Murder Behind Bars in Tudor England – A Shocking True Story

In 1590, Catholic gentleman John Hocknell — imprisoned in Chester Castle for his faith — didn’t die of plague, hunger, or age.

He was murdered… by his own gaoler.

The weapon? A pitchfork.

The killer? The castle’s underkeeper, i.e. Hocknell's gaoler.



In this episode of Tudor True Crime, I, historian and author Claire Ridgway, uncover the shocking story of Hocknell’s repeated imprisonments for recusancy, his bizarre brush with “false prophecies,” and the brutal killing that cut his life short just months before his release.



We’ll explore:

• What life was like for Catholic recusants in Elizabeth I’s reign


• How Hocknell’s defiance — and a strange prophecy — landed him in prison


• The network of imprisoned Catholic gentlemen in Chester Castle


• How a gaoler’s deadly act led to a rare Tudor murder conviction


• It’s a grim but fascinating glimpse into religious persecution, political paranoia, and the darker side of Tudor justice.

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