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Ancestry UK

Court of Peverel Prison, Lenton, Nottinghamshire

The Court of Peverel (or Peveril) is said to have been created in around 1070 by William the Conqueror and granted by him to his natural son, William de Peverel. Its main business was the recovery of small debts. Letters patent of 1639 specified its jurisdiction as encompassing pleas of debt, detinue, covenant, account, trespass, trespass on the case and distraint of beasts, goods and chattels where the value of debts or damages demanded did not exceed £50 in value. From that date court's jurisdiction included the whole of Broxtowe and Thurgarton wapentakes in Nottinghamshire and, from 1672 to 1706, the manor of Worksop in Nottinghamshire and the parishes of Rotherham, Sheffield, Ecclesfield, Whiston, Handsworth and Treeton in Yorkshire. The court's stewardship was long held under royal grant by the Willoughby family.

The letters patent of 1639 provided for the court to meet on Tuesdays at a place of the steward's choosing. The warrant of 1672 mentioned the shire halls of various places in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, often with a long succession of meetings at the same place. The venues included Wirksworth, Ashbourne, Normanton and Glapwell in Derbyshire; Nottingham castle and shire hall, Mansfield, Lenton, Linby, Radford and Old Basford in Nottinghamshire.

From around 1790, the Court, previously based at Old Basford, was convened at what was then the Lenton Coffee House, at what is now 29 Gregory Street. In 1804, it became the White Hart Inn. Its landlord, George Wombwell, also acted as keeper of the prison. A report on the prison was published by James Neild in 1812:

Gaoler, George Wombwell. No Salary. Has a Licence for Wine, Beer, and Spirituous Liquors.

Fees, 13s. 4d. by the Court-Roll. No Table.

Garnish, one shilling, spent in Liquor.

Number of Debtors, 1805, July 20th, 1. 1809, Aug. 26th, 0.

Allowance, formerly none; but now three pence a day, in bread.

REMARKS.

This is his Majesty's Gaol of the Court of Record for his Honour of Peverel, and additional limits of the same, in the Counties of Nottingham and Derby. Henry Lord Middleton, by Grant from Queen Anne to his Ancestor, Sir Thomas Willoughby, in Fee, is the High Steward of this Honour and its limits.

The Prison, formerly at Basford, in this County, was afterwards removed to Lenton: but, being in a decayed state, a new Gaol was built in the back yard of the Keeper's publick house, and first inhabited in 1805. It consists of a court-yard 30 feet by 16 feet 6 inches, paved with broad flag-stones; and in it are a pump, and a sewer.

There are two sleeping-rooms below, and two above, each 14 feet 6 inches by 12 feet 6, and 7 feet 3 inches high; with a fire-place, and an iron-grated glazed window in each. To these the Keeper furnishes beds at 2s. per week, or at ls. 6d. each, if two sleep together. Here is also a work-room, of 12 feet 6 inches by 9 feet 6, with a window the whole length of the room.

The Judicial practice of this Court of Record is Trial before Judge and Jury, similar to the superior Courts in Westminster Hall, but most resembling the Common Pleas; proceeding by Capias, &c. and the suits are, in like manner, carried on to judgment and execution, except that every Tuesday throughout the year is Court Day, or Term; so that the proceedings are quickly dispatched, unless the Defendant files a Plea, or Demurrer; in which case the business is argued before Mr. Balguy, Barrister, the Steward and Judge, and a respectable Jury, at two General Courts in the year, which Mr. Balguy appoints to be held about Michaelmas and Easter. The Debt and Costs are from forty shillings up to fifty pounds.

In 1842, the Court and prison relocated to the old Radford parish workhouse on St. Peter's Street, Radford.

The Court of Peverel was subsequently transferred to Lenton. In 1849, it was abolished by Act of Parliament.

It is believed that old prison cells still survive at the rear of what is still the White Hart pub in Lenton.

Records

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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.