Bristol’s Misérables: The soldiers and sailors of Stapleton prison.

Chris Bowkett’s talk focuses on the untold history of Stapleton Prison, the home of captured soldiers and sailors during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic wars. Using stories of the prisoners themselves, this talk reveals the surprising amount of freedom offered to Britain’s “enemies” whilst in captivity, contrasted with their biggest problem: boredom.

This talk covers both the inventive and self-destructive ways “the miserables” occupied their time at His Majesty’s pleasure.