Within These Walls
Within These Walls is a British television drama programme made by London Weekend Television for ITV and shown between 1974 and 1978. It portrayed life in HMP Stone Park, a fictional women's prison. Unlike later women-in-prison TV series, Bad Girls (ITV, 1999–2006), and Australian series, Prisoner (aka Prisoner: Cell Block H, Grundy Organisation, original run: 1979–1986), and Wentworth (2013–2021), Within These Walls tended to centre its story-lines around the prison staff rather than the inmates. The lead character was played by British film actor Googie Withers who played the well-groomed, genteel governor Faye Boswell and episodes revolved around her attempts to liberalise the prison regime while managing her personal life at home. Another prominent character was her Chief Officer, Mrs. Armitage (Mona Bruce). Googie Withers left after three series; in Series Four her character was replaced as governor by Helen Forrester (Katherine Blake), who in turn left to be replaced in the final Series Five by Susan Marshall (Sarah Lawson). Creator and screenwriter of the programme, David Butler, appeared in some episodes as prison chaplain, Rev. Henry Prentice.
| Within These Walls | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | Drama |
| Created by | David Butler |
| Directed by | John Reardon Peter Moffatt Paul Annett Tony Wharmby Jim Goddard Christopher Hodson Bill Bain Philip Casson |
| Starring | Googie Withers Jerome Willis Denys Hawthorne Beth Harris Mona Bruce Sonia Graham Joan Benham Janet Lees Price |
| Theme music composer | Denis King |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| No. of series | 5 |
| No. of episodes | 72 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer | Rex Firkin |
| Producer | Jack Williams |
| Production locations | London, England |
| Running time | 52 minutes |
| Production company | London Weekend |
| Original release | |
| Network | ITV |
| Release | 4 January 1974 – 15 April 1978 |
Within These Walls is a British television drama programme made by London Weekend Television for ITV and shown between 1974 and 1978. It portrayed life in HMP Stone Park, a fictional women's prison. Unlike later women-in-prison TV series, Bad Girls (ITV, 1999–2006), and Australian series, Prisoner (aka Prisoner: Cell Block H, Grundy Organisation, original run: 1979–1986), and Wentworth (2013–2021), Within These Walls tended to centre its story-lines around the prison staff rather than the inmates.
The lead character was played by British film actor Googie Withers who played the well-groomed, genteel governor Faye Boswell and episodes revolved around her attempts to liberalise the prison regime while managing her personal life at home.
Another prominent character was her Chief Officer, Mrs. Armitage (Mona Bruce).
Googie Withers left after three series; in Series Four her character was replaced as governor by Helen Forrester (Katherine Blake), who in turn left to be replaced in the final Series Five by Susan Marshall (Sarah Lawson).
Creator and screenwriter of the programme, David Butler, appeared in some episodes as prison chaplain, Rev. Henry Prentice.[1]
DVD release
[edit]As of November 2011, Network have released all five series on DVD in the UK, with the exception of "Nowhere for the Kids", an episode from Series Two which appears to be missing from the archives.[citation needed]
Screening
[edit]The programme was broadcast around 9:00 p.m. (although exact times varied around the ITV regions), but prisoners were locked in their cells 30 minutes before 9:00pm.
Cast
[edit]- Googie Withers as Prison Governor - Faye Boswell
- Katherine Blake as Prison Governor - Helen Forrester
- Sarah Lawson as Prison Governor - Sarah Marshall
- Mona Bruce as Chief Officer Mrs. Armitage
- Jerome Willis as Prison Deputy Governor Charles Radley
- Denys Hawthorne as Dr. Peter Mayes
- Beth Harris as Miss Clarke
- Elaine Wells as Principal Prison Officer Spencer
- Sonia Graham as Assistant Governor Martha Parrish
- Miranda Forbes as Prison Officer Parsons
- Janet Lees Price as Assistant Governor Janet Harker
Successful alumnae from the series included Helen Worth, later widely known for her role of Gail Platt on Coronation Street. Worth appeared in an episode of season 1 alongside Cheryl Murray. The two would be reunited as flatmates in Coronation Street in 1977, when Murray joined the cast as Suzie Birchall. Shirley Cheriton and Anna Wing both appeared in the season 2 episode "Skivers", long before becoming original cast members of EastEnders together.
Episodes
[edit]Series overview
[edit]| Series | Episodes | Originally released | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First released | Last released | |||
| 1 | 13 | 4 January 1974 | 29 March 1974 | |
| 2 | 13 | 10 January 1975 | 11 April 1975 | |
| 3 | 16 | 6 September 1975 | 20 December 1975 | |
| 4 | 17 | 4 September 1976 | 24 December 1976 | |
| 5 | 13 | 21 January 1978 | 15 April 1978 | |
Series 1 (1974)
[edit]| No. overall | No. in series | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "Cause for Concern" | John Reardon | David Butler | 4 January 1974 | |
|
Governor Faye Boswell has been in charge at Stone Park women's prison for one month when a prisoner on remand, Martha Kyle, starts to spread stories in the newspaper about her mistreatment by prison officers. As it turns out, Martha is a political activist who is taking any opportunity she can to gain publicity. Meanwhile, another prisoner, Peggy Abbot, screams whenever she's near prison officers, afraid they might beat her just for being black. Is this simply her misconception of the prison system, or is there more to it? | ||||||
| 2 | 2 | "Lesson Number One" | Peter Moffatt | David Butler | 11 January 1974 | |
|
Peggy Abbot is put to work in the prison's nursery to help her cope with her children when she gets out. Initially, things go well until Peggy starts to show signs of slipping back into her old bad habits. Elsewhere, worry arises over the friendship between Lily, a domineering prison veteran, and Nora, a simple-minded first offender. Meanwhile, Faye has to decide how to spend new funding for improvements within the prison itself. | ||||||
| 3 | 3 | "The Walls Came Tumbling Down" | Paul Annett | David Butler | 18 January 1974 | |
|
Construction has begun in Stone Park on filling in the floors of the upper wings to give the prisoners more space. Trouble first starts over the issue of the crowded temporary conditions. Then, the work starts to slow down; it seems that the laborers, male prisoners from another institution, are in no hurry to leave. Meanwhile, Faye's son, Paul, brings a girl home with him, Sally, whose views on the prison system clash with Faye's. A few days later, when a prisoner brought to Stone Park on remand for drug offenses asks to see the governor, Faye is surprised to discover the prisoner is Sally. | ||||||
| 4 | 4 | "In Her Own Right" | Tony Wharmby | Adele Rose | 25 January 1974 | |
|
Stone Park's Deputy Governor, Charles Radley, deals with a prisoner who threatens suicide. | ||||||
| 5 | 5 | "Prisoner by Marriage" | Paul Annett | Tony Hoare | 1 February 1974 | |
|
Jane Brogan is transferred to Stone Park so that she can be near her husband and children. However, Jane wants out and intends to use her husband anyway she can to achieve this goal. Meanwhile, a 16-year-old borstal escapee is sent to Stone Park to await trial. Doctor Mayes is incensed by the girl's treatment by the system, which he feels has failed her. He tries to help her, but her distrust of authority figures threatens to hinder his attempts. | ||||||
| 6 | 6 | "The Group" | Jim Goddard | Terence Feely | 8 February 1974 | |
|
Stone Park's drugs unit is one of Faye's main concerns, believing there must be a better way of treating drug addicts than imprisoning them and doping them up with legal substitutes. Dr. Mayes introduces Faye to a friend of his, Dr. Ormonde, who has tried to deal with drug addiction by using group therapy to a degree of success. Though the prison staff expresses concern because the addicts must be kept off all drugs for the therapy to work, Faye allows Dr. Mayes to set up a group. Things go reasonably well until Magda (Cheryl Hall), a hardcore addict, starts to cause trouble. | ||||||
| 7 | 7 | "One Step Forward, Two Steps Back" | Tony Wharmby | Tony Parker | 15 February 1974 | |
|
Marilyn Hunter has been in mental hospitals since being convicted of murdering two babies left in her care 12 years earlier. Now, having been given a clean bill of health, she has been transferred to Stone Park. Faye persuades the authorities to allow her to transfer Marilyn without a guard, but her idea of stopping for tea on the way back could cost Faye her job. Meanwhile, prisoner Joan Harrison is due to be moved to a semi-open prison within days. However, Joan doesn't want to leave Stone Park; in particular, she doesn't want to leave Martha Parrish behind. | ||||||
| 8 | 8 | "Failing to Report" | Christopher Hodson | Rosemary Anne Sisson | 22 February 1974 | |
|
After attending a conference as a representative of Stone Park, Charles Radley receives a summons to court over a motoring incident in which he was involved. Charles decides against telling Faye about the incident, but then the papers get hold of the story. Meanwhile, Claire Staines, a usually passive, if distant prisoner, begins to show signs of descent for no good reason. | ||||||
| 9 | 9 | "Tea on St. Pancras Station" | Paul Annett | Susan Pleat | 1 March 1974 | |
|
Shirley, a prisoner with mental problems who has previously passed through other institutions run by Faye, is due for release from Stone Park. With professionals dismissing Shirley as a hopeless case, Faye begins to worry about what will become of her once she's on the outside. Faye resolves to help Shirley and make sure that she doesn't end up in prison again. | ||||||
| 10 | 10 | "Guessing Game" | Bill Bain | Peter J. Hammond | 8 March 1974 | |
|
Faye has to put up with George, an ex-magistrate (and old friend) who has unique thoughts regarding the adaptability of women in prison. | ||||||
| 11 | 11 | "When the Bough Breaks" | Christopher Hodson | Felicity Douglas | 15 March 1974 | |
|
The sentencing of a baby-snatcher creates tension between the prisoners and the staff. | ||||||
| 12 | 12 | "Labour of Love" | Paul Annett | Peter Wildeblood | 22 March 1974 | |
|
A problem arises for Faye when a prisoner begins making paperweights. | ||||||
| 13 | 13 | "A Sense of Duty" | Bill Bain | David Butler | 29 March 1974 | |
|
The staff of Stone Park disapproves of the sentencing of a prisoner who poisoned her dying father. | ||||||
Series 2 (1975)
[edit]| No. overall | No. in series | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | 1 | "When the Door Opens" | Philip Casson | David Butler | 10 January 1975 | |
|
An old enemy awaits a prisoner who leaves solitary confinement. | ||||||
| 15 | 2 | "Remand Wing" | Paul Annett | Susan Pleat | 17 January 1975 | |
|
An elderly prisoner causes problems in the remand wing. | ||||||
| 16 | 3 | "Nowhere for the Kids" | Richard Doubleday | Adele Rose | 24 January 1975 | |
|
Missing Episode | ||||||
| 17 | 4 | "The Slap" | Malcolm Taylor | Kathleen J. Smith | 31 January 1975 | |
|
A child-murderer faces a very cold reception from both the inmates and the guards of Stone Park prison. | ||||||
| 18 | 5 | "Playground" | John Reardon | P.J. Hammond | 7 February 1975 | |
|
A woman sentenced for child neglect perplexes all when she continues to disown the child. | ||||||
| 19 | 6 | "The Truth Game" | Jim Goddard | Rosemary Anne Sisson | 14 February 1975 | |
|
The two new prison officers who join the staff seem to display very different attitudes about their jobs. | ||||||
| 20 | 7 | "Debate" | Tony Wharmby | Tony Parker | 21 February 1975 | |
|
The Governor and her staff must find a way to deal with a constant troublemaker. | ||||||
| 21 | 8 | "Protest" | Brian Izzard | Tony Hoare | 28 February 1975 | |
|
The death of a prisoner leads inmate Kane to organize a protest about the COD verdict. | ||||||
| 22 | 9 | "Let the People See" | Philip Casson | Peter Wildeblood | 7 March 1975 | |
|
As bad publicity continues to rise, Governor Boswell invites a film crew to make a Stone Park documentary. | ||||||
| 23 | 10 | "Skivers" | Bryan Izzard | David Butler | 14 March 1975 | |
|
Dr. Mayes discovers that an inmate has a serious condition after investigating her acute indigestion. | ||||||
| 24 | 11 | "Coming Home" | Philip Casson | Terence Feely | 21 March 1975 | |
|
Boswell and Radley have a disagreement about her radical plan in confronting Stone Park's drug issues. | ||||||
| 25 | 12 | "The Good Life" | James Ormerod | Victor Pemberton | 4 April 1975 | |
|
An upper class woman on a murder charge arrives at Stone Park. | ||||||
| 26 | 13 | "For Life" | Philip Casson | David Butler | 11 April 1975 | |
Series 3 (1975)
[edit]| No. overall | No. in series | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 | 1 | "To Reason Why" | Philip Casson | David Butler | 6 September 1975 | |
|
Governor Boswell's resolve is tested as more unrest plagues Stone Park. | ||||||
| 28 | 2 | "Prison Cat" | Paddy Russell | Kathleen J. Smith | 13 September 1975 | |
| 29 | 3 | "Deception" | Philip Casson | Tony Hoare | 20 September 1975 | |
|
Officer White becomes involved with a young inmate. | ||||||
| 30 | 4 | "Babyface" | Malcolm Taylor | David Butler | 27 September 1975 | |
|
Governor Boswell searches for a way to stop the campaign of violence that is continuing at Stone Park. | ||||||
| 31 | 5 | "Long Shadows" | Derrick Goodwin | Stuart Douglass | 4 October 1975 | |
| 32 | 6 | "The Keys" | John Reardon | Susan Pleat | 11 October 1975 | |
|
The inmates at Stone Park find themselves the target of Officer Pinner's personal misfortunes. | ||||||
| 33 | 7 | "A Lurking Doubt" | Mike Gibbon | Felicity Douglas | 18 October 1975 | |
|
An inmate convinces Governor Boswell that she is innocent of her crime. | ||||||
| 34 | 8 | "Mother's Girl" | John Gorrie | Terence Feely | 25 October 1975 | |
|
Stone Park's latest problem is a prisoner guilty of fraud and smuggling. | ||||||
| 35 | 9 | "A Free Woman" | John Gorrie | Julia Jones | 1 November 1975 | |
|
Stone Park receives an inmate who was intentionally caught shoplifting as a way to escape her husband. | ||||||
| 36 | 10 | "Getting Out" | Bill Bain | David Butler | 8 November 1975 | |
|
Problems abound when an inmate arrives who can't speak English and the only option is to let another prisoner act as interpreter. | ||||||
| 37 | 11 | "Windows" | Christopher Hodson | P.J. Hammond | 15 November 1975 | |
| 38 | 12 | "Get the Glory Down" | Bryan Izzard | Peter Wildeblood | 22 November 1975 | |
|
Prisoner Baines starts to believe she has special powers after her curse on a fellow inmate has surprising results. | ||||||
| 39 | 13 | "My Dad was Called Charlie" | Bryan Izzard | Adele Rose | 29 November 1975 | |
| 40 | 14 | "Inside Out" | Mike Gibbon | Mona Bruce and Robert James | 6 December 1975 | |
|
A petty theft inmate asks for an abortion from Dr. Mayes. | ||||||
| 41 | 15 | "The Animals Went in Two By Two" | Tony Wharmby | Susan Pleat | 13 December 1975 | |
|
A nurse serving time for murder becomes emotionally attached to a pair of inmates. | ||||||
| 42 | 16 | "On the Second Day of Christmas" | Bill Bain | David Butler | 20 December 1975 | |
Series 4 (1976)
[edit]| No. overall | No. in series | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 43 | 1 | "Catalyst" | Christopher Hodson | David Butler | 4 September 1976 | |
|
Helen Forrester is appointed as the new governor of Stone Park, and quickly finds herself tested with the discipline of the inmates. | ||||||
| 44 | 2 | "The Man With the Magic Touch" | Christopher Hodson | Terence Feely | 11 September 1976 | |
|
Governor Forrester is concerned with the privileges extended to inmates undergoing treatment for drug addiction. | ||||||
| 45 | 3 | "The Complaint" | Paul Annett | Tony Hoare | 18 September 1976 | |
|
Mavis Smith accuses Officer Spencer of theft after her cell is ransacked. | ||||||
| 46 | 4 | "The Line of Duty" | Paddy Russell | David Butler | 25 September 1976 | |
|
The prison officers take another look at the rules after being reprimanded by Governor Forrester. | ||||||
| 47 | 5 | "K Block" | Bryan Izzard | David Butler | 2 October 1976 | |
| 48 | 6 | "A Way of Loving" | John Gorrie | John Gorrie | 9 October 1976 | |
|
The prison chef kills himself when rejected by one of the prisoner's he has become obsessed with. | ||||||
| 49 | 7 | "Love and the Chaplain" | Paddy Russell | Kathleen J. Smith | 16 October 1976 | |
| 50 | 8 | "The Mystery" | Bryan Izzard | Tony Hoare | 23 October 1976 | |
|
A new prisoner refuses to speak about her family and takes a strange interest in a child-murderer. | ||||||
| 51 | 9 | "A Sentence of Death" | Bryan Izzard | Peter Wildeblood | 30 October 1976 | |
|
A gypsy, convicted of contempt of court, finds that being locked up is difficult after her lifetime in the open. | ||||||
| 52 | 10 | "Vacuum" | Paul Annett | P.J. Hammond | 6 November 1976 | |
|
Mr. Radley proposes special treatment for a new prisoner who refuses to speak. | ||||||
| 53 | 11 | "On Trial" | Marek Kanievska | Susan Pleat | 13 November 1976 | |
| 54 | 12 | "Visitors" | Peter Moffatt | Terence Feely | 20 November 1976 | |
|
The Governor expresses concern about Radley's proposal to try a new visitation system. | ||||||
| 55 | 13 | "Transfer" | Christopher Hodson | Tony Parker | 27 November 1976 | |
|
A mystery appears when a transfer from Rugely Prison arrives with an incomplete file. | ||||||
| 56 | 14 | "Someone's Got to Do It" | Mike Gibbon | Mona Bruce and Robert James | 4 December 1976 | |
|
Mrs. Armitage confronts the Governor about the continual problem of violence among the prisoners. | ||||||
| 57 | 15 | "Islands in the Heartline" | Marek Kanievska | Susan Pleat | 11 December 1976 | |
|
Miss Clarke helps Sarah after she becomes obsessed with Dr. Mayes. | ||||||
| 58 | 16 | "Invasion of Privacy" | Bill Bain | David Butler | 18 December 1976 | |
|
Mrs. Weeks, an elderly alcoholic, is back at Stone Park; The Governor's sister pays a visit. | ||||||
| 59 | 17 | "Silent Night" | Phillip Casson | David Butler | 24 December 1976 | |
|
Stone Park does its best to celebrate Christmas. | ||||||
Series 5 (1978)
[edit]| No. overall | No. in series | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60 | 1 | "Mixer" | Christopher Hodson | David Butler | 21 January 1978 | |
| 61 | 2 | "Arrivals, Departures" | Paul Annett | David Butler | 28 January 1978 | |
| 62 | 3 | ""Raft"" | Christphoer Hodson | P.J. Hammond | 4 February 1978 | |
| 63 | 4 | "Public Opinion" | Marek Kanievska | Mona Bruce and Robert James | 11 February 1978 | |
| 64 | 5 | "Sisters" | John Gorrie | John Gorrie | 18 February 1978 | |
| 65 | 6 | "Love Me, Love My Bear" | Bryan Izzard | Terence Feely | 25 February 1978 | |
| 66 | 7 | "The Inquest" | Bryan Izzard | Tony Hoare | 4 March 1978 | |
| 67 | 8 | "The Governor" | Marek Kanievska | Susan Pleat | 11 March 1978 | |
|
The governor is accused of being too distant by a prison officer. | ||||||
| 68 | 9 | "Freedom" | Tony Wharmby | Tony Parker | 18 March 1978 | |
| 69 | 10 | "New Girls" | Michael E. Briant | Kathleen J. Smith | 25 March 1978 | |
| 70 | 11 | "One for the Road" | Peter Moffatt | Peter Wildeblood | 1 April 1978 | |
| 71 | 12 | "Nemesis" | Christopher Hodson | Mona Bruce and Robert James | 8 April 1978 | |
|
Jennifer Rawlings begins serving her life sentence for killing her son's murderer. | ||||||
| 72 | 13 | "Is There Anyone There?" | John Gorrie | David Butler | 15 April 1978 | |
|
Tottie Dowd stirs up more trouble in Stone Park. | ||||||
The Lost Episode
[edit]Episode three from series 2, "Nowhere for the Kids", no longer exists in any format, but its script is included in PDF format on Series Two, Disc One. The script is located in the root directory of the DVD and is called "Within These Walls-N#149129.pdf" The script lists St. John's Waterloo church as the rehearsal hall for read-through for the shows.
Despite past indications that this episode was unofficially available on the video-sharing website YouTube, this is not the case.