[an error occurred while processing this directive] County Bridewell, Gainsborough, Lincolnshire
Ancestry UK

County Bridewell, Gainsborough, Lincolnshire

A County Bridewell, or House of Correction, was in operation in Gainsborough by 1776.

In 1784, John Howard wrote:

Two lodging-rooms,* and a day-room below, and two rooms up stairs: a court 33 feet square, in which is a new work-room: no water: no straw: no allowance: the prisoners were beating hemp at four pence a stone. Conveyance to quarter sessions at keeper's expence. His salary, £30. No fees. Might be improved on the keeper's garden.

1776, Jan. 30,Prisoners 3.
1779, May 6,- - 5.Lunatics 3.
1782, Jan. 31,- - 4.- - 2.

* I was surprised to find a lunatic of the other sex lodge in the room appropriated to the women.

The bridewell appears to have closed in about 1791.

Records

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  • No individual records identified for this establishment — any information welcome.
  • The National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 4DU. Has a wide variety of crime and prison records going back to the 1770s, including calendars of prisoners, prison registers and criminal registers.
  • Find My Past has digitized many of the National Archives' prison records, including prisoner-of-war records, plus a variety of local records including Manchester, York and Plymouth. More information.
  • Prison-related records on Ancestry UK include Prison Commission Records, 1770-1951, and local records from London, Swansea, Gloucesterhire and West Yorkshire. More information.
  • The Genealogist also has a number of National Archives' prison records. More information.

Bibliography

  • Prison Oracle - resources those involved in present-day UK prisons.
  • GOV.UK - UK Government's information on sentencing, probation and support for families.