Words and photos: Mark Stevenson
Leeds Borough Gaol was completed in 1847 and originally it housed both male and female prisoners.
Lilian Ida Lenton (1891 – 1972) was probably the most well-known female prisoner. She was an English Dancer, Suffragist and winner of a French Red Cross Medal for her service as an Orderly in World War I.
Below are three census entries from 1881, 1891 and 1901 showing some of the prisoners from Leeds Borough Gaol.
1881
| Forename | Surname | Age | Year Born | Relation | Birth Place | Occupation |
| Ann | Murphy | 49 | 1832 | Prisoner | Galway, Ireland | Flan Spinner |
| Annie | Foster | 21 | 1860 | Prisoner | Beeston Leeds, Yorkshire | Cloth Weaver |
| Susannah | Whitehead | 29 | 1852 | Prisoner | Salford, Lancashire | Machinist |
| Rose Ann | Smith | 21 | 1860 | Prisoner | Welshpool, Wales | Domestic Servant |
| Mary Ann | Phillips | 52 | 1829 | Prisoner | Bradford, Yorkshire | Worsted Spinner |
| Catherine | Matthews | 32 | 1849 | Prisoner | Dublin, Ireland | Upholsterer |
| Annie | Humphrey | 35 | 1846 | Prisoner | Bristol, Somerset | Dress Maker |
| Eliza | Hardy | 29 | 1852 | Prisoner | Leeds, Yorkshire | Cloth Weaver |
1891
| Forename | Surname | Age | Year Born | Relation | Birth Place | Occupation |
| Elizabeth | Kelly | 34 | 1857 | Convicted Prisoner | Leeds, Yorkshire | Wool Weaver |
| Mary Ann | Joyce | 19 | 1872 | Convicted Prisoner | Bradford, Yorkshire | Worsted Spinner |
| Jane | Dumphy | 33 | 1858 | Convicted Prisoner | Leeds, Yorkshire | Flax Spinner |
| Mary Ann | Williams | 30 | 1861 | Convicted Prisoner | Leeds, Yorkshire | Jewellery Hawker |
| Mary Jane | Ratcliffe | 36 | 1855 | Convicted Prisoner | Bradford, Yorkshire | Cook (Domestic Servant) |
| Margeret Ann | Adams | 27 | 1864 | Convicted Prisoner | Batley, Yorkshire | Woollen Mill Machine Feeder |
| Mary Jane | Gilligan | 18 | 1873 | Convicted Prisoner | Bradford, Yorkshire | Cotton Spinner |
| Ellen | Grogan | 28 | 1863 | Convicted Prisoner | Oldham, Lancashire | Worsted Spinner |
| Margaret | Denham | 19 | 1872 | Convicted Prisoner | Middlesbrough, Yorkshire | Flax Spinner |
1901
| Forename | Surname | Age | Year Born | Relation | Birth Place | Occupation |
| Anartia | Crawley | 22 | 1879 | Prisoner | Ireland | Prostitute None |
| Ann | Carroll | 40 | 1861 | Prisoner | Liverpool, Lancashire | Prostitute None |
| Elizabeth | Connor | 35 | 1866 | Prisoner | Liverpool, Lancashire | Prostitute None |
| Mary | Coyle | 22 | 1879 | Prisoner | Liverpool, Yorkshire | Prostitute None |
| Ann | Cassidy | 31 | 1870 | Prisoner | Liverpool, Lancashire | None |
| Mary | Chester | 30 | 1871 | Prisoner | Skipton, Yorkshire | Cotton Worsted Millhand |
| Lena | Flannery | 25 | 1876 | Prisoner | India | Prostitute None |
| Clara | Fellows | 25 | 1876 | Prisoner | Sheffield, Yorkshire | None |
| Margaret | Flynn | 30 | 1871 | Prisoner | Liverpool, Lancashire | None |
| Nelly | Fraser | 29 | 1872 | Prisoner | Scotland | Prostitute None |
| Elizabeth | Findley | 41 | 1860 | Prisoner | Ireland | Prostitute None |