The word mug has been used to describe a person’s face since the 17th century. When someone is charged with a crime, their photograph is taken as an aid to record their description - a ‘mug shot’.

Now a new exhibition in Kent is putting the spotlight on how this process first started in the UK back in the 1850s.

Prison governor Robert Evan Roberts decided to have photographs taken of criminals when they were convicted, as he believed that written descriptions were often unreliable and could be misinterpreted.

Copies of these first known mug shots in the country have been kept away behind lock and key but now form the backdrop to a fascinating exhibition at Gravesend’s Blake Gallery.

The record books on show contains details and images of over 200 prisoners, including murderers, thieves and fraudsters.

John Walker, a 34-year-old labourer was sentenced to seven years for ‘stealing a quantity of onions’ on September 13, 1873. Walker had committed several crimes prior to the onions incident, including stealing wood, stealing potatoes, assault and more.

As his picture shows, the offenders were generally quite smartly presented, and the majority all sat for their portraits most attentively. Having your photo taken back in the 1800s was a rarity and so it is very unusual to see pictures of the working class of that day, as opposed to the wealthy.

Another offender was Thomas Brooks. His record said ‘Offence: Maliciously killing a certain sheep the property of Joseph Joyce of Kempoton’. Brooks was also sentenced for seven years.

The 1859 Mug Shot Exhibition is at the Blake Gallery within the Woodville Halls, Gravesend, until Sunday, April 20. Entry is free.

The gallery is open between 10am and 8pm from Tuesday to Saturday, and 10am-2pm on Sunday. It is closed on Monday.

Details at www.woodville.co.uk