Surrey County Bridewell, Brixton, London

This prison was erected in the year 1820; the site, which, is on the rise of Brixton Hill, is classes, ten airing-yards, and ten day-rooms. The class-walls converge towards, but do hot continue home to, a centre, which is occupied by the Governor's residence, surrounded by a shed containing cook-house, bake-house, store-rooms, work-rooms, &c., and by a circular paired cart-road to the mill, separated by a low wall from another circular walk, affording communication with the different class-yards, by gates placed in lofty iron railways. The mill is in front of the chapel, and, with a yard which is between them, divides the whole space into two similar and equal proportions. The class-walls spring sometimes from the angles and sometimes from different points in the octagonal building. The yards are consequently dissimilar and irregular in form, being about 115 feet in length, differing considerably in breadth, and varying in area from about 1700 to about 4750 square feet.

There are two hospital buildings for each sex separate from the body of the prison, and from each other, having yards similar in character to the others, but shorter, being-about 50 feet long in the middle.

The following are the dimensions of the day-rooms and cells:—

The boundary wall is 17 feet from the surface of the ground, of solid brick-work to the coping, above which is three feet of open brick-work.

The prisoners in this House of Correction have all been summarily convicted by the magistrates. They are received from every part of the county, but the greater number of the commitments are from Union Hall.

The prisoners are divided into the following classes, each having a distinct yard:—

Males.

1. Prisoners convicted of felony and sentenced to hard labour.
2. Prisoners convicted of misdemeanors and sentenced to hard labour.
3. Prisoners convicted of being idle and disorderly, rogues and vagabonds, or reputed thieves, and adjudged to hard labour.
4. Prisoners convicted of offences under the Mutiny Act, and committed by courts-martial, and deserters.
5. Prisoners committed to hard labour under summary convictions of magistrates.
6. Prisoners convicted of any felony or, misdemeanor for which solitary confinement may be awarded

Females.

1. Prisoners convicted of felony and sentenced to. hard labour.
2. Prisoners convicted of misdemeanors and sentenced to hard labour.
3. Prisoners summarily convicted of felony.
4. Prisoners summarily convicted of misdemeanors.
5. Prisoners convicted of vagrancy, or of the class of idle and disorderly.

Each class, excepting those under solitary confinement, has a distinct yard. The use of the day-rooms has long been discontinued. The cells are not warmed, and are not provided with privies. Some of them, as will be hereafter pointed out, are damp, and the ventilation is indifferent.

Able-bodied prisoners work on the tread-wheel; those who are unfit for hard labour are employed in picking oakum. The prisoners who work on the wheel, on leaving their cells in the morning, march at once to the wheel, and wash themselves as they got off in regular rotation. At eight o'clock they proceed, with their breakfasts, to their cells, where they remain until half-past eight, when the bell rings for chapel. The morning service generally occupies about half an hour, after which the prisoners are on the tread-wheel,with the usual intervals of rest, until ten minutes to one, when they take their dinners into their cells. Here they are locked up until two o'clock, when they return to the wheel and remain, until the hour of locking up. The prisoners who pick oakum take their meals in the same manner, but are allowed, when they leave their cells in the morning, to walk in single files in the yards, for a quarter of an hour after breakfast, and for the same period after dinner. There is but little, if any, variation in the ordinary routine of duties as performed by the male and female prisoners. The women who labour on the tread-wheel do not perform so much work thereon as the male prisoners. As in the case of the men, such women as are unfit for hard labour are employed in picking oakum.

Silence is strictly enjoined, throughout the day and night in the cells, in the yards, on the treadwheel, in the oakum-room, and in marching to and from the various parts of the prison, and the means employed to enforce it are such as are usually adopted in prisons conducted on the Silent System. The utter impracticability, however, of preventing communication between the prisoners will be apparent, when we consider that there are but 161 cells in this prison, and that there are occasionally as many as from 300 to 340 prisoners, at one time in confinement. The prisoners, when not at labour, are constantly three or more in each cell, where they can easily converse so long as they do so in an under tone. Means are taken to prevent such conversation. During meal-times turnkeys perambulate the galleries in list shoes, and this is also the case, when the prisoners are locked up in their cells for the night, until half-past ten. From that hour until four in the morning an officer watches throughout the prison. From four until the time of unlocking three officers are on the watch. But these arrangements can effect little more than to prevent loud conversation. It is impossible that prisoners whispering to each other in the cells can be heard in the passages. The prohibition of communication, on the wheel serves, in fact, but to stimulate the prisoners to talk more freely when, being shut up in their cells, they can do so with impunity.

In the maintenance of the discipline a certain number of the prisoners are employed as monitors and wardsmen. The principal prison offences consist of talking or communicating in any manner with each other, neglect of work, theft, riotous conduct, misbehaviour in marching to and from the cells, or at chapel. The punishments for offences against these and other rules of the prison consist of reduction in the allowance of food, and confinement in a dark cell. Whipping is seldom resorted to, and only in the case of very young boys. Irons are never used. All punishments are recorded. The number of punishments for offences against the prison rules in the year ending Michaelmas 1837, was, confinement in dark cells 1101; stoppages of diet 5515 ; making, a total of 6616 punishments. This is a high amount, considering that the number of prisoners in confinement in the course of that period was only 3285.

The prisoners work ten hours per diem in summer, and as long as daylight will permit in winter. Those prisoners who pick oakum are allowed forty minutes per day for washing and exercise. The labour of the prisoners on the tread-wheel is applied to the grinding of corn for the public. The necessary visits to the miller on business are numerous, and, from the position of the mill, are attended with many inconveniences. The entrance of carts into the front yard and area disturbs the quiet which ought to prevail in a prison, and excites the attention of the prisoners, while it exposes them to the gaze of strangers. The profits arising from the productive labour of the prison, in the year ending Michaelmas 1837, was 272l. 15s. 6d. Twenty per cent, on the first 250l., ten per cent, on the next 500l., and five per cent, on the rest of the prisoners' earnings, is allowed to the Governor; the remainder is applied to the maintenance of the prison.

The male prisoners have weekly 10½ lbs., and the females 7 lbs. of bread, 1lb. of clods and stickings of beef, without bone, 3 lbs. of potatoes, 12 oz. split peas, 33 oz. of oatmeal, salt and pepper for soup. The cost of the diet for the males is 2s. 5¼d., and that for females 1s. 11d. per week.

The male prisoners are not allowed any article of clothing, save in case of actual destitution, except shirts and stockings during the winter, and shirts only in the summer. The women have a complete prison dress, varying with the season. The bedding consists of one rug, two blankets, a straw bed, and a straw mattress for each prisoner. There are no stated periods for washing the bedding, which is cleansed when required.

There is a stated allowance of soap, towels, and combs. The prisoners are required to wash once a day in their respective yards. The apartments, cells, and walls of the passages are lime-washed once a year. The sleeping apartments and cells are swept daily by prisoners, and the floors are washed once a week.

Lieut. John Sibly, R.N., the Governor, has filled the situation for a period of six years. His salary and allowances will be seen by the annexed Return. He has no interest in, or advantage from the sale of any article supplied to any prisoner. He visits daily every ward, sees every prisoner, inspects every cell, and is invariably accompanied by a female officer when he visits the female prisoners. He keeps a journal, in which he records all punishments inflicted by his authority, or by that of the Visiting Justices, and all other occurrences of importance in the prison. He performs the several other duties prescribed by the Gaol Act. Mr. Sibley is a warm and decided advocate for the individual separation of prisoners. The cleanliness and general condition of the prison is creditable to his activity and vigilance.

The Rev. George Allan has officiated as chaplain since Midsummer 1837. Prayers selected from the Liturgy are road every morning by the chaplain, and the. Scriptures are expounded three times a week in the summer, and once a week in the winter. The average daily attendance of the chaplain is from two hours to two hours and a half. Two full services are performed on the Sunday. The chaplain, attends both schools on Sundays, and superintends them on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The school for boys is chiefly for those under sixteen the female school is attended principally by adults. The chaplain also visits the sick in the infirmaries, male and female, sick prisoners who are in their cells, and prisoners in solitary confinement. He also visits, in special cases, prisoners confined in the dark cells for punishment. He superintends the distribution of the books and tracts; is in the habit of privately conferring with any prisoner in whose case there is anything interesting; and of giving such admonition and instruction as the case may require. He is also in the practice of holding communication with the friends of prisoners about to be discharged; with a view of effecting a reconciliation, or of procuring for them situations.

A schoolmaster (not a prisoner) is appointed, who attends on Tuesdays and Thursdays from nine until a quarter past ten; on Sundays, from one to two, and in the evenings of the other days in the week, from six to seven o'clock. Writing is taught, but in a very limited way. The chapel is not sufficiently largo when the prison is very full; on some occasions, as many as from twenty to thirty have been turned back, owing to the want of accommodation. Prisoners undergoing punishment in the dark cells do not attend chapel; but those in solitary confinement, pursuant to sentence, are permitted to do so. On the death of a prisoner, all the prisoners are assembled in the chapel, and a portion of the funeral service is read over to them. The chaplain considers that his administrations have been in general successful, and that by far the majority of those who have been in solitary confinement, have been favourably impressed and improved by the religious services of the prison. The chaplain is strongly in favour of the individual separation of the prisoners. In a Report which he has presented to the magistrates in Quarter Session, he states his firm conviction, that no rational hope can be entertained of the repentance and reformation of prisoners, while, they are permitted to associate in any way, and under any circumstances, or have any kind of intercourse with characters of the same description as themselves. He proceeds to state, that "he might enlarge on the moral contamination to which prisoners are exposed by such intercourse, which is much greater than any one, who has not duly considered the subject, can well imagine; but that this having been frequently done by others, he forbears to record only his conviction that the most highly-coloured description of the evils of association, has been rather under than over-stated; that the Silent System is altogether inadequate to prevent these evils, and that nothing but entire separation, with enlarged means of religious instruction, can ever either deter others from crime, or work any amendment in the prisoners themselves."

Mr. William Gardner has been surgeon to the prison from the period of its erection. He resides at Streatham, and is in private practice. He visits the prison daily, and oftener, when occasion requires. He examines every prisoner before he is assigned to his ward; visits those who are in solitary confinement, and sees every prisoner twice a week. Every prisoner on admission is washed and bathed, and his clothes are fumigated, if necessary. The surgeon reports the health of the prisoners every Quarter Session, and keeps a journal agreeably to the requirements of the Gaol Act There has been no prevalent disease in the prison in the last twelve months. In the year ending Michaelmas, 1837, there were but two deaths. The surgeon finds it necessary to watch particularly the health of the prisoners on their first commitment, lest they should sink under the restricted prison diet. In his judgment, any manifestation of cough under those circumstances, always requires serious attention. Inconvenience having been found from the want of means of separating patients afflicted with cutaneous complaints, from other prisoners requiring medical treatment, an apartment in the prison was some time since fitted up for the purpose.

The female prisoners are under the care of a matron, and female officers. The female prisoners are not, however, excluded from the sight of the male turnkeys, nor even from the male prisoners. From several of the upper cell windows, the men may see the female prisoners in their yards, as may also the male prisoners who are employed in picking oakum, in going to, and returning from, their workshops. We submit that this is a violation of 4 Geo. IV, c. 64, s. 10, rule 6, which expressly enacts, that the male and female prisoners shall be confined in separate buildings, or parts of the prison, so as to prevent them from seeing, conversing, or holding any intercourse with each other. The female prisoners are also exposed to the sight of the turnkeys, and such male prisoners as are employed about the prison as cleaners. On a late inspection, we found some of the men whitewashing the yards and passages of the female prison. These prisoners had thus an opportunity of seeing the women as they cross and recross the yards, and also from the cell windows. Besides this, the female prisoners are exposed to the gaze of strangers, from another cause. The visitors to the matron, her tradesmen, and their servants, are permitted to enter the prison yard in which her apartments are situated, and may thus have an opportunity of seeing female prisoners.

The very objectionable practice of employing prisoners in the discipline and management of the prison, prevails here. We found twenty-eight men, and twelve women, so employed, as monitors, wardsmen, cleaners, sweepers, &c. There are among this number not less than twenty-one convicted, felons. The monitors are rewarded for their services by an addition to the general allowance of food of 1⅓lb. of beef, pints of gruel, and 3 pints of soup, weekly. Wardsmen, in addition to the general allowance, have weekly 1⅓lb. of beef, with soup and gruel as above. Wardswomen and monitresses have similar allowances, but cleaners have no additional food.

The darkened cells used for punishing offences committed against the discipline of the prison, are exceedingly defective in ventilation. As there are no privies in the cells, they are at times in a very offensive state, and the absence of proper apertures for the admission of fresh, and escape of foul, air, must render confinement in these places for any number of days prejudicial to health. We are of opinion that the stale of these cells calls for the immediate attention of the Magistrates. The yards are occasionally very damp, owing to the want of a free circulation of air. Some of the ordinary cells also are damp; and it was stated to us that at times, in the school-room, water is standing on the floor. The cells on the same floor with the school-room, and which have been occupied by sick prisoners, are particularly damp.

Visits to prisoners from their friends are limited to once a month, and are allowed on the production of a Magistrate's order. The male and female prisoners receive their visitors on separate days.

Unobjectionable letters between husbands and wives, and parents and children are allowed to pass; but the Governor has authority to destroy all other letters addressed to prisoners, even from brothers and sisters, unless they contain matter with which it is important that the prisoner should be made acquainted. All books sent to them are subjected to the examination and approval of the Chaplain before they can be admitted.

Newspapers, tobacco, beer, and provisions are strictly prohibited, and there is no reason to think they find admission.

The establishment of the prison consists of the Governor, Chaplain, Surgeon, Matron, Principal Turnkey, Lodge Turnkey, Eight Male Turnkeys, Three Female Turnkeys, Schoolmaster, Cook, Miller, Assistant Miller, Baker.

Of the moral effects of imprisonment in this House of Correction, our opinion is. extremely unfavourable. The extent to which the evils of association are carried, is unavoidably great. However active may be the means employed to enforce silence when the prisoners are on the wheels, in the work-shops, and in marching to and from the cells, the utmost vigilance will fail to prevent the prisoners from communicating, even in the presence of the officers. We admit, that in this prison there are not those strong motives to communicate during the hours of labour, which exist in those prisons in which each prisoner is provided with a separate sleeping-cell; as at Brixton, the prisoners being confined three or more in one cell, can communicate with ease, provided they do so in an under tone. Prisoners, however well disposed, have in fact no means of avoiding the contamination arising from the corrupt society of hardened characters, shut up with them as they are in their cells for so many hours. We have reason to believe that the Magistrates are sensible of the necessity of taking some steps for the improvement of this prison. The mere provision of additional night-cells, or further sleeping accommodation, Would not however remedy the evils of this prison. In deliberating upon the measures to be adopted for that purpose, we entreat them to consider the superior advantages which would arise from adopting the plan of individual separation by day as well as by night. We are persuaded that no substantial good will be effected by any mere additional number of night-cells; a measure which would leave the prisoners still exposed during the day to the evils of corrupt association and mutual debasement.