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Ancestry UK

County Bridewell, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire

A County Bridewell, or House of Correction, existed in High Wycombe (also then referred to as Chepping Wycomb) by 1647, perhaps located in the Guildhall on the High Street. From around 1778 to 1782, it was temporarily relocated to West Wycombe as recorded by John Howard in 1792:

WEST-WYCOMB. This prison was lately removed from High-Wycomb, and the keeper was dismissed at the Michaelmas sessions 1778 for inattention. It consists of two garrets in the present keeper's house. The windows are almost closed up by strong planks nailed across for security : his salary, £20. In 1782 I found this prison again removed to High-Wycomb. It consists of two small rooms in the back court of the keeper's public house, about 7 feet by 3, and 6 feet high : apertures in the doors : a court about to feet by six : no water. Prisoners are here committed to hard labour. 1779, April 23, and 1782, June 25, No prisoners.

In 1835, the prison was described as a 'good lock-up house'.

Records

Note: many repositories impose a closure period of up to 100 years for records identifying individuals. Before travelling a long distance, always check that the records you want to consult will be available.

  • 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.

Except where indicated, this page () © Peter Higginbotham. Contents may not be reproduced without permission.