 150 years on
Before the digital camera was ubiquitous, photographs were such a rarity that people used to dress in their finery for their snapshots.
And these smartly dressed prisoners were no exception as this haul of vintage mugshots shows.
The collection of haunting portraits shows just how the practise began - in Bedford Prison more than 150 years ago.
- Mugshots were created because written descriptions were unreliable
- Pictures of Bedford Prison inmates offer glimpse into 'working class life'
Before the digital camera was ubiquitous, photographs were such a rarity that people used to dress in their finery for their snapshots.
And these smartly dressed prisoners were no exception as this haul of vintage mugshots shows.
The collection of haunting portraits shows just how the practise began - in Bedford Prison more than 150 years ago.
