County Gaol, Horsham, Sussex

GAOLER, Charles Cooper.

Salary, £120 of late; instead of the Beer-Tap.

Fees, Debtors, Felons £1 : 4&n10.

Transports, £2 : 2 : 0 each.

Licence, for Wine.

PRISONERS,

Allowance, Debtors, none. Felons, two pennyworth of bread a day (weight 18 ounces, Sep. 1774).

Garnish, £0 : 6 : 6.

CHAPLAIN, None. But the Clergyman who attends condemned Criminals has £5 a year.

SURGEON, lately dead.

Salary, £5 for Felons.

REMARKS.

The Rooms are too small, except the Free-ward for Debtors. No straw: no yard; and yet ground enough for one behind the Gaol. Transports convicted at Quarter Sessions, have, as those condemned at Assize, the King's allowance of two shillings and sixpence a week. Lent Assize at East-Grinstead; where there is no Prison: Summer Assize, at Lewes and Horsham alternately.

There is a new Gaol building. The Duke of Richmond, in concurrence with the other Gentlemen of the County, has interested himself much in this affair: the Situation is judiciously chosen; and the Plan is such as appears to me particularly well suited for the purpose.

Gaoler, Samuel Smart; now John Smart. Salary, 120l. Three Turnkeys also are assigned him, to whom the County pays 13s. per week.

Fees, of every kind, and Garnish, are very laudably abolished.

Chaplain, Rev. William Jameson.

Duty, Prayers every Day, and a weekly Sermon. Salary, 50l.

Surgeon, Mr. Dubbins: For the Felons, and other Criminal Prisoners.

Salary, 20l. As medical assistance does not yet extend here to poor Debtors, this humane practitioner has hitherto attended them gratuitously.

Hic Vir, hid Homo est; alibi videte, Chirurgi.

Number of Prisoners,

Allowance, Debtors, none; except to Paupers, who, upon application, have one pound of bread per day, sent in loaves from the Baker's, and weighed by the Gaoler. Felons, and other Criminal Prisoners, two pounds of bread, in loaves, which I have always found to be of full weight. Transports have the King's allowance of 2s. 6d. a week.

REMARKS.

The situation of this Prison, judiciously chosen, is a little way out of the town. In the door of the Keeper's house is paced a "Poor's Box," for obtaining small or other donations, in aid of the Prisoners' Sixpences. A small garden extends along the front of the building.

Here are two spacious court-yards, of about half an acre each, with gravel walks, surrounding a fine grass-plat: Both courts are well supplied with excellent water; and the wall which encircles them encloses the whole Prison.

It has two floors built over arcades; and the ascent to each is by a stone staircase, skirted with iron-rails. On each floor, both on the Debtors' and Felons' Side, are distributed ten rooms, five on each side; a passage 5 feet wide; a day room also to each, of 28 feet by 12 feet 3 inches; and a lodging-room for the Turnkey. Each Debtor and Felon has a separate room of 10 feet by 7, and 9 feet high to the crown of the arch. They are all arched over with brick, to prevent danger and confusion in case of fire; and each room has two doors, one of wood, the other iron-latticed; a shutter for the window, with a pane of knobbed glass in it, a wooden bedstead, a straw-in-canvas bed, and two blankets. The County, likewise, is so considerate as to allow each common-room, of both descriptions, half a bushel of coals per day, during the six winter months, two tin kettles, and a wooden scuttle.

A Turnkey, paid by the County, goes twice a day to purchase provisions and liquors for the Debtors; and it is very properly fixed that none of them shall exceed a pint of wine, or a quart of strong beer per day. The Magistrates have supplied the Prison with scales and weights, for the use of its inhabitants; and I have always found the loaves of full weight as sent in from the Baker's.

Here is no regular Infirmary; but two apartments, with fire-places, are set apart distinctly for the respective sick.

The Chapel, which is in the Keeper's house, has a gallery for the Gaoler and his family. The pulpit is on the same level: The area below is 17 feet by 15, and has parallel benches for the Prisoners; so that Debtors and Felons of both sexes sit opposite each other, but almost close together. Every Prisoner, absent from Divine Service, without a proper cause, is punished either by close confinement, or short allowance. Religious books, at the County expence, are distributed by the worthy Chaplain; and when I was there in July 1806, not only all the Prisoners attended Chapel, but their deportment was orderly and attentive.

The Gaoler's house does not seem to command a proper view of the court-yards: This might be remedied, however, by a window made in his kitchen, towards the Debtor's court, and in his parlour, next to that of the Felons. Sitting-benches also in the day-rooms would be very convenient, and shelves for depositing the Debtors' plates and provisions; instead of which, at present, they have only the naked walls.

Felons, at their entrance, are washed with warm water, and each Man is clothed with the Gaol-uniform coat, waistcoat, and breeches; also two shirts, two pair of stockings, a pair of shoes, a hat, and a woollen cap. Here is likewise an oven to purify offensive clothes, and a place to hang them up, till the Prisoner is discharged.

At my two or three former visits the County allowed those Debtors to work, who could procure employment; by which many not only supported themselves comfortably, but gave some assistance to their poor families. I was sorry to be informed, in 1806, that this salutary indulgence was withheld, and the whole number (28) in a state of idleness; no work whatever being permitted in the Gaol.

In many of our best-governed Prisons (such, for instance, as Gloucester, Dorchester, &c.) it is a maxim, that every attention possible should be paid to the means and the encouragement of labour. Sir George Paul very justly observes, that "Debtors, and the unconvicted should, doubtless, be allowed to employ the wages of their own industry, to make life more comfortable; but, under such restrictions as the good government of the Prison renders indispensable. What is it less than a palpable absurdity, to commit a penniless offender, till he pays a fine, and deny him the exercise of his art and industry, to enable him to redeem his liberty?"

Since writing the above, however, candour obliges me to add, that I have been informed some Debtors in Horsham Gaol had heretofore attempted to escape; and that some others would not conform to the Rules and Restrictions of the house; which caused the above prohibition of work, as the most effectual mode of correction. Yet, might not some happier medium be adopted?

Every Christmas a Man goes about the County to collect donations for the relief of poor Debtors here confined. The money thus procured is distributed amongst them, at 2s. each per week, till the whole net produce is expended. In 1805, the contribution amounted to 67l. 2s.; and in 1806, to 84l. 11s. 11d. out of which the Collector had one fourth allowed him for his expences, time, and trouble.

At my several visits here, I recollect to have seen one Simon Southward, a Debtor, who is said to have been committed to Horsham Gaol so long since as the 22d of February, one thousand seven hundred and sixty-seven. He styled himself "Simon, Earl of Derby, King in Man;" and was very orderly and inoffensive, though evidently deranged. He was allowed 6s. a week by the parish of Boxgrove. [This poor man died in Horsham Gaol the 20th June, 1810, aged 82, after an imprisonment of forty-three years, four months, and eight days.]

There are excellent Rules and Orders for the government of this Gaol, printed and hung up; as are the Clauses against Spirituous Liquors, but not the Act for Preservation of Health. The sewers throughout are very judiciously placed.

The Lent Assizes for Sussex are held at Horsham, and the Summer at Lewes.

This prison has lately undergone some improvements, the large yard on the felons' side being now divided into three, and sixteen new cells added. There are at present thirty-six cells for criminals; they are good as to size: the window in each is not glazed, but it has a wooden shutter to put up at night. The bedsteads are of wood; two persons, or even three, are sometimes put in a cell, when the gaol is crowded.

On the felons' side at this time there were twenty prisoners, of whom six were for trial, and fourteen fines; amongst these were two boys of 15 and 17, and two insane men, who had been convicted, one of a rape, the other of an unnatural crime; but who, being proved to be of unsound mind, had been sent here to remain till otherwise disposed of.

The females, on the criminal side, are now entirely separated from the males, having a yard to themselves. The tried and untried male prisoners are also separated; they use the same yard, but at different times of the day. The third yard is not at present made use of, as the keeper considers some alteration necessary to render it secure. Thus there are three classes in the gaol (felons' side)—two for men and one for women.

On the debtors' side, there were thirty-four men (no women), of whom twenty were smugglers, sent here in consequence not being able to pay £100 penalty: they are generally discharged in twelve months.

There is no separate place for female debtors, who (when there are any) mix with the men in the airing yard, but it is intended to erect a building for them.

The allowance of food on the felons' side is, 2 lbs. of excellent white bread per day: besides this they get something from a subscription, collected by a person sent round the county for this purpose, by the chaplain and gaoler, which the latter appropriates to the purchase of potatoes, meat, &c. as he thinks fit, and gives discretionally to the prisoners, both criminals and debtors. The debtors have no allowance, but depend upon this and the assistance which their friends bring them, and what the keeper may besides take upon himself to give them.

Smugglers, on application to the Treasury, get 6d. per day allowed.

There is no employment whatever in the prison, and the inspection is very defective.

The chaplain reads prayers in the chapel every day, and preaches on Thursdays; he frequently comes into the yards, and converses with the prisoners. In the chapel, debtors are separated from criminals, but there is no seat divided off for women, who are therefore placed at the end of the bench where the men are, a turnkey being near them, and the gaoler having them also under his eye.

There is no infirmary at present; but one is expected soon to be built, in which the male debtors will be separated from the criminals, and both from the women.

Irons are not used, unless in case of emergency for very refractory conduct.

The prison in general appears clean; and the keeper stated that it was remarkably healthy. The walls were being whitewashed at this time, but the work is not done by the prisoners. A party-coloured prison dress is given only, where a prisoner's clothes are worn out.

There is room enough to erect a tread-mill, but the gaoler says he seldom should have a sufficient number of convicts to work it.

This prison is situated at Horsham, on (he high road to Brighton, and on a site of .about two acres. It is surrounded by a wall about 25 feet in height. The original building, some interesting particulars connected with which have been given in our Report, was completed in the year 1779. Several additions have subsequently been made ; but, in the erection of the modern part, the principle of individual separation, on which the prison was originally constructed, was unfortunately abandoned. The gaol at present consists of an oblong building of three floors. A wall separates the buildings and yards which were formerly appropriated to criminal prisoners from those in which debtors are confined. Part of the building is constructed on arcades, which, with the exception of those on the debtors’side, have been enclosed. The following are the numbers and dimensions of the several apartments and cells—

Criminal Side.

4 calls, 14 ft. by 5 ft., and 9 ft. high.
12 ditto, 11½ ft. by 6½ ft., and 8 ft. high.
20 ditto, 10 ft. by 7 ft., and 9 ft high.
3 day-rooms, 29 ft. by 9 ft., and 9 ft. high.
2 ditto, 28 ft. by 12 ft., and 9 ft. high.
2 yards, about 120 ft. by 100 ft.
An infirmary (detached) for males, 2.5 ft, by 14. ft., and 9 ft. high.
Ditto, for females, of the same dimensions.

Debtors' Side.

22 cells, 10 ft. by 7 ft., and 9 ft. high;
2 day-rooms, 28 ft. by 12 ft., and 9 ft. high.
An infirmary for males, 25 ft. by 14 ft., and 9 ft. high.
Ditto, for females, of the same dimensions.
A yard, about 210 ft. by 120 ft.

The windows of the several cells are 3 ft. by 3 ft. 7 in.

The prison is indifferently ventilated, and, in winter, cold and damp. The cells are not warmed, and admit of great facility of communication from cell to cell. There is a fire-place in each of the day-rooms.

This prison is now appropriated to county debtors only and criminal prisoners while undergoing their trial at the Midsummer Sessions, which are held at Horsham. For some time past the magistrates of the county have been desirous to abolish this gaol, and in 1833 a committee was appointed to take into consideration the expediency of this measure. The committee reported in favour of its abandonment, and on the following grounds: That by making the houses of correction at Lewes and Petworth separate gaols for the Eastern and Western Divisions of the county, in preference to the continuance of Horsham Gaol, there would be a saving to the county in the maintenance of prisoners, besides a large reduction in the cost of conveying; that the gaol at Horsham requires a very considerable outlay in order to render it an efficient place of confinement; that the amount of the outlay, and the value of the premises if sold, should be also taken into consideration in estimating the advantages to be derived from the discontinuance of the prison, since the cost of enlarging the prisons at Lewes and Petworth would probably be more than covered by the saving on either of these two heads; that the expediency of abolishing Horsham Gaol would become still more manifest should certain measures, then before Parliament for abolishing imprisonment for debt and empowering justices to commit all offenders for trial to houses of correction, become law [...] On preparing a bill for the abolition of the gaol [...] a difficulty has occurred in apportioning the prisoners in civil process between the two divisions of the county, a legal opinion having been given that the general powers afforded by the Gaol Act could not, by mere reference, be made part of a Private bill. It is, therefore, intended to await an opportunity of endeavouring to effect the abolition of the prison by means, if possible, of some Public Act.

At the period of our last inspection we found seventeen male and two female debtors in custody. Each prisoner had a separate cell in which to sleep, and to which he might return at pleasure. There are also day-rooms to which they have access, and in which they cook their meals. The prisoners are locked up in these cells at nine o’clock in the evening, and the cells are unlocked at six o’clock in the summer and at day-light in the winter season. The prisoners are allowed to follow their own trades, when this can be done consistently with the regulations of the prison. Their friends are allowed to visit them daily, except on Sundays, from nine in the morning until dusk.

The allowance of food furnished by the county to those debtors who do not subsist themselves is 2lbs. of bread daily. Of the 19 prisoners then in custody 13 received the county allowance. The prisoners have access to scales and weights. Each prisoner is provided with a straw mattress and three blankets. The governor sees every prisoner, and visits every cell once in the day. The chaplain performs Divine service twice on Sundays, and reads Prayers on Wednesdays. The attendance at chapel is not compulsory; and it is to be regretted that but few of the prisoners avail themselves of the opportunity afforded them of attending. Of the 19 prisoners but five were in the habit of being present at chapel; and this number is said to be about the average proportion. The surgeon visits the prison once a fortnight for the purpose of seeing every prisoner; he also attends, when necessary, in cases of sickness.

The matron has filled the office for 15 years, and appears to be well adapted for its duties. She does not, however, reside in the prison, although close to it: it is, therefore, necessary to send out for her, if absent, when her services are required. One of the two female prisoners in custody was, at the period of this inspection, confined to her bed.

The governor is a respectable man, and we have no doubt that he would vigilantly guard against any irregularity to which the, absence of the matron might give rise; but this circumstance does not render her non-residence the less improper. By the 2d rule of the 10th section of the 4th Geo. IV. c. 64, it is enacted that "a matron shall be appointed to every prison in which female prisoners shall be confined, who shall reside in the prison; and it shall be the duty of the matron constantly to superintend the female prisoners."