For nearly 350 years, the University of Cambridge wielded a little-known power granted by a 1561 charter, enabling it to arrest and imprison women “suspected of evil.” Under this law, working-class women—often teenagers—were detained for walking with undergraduates after dark.
These women, deemed prostitutes without any trial or evidence, were forcibly taken to the university’s private prison, the Spinning House, where they endured harsh punishments and inhumane conditions.
Over 5,000 women were arrested in the 19th century alone. Local historian Caroline Biggs, author of The Spinning House: How Cambridge University Locked Women in Its Private Prison, has uncovered the grim realities of this practice. She is now urging the university to issue a formal apology and acknowledge the injustices these women faced.
Injustice Without Trial
Biggs revealed that none of the women arrested under this law received a fair trial or broke any legal statutes. Instead, they were accused of “tempting undergraduates” and punished to maintain the university’s moral image. “The university didn’t care how these women were treated. Their goal was to remove them from the streets,” Biggs stated.
During the 19th century, Cambridge dons—prohibited from marrying until the 1880s—and wealthy undergraduates often sought the services of sex workers. This dynamic, coupled with parental fears of moral corruption, fueled the arrests. In 1825, the university gained its own police force, nicknamed “bulldogs,” to patrol the town at night alongside proctors.
Harsh Punishments and Poor Conditions
Biggs spent five years researching the Spinning House, unearthing harrowing accounts from committal books and court records. Women were often detained for weeks, sometimes longer if they resisted arrest. Corporal punishment was common; in 1748, the vice-chancellor paid for the public whipping of ten women. The prison’s conditions were deplorable, described as “cold and damp” with inadequate food consisting of bread and occasional gruel.
In one tragic case, 17-year-old Elizabeth Howe died in 1846 after spending a night in a freezing cell with a broken window. “Her only crime was walking near a brothel with a female friend,” Biggs said. Such treatment sparked outrage, with critics like social historian Henry Mayhew condemning the Spinning House as an “abomination.”
A Fight for Justice
Biggs highlights four women who challenged the university’s powers in court, leading to significant legal reforms. In 1891, the case of 17-year-old Daisy Hopkins—arrested for “walking with a member of the university”—exposed the injustice of Cambridge’s practices. Tried for a different charge, her case established an important habeas corpus precedent that ultimately led to the revocation of the university’s powers in 1894.
The Spinning House was demolished shortly after, marking an end to this dark chapter in the university’s history. However, Biggs believes more needs to be done to honor these women. She is advocating for a memorial plaque and a public exhibition to shed light on the abuses they endured.
Acknowledging the Past
“The University of Cambridge needs to acknowledge the harm it caused,” Biggs asserted. Her research also explores the broader power struggles between the university and the town, which she believes persist in subtle ways even today.
The university has yet to respond to calls for acknowledgment or comment on this history.
