Clerkenwell Bridewell, Clerkenwell, London

Over the Gate, two new rooms for Night-Charges, as at the New Prison. In the Prison men and women have separate Court yards and Wards. The men have in their Court-yard three sheds for day-rooms: one six feet by sixteen, the other two six by ten each; full eight feet high. Their night-rooms, opposite on the ground floor, one for Fines, and one for other Offenders, are about twenty feet by fourteen each; with barrack-beds. One of them was so crowded, that some Prisoners slept in hammocks hung to the ceiling. Over these night-rooms are chambers with beds for those who pay three shillings and six-pence a week. In another part of the yard is a Hemp-shop or Work-shop: through it you pass to six little Work-shops for faulty Apprentices; seven feet by three and a half each: fronting these are their six night-rooms, rather larger than the shops; all on the ground floor.

In the Women's Court are three sheds or day-rooms; same size as those of the men; with a hemp-shop or work-shop. Over this, and the men's work-shop, is a long gallery or passage; on the back of which are twelve dark unwholsome night-rooms for women; nine feet by seven each, and ten and a half high: in some of them are beds for those who pay.

The Prison is out of repair. It has not been so much as white-washed for years: but in November 1776 the rooms were clean, and but one person sick; a woman who lay on the floor. No straw. No Infirmary. I saw but few at work: sometimes none at all. A Matron has £5 a year.

The Keeper pays Window-tax; and £2 a year for New-River water; which is directly from the Main, and always on. Besides this they have good water at a pump in each court-yard.

The Keeper had a Salary of £50; but in July 1775 the Justices took off the Salary, and augmented the Fees from five shillings and six-pence to seven shillings. At the same time, in lieu of Fees from Acquitted Prisoners, which were cancelled by the late Act, they paid the Keeper at the rate of £20 a year from the time when that Act took place.

To this Bridewell, among Criminals, are committed Debtors from the Court of Conscience: they are discharged after forty days. Of these, at my last visit, there were three.

Of the one hundred and eight in January last, above thirty were Fines, that is, Criminals committed for a term of years, to five or six. Some of these, and of the others, were sick. They complained to me of sore feet, which the Turnkey said were quite black. The sick were for the most part women of the poorest sort; not able to pay for beds. There were, in the whole, near as many women prisoners as men.

Of late they have made the men and women change wards and courts; those in which the women were before being thought strongest.

No alteration. The prison quite clean: the rooms washed every day. The prisoners on both sides miserable objects; very dirty; some almost naked: all without employment: no sort of bedding allowed by the county: several women in the sick ward. Allowance, one pound of bread a day; and to the fines an additional pennyworth of bread and a pennyworth of cheese. Keeper's salary £50, to be made up £300 by perquisites and fees as at the new prison.

The foundation is laid for a new house of correction, in a much better situation. When the prisoners are removed, the adjoining prison may be greatly improved, for the proper separation os prisoners, an infirmary, chapel &c.