[an error occurred while processing this directive] Wood Street Compter, City of London, London
Ancestry UK

Wood Street Compter, City of London, London

The Wood Street Compter was opened in 1555 to replace the existing Bread Street Compter, whose keeper's misconduct had led to its closure. The existing inmates of Bread Street were transferred to the new premises on 28 September 1555. The new Compter was mainly used as a debtor's prison but also later acted as a bridewell.

The building was burned down in the Great Fire of London in 1666 but was rebuilt on the same site, re-opening in 1670 with accommodation for seventy inmates.

The prison site is shown on the 1746 map below.

Wood Street Compter site, City of London, c.1746.

Wood Street Compter, City of London, 1793.

In 1784, John Howard wrote:

This prison, built as appears by inscription on the front, in 1670, has only a small court or passage for all prisoners. Many apartments: yet but two rooms for common-side debtors that for men, which is their day-room, night-room, and kitchen, with a copper, etc. is dark and dirty; about 35 feet by 18, and 16 feet high; far too small for the number of prisoners, many of whom sleep in 23 beds which are on three stories of galleries, or broad shelves. At one of my visits there were in this room 39 debtors; seven of them had their wives and children. The room swarms with bugs. The day and night-room for women-debtors is more lightsome; in it were only two prisoners. Beyond it is a room ruinous, and fit for no use.

For men-felons there are two rooms; — and two for women; one of there is a dark cell. Two dungeons, one down 11 steps, the other adjoining to the tap-room. No bedding or straw. Those who choose a bed pay 1s. a night; or else 10s. 6d. floorage, and 3s. 6d. a week. Near those four rooms are twenty-three more for master's-side debtors.

In the court is the chapel; and under it the tap-room, down 16 steps. All the rooms aforesaid are within the inner gate; between which and the outer gate (i.e. in the keeper's house) are more rooms for master's-side debtors. No infirmary. The act for preserving the health of prisoners not hung up. The prison is greatly out of repair; the main wall on one side shored and propped.

The keeper pays to the chamber of London £30 a year rent, which is repaid him for his expence on night-charges: he also pays window-tax: I learned from him, that in the beginning of the year 1773 his prisoners were sickly, and eleven died. For some time the governors of the General Dispensary shewed a kind attention to these poor people; and ordered their physician, Dr. Lettsom, to visit them. He was esteemed by the prisoners.

The bread allowance is from the chamber of London. Debtors (some of whom are from the court of conscience, and lie till their debts are paid ) have from the sheriff's 32 pounds of beef on Saturday. They had formerly from the Peacock brewhouse (Messrs. Calvert and Co.) a donation of two barrels of small beer a week. There are many legacies for common-side debtors, who receive them quarterly. The annual amount is £59 : 2 : 11. The master, &c. of the drapers' company come here once a year, and release several debtors for small sums, and leave 40s. for the remainder, from a bequest of Mr. John Kendrick. I was informed that John Fuller, Esq. left £30 per annum, and appointed the recorder and others in trust, for the payment of fees and chamber-rent of poor debtors confined in the two compters, not exceeding 25s. each, and who had been confined not less than 16 weeks. This legacy, as Mr. Kirby told me, has not been paid since 1765.

Some years since, there came once a fortnight to common-side debtors in this prison, nine stone of beef, and fourteen quartern loaves; and the like relief to other prisons also. The charitable hand was concealed; till, the donation failing on the death of the amiable princess Caroline; it was supposed that her highness had been the generous benefactress. And upon representing to the lady who had been almoner to the princess, the distress of the prisoners, she obtained from the late king a renewal of the charity; which was continued during his majesty's life.

The prison was closed in 1791 and replaced by the >Giltspur Street Compter. The Wood Street building was demolished the following year.

Records

Note: many repositories impose a closure period of up to 100 years for records identifying individuals. Before travelling a long distance, always check that the records you want to consult will be available.

  • London Metropolitan Archives, 40 Northampton Road, London EC1R OHB. Holdings include: Plans (1780-91); Prisoners' lists (1741-91, with gaps); Names of prisoners sent from Wood Street Compter to Ludgate and Newgate (1770-1829); List of prisoners for debt in Wood Street Compter on 5 May 1788 with subsequent committals to November 1803; Inquests into deaths of prisoners (1783-1803).
  • The National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 4DU. Has a wide variety of crime and prison records going back to the 1770s, including calendars of prisoners, prison registers and criminal registers.
  • Find My Past has digitized many of the National Archives' prison records, including prisoner-of-war records, plus a variety of local records including Manchester, York and Plymouth. More information.
  • Prison-related records on Ancestry UK include Prison Commission Records, 1770-1951, and local records from London, Swansea, Gloucesterhire and West Yorkshire. More information.
  • The Genealogist also has a number of National Archives' prison records. More information.

Bibliography

  • Prison Oracle - resources those involved in present-day UK prisons.
  • GOV.UK - UK Government's information on sentencing, probation and support for families.