Bridewell, Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey

This bridewell, built in 1775, has a house for the keeper; and separate wards for men and women; with separate courts, work shops, pumps, & c. Each ward has two lower rooms, three steps above the ground; and two chambers. The men's rooms are near 17 feet by 14, and full 9 feet high: the women's, about 15 feet square. Every room planked round: a chimney in each; and two windows, with shutters and iron bars, no glass.

The men's court 59 feet by 50: the women's, 46 by 36. There is also a room quite separate for faulty apprentices; about 8 feet by 11, and full 8 feet high; it has a fire-place.

It is pity that to a prison in some respects so commodious, the gentlemen did not add an infirmary and a bath. Using any of the rooms for the purpose of the sick, will not prevent the communication of small-pox, &c. Surgeon's salary, £10 : 10 : 0, of which £5 : 5 : 0 is for travelling charges to report at the quarter sessions the state of the prisoners.

County allowance, a three halfpenny loaf a day (weight in 1779, 17oz. and a quarter; in 1782, 12oz. in 1783, 14oz.). No bedding. In 1776, they were at work, beating hemp. The keeper has the profit of it, and a salary of £25.

In 1779, the act for preserving the health of prisoners was hung up, though but little attention is paid to it. On the bottom of the board was also painted, "N. B. The fees for each person are 3s. 4d." —Clauses against spirituous liquors not hung up. The prison was dirty, and the prisoners unemployed; the keeper informing me that they were not committed for hard labour, though some were imprisoned for a year.

One of the prisoners who was committed for bastardy, not finding sureties, had been sent back hither, from the preceding quarter sessions at Ryegate; where there is no prison. I had heard of the hardships suffered by prisoners when conveyed for trial to such towns; and inquired of this man, what was his situation at Ryegate? He said that "he and fifteen others were confined there two or three days in a very small room; and almost suffocated." The keeper who was present confirmed the fact.

In 1782, I found the prison very dirty, and the prisoners still without employment. As the county allows no firing, bedding or bedsteads, many were lying sick on the floors. One woman was in a bed on the men's-side and two women in the room for faulty apprentices, but they pay for this privilege.—As I had been the preceding morning at Horsham gaol, where proper humanity is shewn even to felons, I was the more struck at seeing the wretched condition of these prisoners. There is a door from the men's court into that of the women's, and one of the men keeps the key, and can let any of the prisoners into the women's apartments. At my last visit, no alteration.

Quarter sessions are held Lady-Day at Ryegate, Midsummer at Guildford, Michaelmas at Kingston, Christmas at St. Margaret's Hill.

Keeper, William Matthews, now Thomas Fricker. Salary, 85l.

Fees, Felons, 3s. 4d. Misdemeaners, 6s. 8d.

Chaplain, none, nor any religious attentions.

Surgeon, Mr. Hemming, now Mr. William Roots.

Salary, 10l. 10s. and also 6l. 6s. for travelling charges, to make his Report at the Quarter Sessions, of the state of the Prisoners.

Number of Prisoners,

Allowance, by the County, one Pound of Bread each per day, sent in from the Baker's, in loaves of that weight.

☛ The above seems too scanty a Prison Dole, where no nutritious liquid is allowed but water.

REMARKS.

Here is a house for the Keeper, and distinct Wards for Men and Women, with separate court-yards also, work-sheds, and pumps. Each Ward has two lower rooms, standing three steps above the ground, and two other rooms over them.

The Men's court-yard is 59 feet by 50. The Women's 46 feet by 36; with a bathing-tub in each.

The Men's room is 16 feet by 14, and 9 feet high; the Women's about 15 feet square. Every room planked round; one chimney in each, and two windows, with shutters, and iron bars; but no glass, except in two apartments assigned for the Sick.

Here is also a room (very properly separated from all the rest) for faulty Apprentices or Servants; which has a fire-place, and is about 8 feet by 11, and 8 feet high.

The County allows straw only for the Prisoners to sleep on. The present Keeper furnishes beds at 2s. each per week, for the first fortnight, and 1s. 6d. per week afterwards; and two sleep together.

The Act for Preservation of Health, and Clauses against Spirituous Liquors are conspicuously hung up. And the Prison is clean.

Of the twenty-two Prisoners in the Kingston Bridewell, at my visit in 1802, eleven had been committed to hard labour. For this good purpose there is provided in every court-yard a convenient work-shed: yet, not one of them was employed, nor any appearance of attention paid to the means of Industry! "Thus it is," as Sir George Paul observes, " that the operation of the Law seems rather to resent the Injury, than to correct the Offender. There is little hope of amendment, where there is no possibility of industry: The pennyless Offender, committed till he pays a Fine, is denied the exercise of his art and industry, to enable him to regain his Liberty. Of this Class are those for the smallest offences against the Crown, Excise, Ecclesiastical, or Game Laws." I have met with it even for Angling in a River. By 14 Eliz. Cap. 5, and 12 Geo. II. it is enacted, That "Prisoners shall be provided by the County Rate, &c." By 19 Cha. II. and 12 Geo. II. Cap. 29, "Justices, in their Sessions, may provide a Stock of Materials for setting the poor to work."

The Vagrant Act, 17 Geo. II. requires "That two Justices visit the Houses of Correction twice, or oftener, if need be, in every year; and examine into the estate and management thereof; and report, &c. And that the Justices, at Quarter Sessions, impose Fines and Penalties on the Governors or Masters who do not keep their Prisoners to hard labour, and punish and correct them, according to the directions of the Warrants, &c."

The work-shed in the Men's court-yard has been recently enclosed, and converted into a kitchen or day-room, with a fire-place, and proper cooking utensils. Of the fourteen Prisoners in June 1810, twelve were sentenced to hard labour; but no employment provided for any.

Of the four Women Prisoners, two, viz. Elizabeth Smith, aged 26, and Catherine Burke, aged 25, were chained together, by a horse-lock round the leg of each, with three feet length of chain; and fastened by another chain, at night, to two iron staples fixed in the floor, at 6 feet distance. These Women, it seems, had been detected in an attempt to break through the Prison wall, for which their only implements were a knife and fork. One of their fellow Prisoners, however, gave notice of it by a letter to the Keeper, which I read; and they were thus prevented. They had been in this state of punishment a month, and begged hard to be released, or to be ironed singly. Their fetters were taken off; and I think their sufferings will prevent any cause for a like infliction.

It is scarcely necessary to add, that this House of Correction is seldom, if ever, visited by the Magistrates.

Before I dismiss the subject, let me observe, that the door which heretofore opened from the Men's court into that of the Women is now bricked up; and the Women's rooms have blinds, which effectually prevent their overlooking the Men's court, as formerly.

Withinside the gate is painted, and put up as follows:

No Admittance in Church-time.

No Garnish to be taken.

If any Prisoner shall be guilty of profane cursing or swearing, or any indecent

behaviour, complain to the Keeper.

Whoever defaces this Board will be prosecuted.

By Order of the Magistrates.

I found the Prison very clean; but no firing is allowed for the Winter.

☛ The Corporation have lately purchased a large commodious well-built mansion, called Clatton-House, with spacious premises and garden-ground adjoining; on the site of which they are now erecting two convenient Courts for the Assize; which, communicating with the centre building, gives every prospect of accommodation and comfort to the Judges, the Gentlemen of the County on the Grand Jury, the Professional Advocates and Gentlemen of the Bar; the Witnesses, and all the attendants on such occasions.

The improvements, it is hoped, will be further extended to the building of a new Gaol contiguous, in the room of the loathsome place of confinement now used by the Corporation.

This prison is situate on a small plot of ground within the borough of Kingston-upon-Thames, and is under the jurisdiction and management of the Quarter Sessions and eleven Visiting Justices. It consists of three or four detached buildings, badly constructed and arranged. The portion appropriated to male prisoners consists of four sleeping-rooms, a day-room, storeroom, and an airing-yard; the day-room and store-room being used also as work-rooms. The portion occupied by the females consists of four rooms and an airing-yard; two of the rooms being used as sleeping-rooms, one as a day-room and work-room, and one as a punishment or refractory room for both male and female prisoners, and sometimes a receiving-room. The female apartments are detached and separate by a high partition from those of the other sex. There is a chapel, in which the seats of the women are screened from view of the men by a calico curtain, an infirmary over the chapel, a cooking-room, and a bakehouse. There are no cells, nor is there any regular receiving-room.

There are several inconveniences connected with the construction, some of which require particular notice. The approach to the females’ ward is through the cook-room, (only eight feet long, and five feet six inches wide,) where two male prisoners are employed throughout the day in preparing the messes, and performing various services for the officers of the prison; so that the female prisoners on their admission and discharge — in going to and returning from chapel — in procuring water when engaged in washing, &c. — in attending to their employment in the bakehouse — and in seeing visitors — must continually be brought in contact with these male prisoners, or the latter, on such occasions, must be removed; and, whatever precautionary measures are taken, there must be frequent opportunities of intercourse between them; and the keeper admits that the women, especially, often take great advantage of them. There being neither a receiving nor a refractory room, male prisoners, on their admission, if they require to be cleansed, are placed to sleep in a room in the females’ ward, opposite to which, on the same floor, is a room occupied by the women, the landing-place between these two rooms being only 5 feet 10 inches wide, so that conversation can then be carried on between the sexes under and through the doors. Moreover, when it happens that the receiving-room is occupied by prisoners under punishment, this small landing-place is used as a receiving-room for male prisoners, where they are only separated by a wooden door from the women. Nothing can be more inconsistent with good discipline than such an arrangement There are ventilators in the nulls of the females’ ward, whereby the male prisoners in the cook-house, and others occasionally employed in the garden, and in various offices about the prison, might hold communication, and exchange letters, &c., with the female prisoners. One small room is used as a bakehouse and bath-room, and in it is an oven, which is employed both for the purpose of fumigating the prisoners’ clothes and baking their bread. Nearly the whole of the prisoners committed to this prison are such as have been summarily convicted by magistrates, and ordered to be punished by labour not severe: there is, therefore, very little intermixture of the classes: but, occasionally, prisoners intended to be examined on behalf of the Crown, and others charged with felony or misdemeanors, are confined in it; upon which occasions, when the inmates are numerous, the construction is such as not to admit of so effectual a separation as to prevent intercourse between them. The accommodation for the officers is so defective, that the keeper, matron, and turnkey, are obliged to use one small kitchen in common; in which, also, water is boiled for washing the prisoners’ clothes, and a portion of their food is cooked. See dimensions of wards, &c.. Appendix (A). The keeper states that the prison is not sufficiently capacious for the few inmates who from time to time occupy it; but it appears to possess sufficient capabilities for enlargement. It is in a tolerably good state of repair. There is no night supervision. The governor, turnkey, and matron, frequently visit the prisoners in their work-rooms by day, but have various other duties to perform. There are no means of inspection. The prison is badly adapted for employment: the day-rooms, and one of the store-rooms, are also used as work-rooms. It appears to be dry, and well ventilated and drained. It was not particularly cleanly; but the keeper stated that, from the circumstance of the day-rooms being used as work-rooms, and the airing-yards not being paved or properly gravelled, which caused the dirt to be carried to every part of the prison, it was impossible to keep it more so, although he continually used his best endeavours to effect that object.

SYSTEM.

Discipline.

The prisoners are classed in the following manner: —

1. Prisoners under summary convictions, not ordered to be punished by hard labour; the reputed fathers of bastard children before order of filiation; and deserters.

2. Prisoners intended to be examined on behalf of the Crown.

3. Prisoners charged with felonies or misdemeanors for re-examination.

It does not often happen that there are any prisoners in classes 2 and 3, and when there are they are kept separate from the first class both by day and night so far as the construction and other circumstances will admit. Prisoners of the first class associate in their day-rooms, at their work and meals; and sleep, several together, in rooms. Nevertheless, the silent system has been introduced; and although it is not and cannot, (as the keeper admits,) be so enforced as to prevent intercourse and moral contamination, it is said to We produce somewhat more order and quietness than when there was no prohibition upon conversation. No hard labour is performed, and the employment consists of picking Oakum, and making door-mats and vent-pegs, the profits of which are inconsiderable, and applied to the county fund. The quantity of oakum required to be picked is 2½ lbs. in winter, and 3 lbs. in summer. Labour is regarded as an alleviation of imprisonment. Some of the females are also engaged in washing and needle-work, both for the prisoners and officers; and a few of the first class, of both sexes, are occupied in cooking, and as servants to the keeper, matron, and turnkey; and although two of these are described as wardsmen, they are not required to exercise any control over, or to enforce silence or order among, the prisoners. They merely clean the wards, &c. All the prisoners take this office in rotation, daily. Untried prisoners, (when there are any,) at their own request, sometimes pick oakum in their their rooms; visitors, with the keeper’s permission, are admitted to prisoners of the first class on all days, (Sundays excepted,) between 12 and 1; but not to any others without orders from the magistrates; and then only on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, between the same hours. They are not searched, but any articles which they bring openly are examined. They remain only a short time, and are received in presence of an officer. Prisoners are not allowed the possession of money. All letters and written communications to or from, and all books weed by, them, are subject to the keeper’s inspection. Such only as are committed for re-examination may provide themselves with food. Spirituous liquors, beer, meat, tobacco, and newspapers, are inadmissible to all classes; and sufficient vigilence is, we believe, observed to prevent the introduction of them. Prisoners have two or three times been detected playing at draughts or cards, which they had contrived to make.

Religious and Moral Instruction.

The Chaplain reads prayers every morning; and on Wednesdays and Fridays examines the prisoners in the Church Catechism. It is optional with them whether they will or not attend, and it appears they generally exercise that option by absenting themselves; none had attended for about four months past. He preaches two sermons on Sundays. He visits the two wards about two or three times a-week, remaining in each about 10 minutes, but does not see the prisoners separately. He has no other duties than those of the prison. He keeps a journal, but no character book. He says the prisoners are respectful to him, are desirous of his visits, are orderly in chapel, and that both they and the officers regularly attend divine service. There are three or four Bibles and Prayer-books for the men, and as many for the women; and all books are submitted either to the chaplain or governor before they are read by prisoners. We examined these Bibles, Testaments, and Prayer-books, and in a sadly torn and dilapidated condition they were; but we fear that, if they were entire, they would belittle used. The chaplain is 85 years of age.

Health.

The surgeon (who is in private practice in the town) attends the prison never less than three times a-week, and daily when any prisoners are sick. He examines them before they are passed to their wards, only when it is reported by the keeper to be necessary. If the prisoners or their clothes are in a dirty condition, the former are properly cleansed in a bath, and the latter are immersed in salt and water, or baked. He keeps a journal in strict compliance with the Act, and gives written orders for extra allowance for the sick. There are seldom any infirmary cases. The prevailing complaints are colds, the venereal disease, and indisposition arising from dissolute conduct before imprisonment. Only one case of illness originating in the prison occurred during the last year. During the same period 262 prisoners were admitted, of whom 43 were on the sick-list. The average number of days during which each remained sick was 30. The situation of the prison is considered healthy. There appears to be a sufficient supply of soap, towels, and combs, for the purposes of personal cleanliness. The prisoners wash at the pumps in the open yards; but those of opposite sexes cannot see each other. The walls and ceilings throughout the prison are limewashed once a-year, and the floors are washed once a-week with water. The prison bedding and linen is washed by the females. The prisoners take air and exercise, daily, for a short period; there are no prescribed rules as to time, but the working hours are not allowed to be encroached on.

Diet — Clothing — Bedding.

The surgeon considers the diet sufficient both in quantity and quality. There is no distinction as to age, sex, or class. Prisoners committed for re-examination may support themselves: see Discipline. The cooks and wardswoman, or charwoman, receive a small extra allowance; the wardsman does not. The total cost of diet for the last year was £100. 2s. 10d., or 7s. 7d. per head.

No clothing is allowed, except in cases of utter destitution, or temporarily, whilst the prisoner’s clothes are being fumigated, when that process becomes necessary. The cost of prison dresses for the last year amounted only to £2. 15s. 7d., or 2½d. per head.

The supply of bedding appeared to be insufficient. It was discoloured, and not particularly clean; and we found that it arose from the circumstance of there being no changes to admit of its being washed, without waiting for the discharge of prisoners. The prisoners generally sleep in separate beds; but in some few cases two had been placed in one bed, in consequence of the deficiency of bedding. In other cases rugs had been given instead:o£’blankets. No expense was incurred during the last year for bedding.

Prison Offences and Punishments.

The usual prison offences are stated to be, insolence, to the officers, irreverent behaviour at chapel, and talking; which are punished by solitary confinement on bread and water, or by partial privation of food without confinement, according to the magnitude of the offence. Sometimes, in order to discover the offenders, when one or more prisoners had been noisy at night, and the others refused to disclose their names, the keeper had been obliged to punish a whole class by reducing their allowance. This, at first, produced the desired effect, and he had afterwards less difficulty in fixing on the right party in similar cases. But the prisoners also adopted a plan, by which they completely neutralized the punishment. They very readily disclosed the name of an offender, and when he was punished, by having his allowance of food reduced, they contributed a portion of their own to make up his loss. To obviate this inconvenience, the turnkey, so far as his duties will allow, now remains with them during meals. It appears that whipping, and the use of irons, are not resorted to. Since the observance of the silent system the punishments have increased nearly 600 per cent., and no beneficial effects of a moral kind appear to have been the result.

Officers.

The officers are, the governor, chaplain, surgeon, matron, and turnkey; of whom the chaplain and surgeon only reside out of the prison. — See officers’ salaries, fees, &c. They all appear to be highly respectable according to their respective stations. As to the duties of chaplain and surgeon, — see "Moral and religious instruction, health." The governor seems to be an intelligent and active officer, and to possess qualifications which fit him for the management of a better prison. The matron’s apartments are too far distant from the female prisoners’ ward; she has no means whatever of overhearing or checking any disorderly conduct among them at night. The governor, states that five turnkeys, instead of one, would be required to enforce the silent system, viz. three by day, and two at night; that he has tried what he could do with wardsmen, but that the system utterly failed; that not the slightest reliance could be placed on them, that they neglected their duty and deceived him on all occasions, and that he therefore discontinued the use of them altogether, at least for the purpose of watching and reporting the other prisoners.

The regulations of the Gaol Act, which have not been expressly adverted to, appear to have been complied with.

Effect of Imprisonment on the Prisoners and the Criminal Population of the Neighbourhood.

The governor states that no benefit has resulted from the discipline of the prison, as regards either the moral improvement of its inmates, or and deterring influence produced on the criminal population of the neighbourhood; that, with respect to the former, their obscene and demoralizing conversation is such, notwithstanding the attempt to enforce silence (an attempt found to be wholly impracticable where the opportunities of association are so great), that contamination prevails as much as when there was no prohibition on conversation; that not only has the discipline failed to produce either dread of punishment or reformation, but in almost all cases the prisoners have quitted the prison more depraved than when they entered it; and that, in some cases, the advantages it has afforded them in point of diet, lodging, &c., have even induced a desire to return. He appeals to the large number of recommitments, as one proof that no deterring influence or reformation has been produced; and he speaks with confidence as to the fact (a fact often admitted by prisoners) that when employment cannot be procured they commit petty offences, expressly for the purpose of obtaining admission to the prison as a home and habitation, losing sight of it altogether as a place of punishment. This latter observation is meant to apply, not only to discharged prisoners, but also to the criminal population of the neighbourhood who have never been in custody; for he states his conviction that it is a common case. Moreover, his statement is strengthened by the respectable testimony of Dr. Roots, the medical officer of the establishment, who entertains the same persuasion.

Miscellaneous.

The books of account and journals in use are the following: — Magistrates’ Visiting Book, Governor’s Daily Journal, Surgeon’s Journal and Visiting Book, Commitment Register, Journal of Daily Issue of Food, Cash Book, General Disbursement Ledger, Work and Sale Book, Time Book, and Oakum Book.

The number of prisoners in custody during the last year was 282, of whom 75 had before been committed to this or other prisons. The proportion of recommittals was therefore very large.

No passes are granted to discharged prisoners. A trifle is paid them at the discretion of the governor, according to the distance they have to travel to their homes.

No prisoners during the last year have been recommended for pardon.

Prisoners committed under the Revenue Laws receive only the usual allowance.

There are no insane prisoners in custody