County Bridewell, Maidstone, Kent

This prison was built in 1776. Two rooms and a small day room, an infirmary and court for each sex. The courts are paved with flag stones as the debtors court should be in the county gaol, for frequent washing freshens prisons. Keeper's salary, £20, now £30. The prisoners were not in it in 1776; but in 1779 I found it inhabited, dirty and offensive. The prisoners were at work, but they have no part of what they earn. The county allowance is three pence every day, Sundays excepted, and now five chaldron of coals a year. Fees 3s. 6d. No table; but printed rules, orders and regulations established under the acts of 7th Jam. I. 17th Geo. II. and 22d Geo. III. were hung up in the wards. In 1779 I saw two prisoners with the small-pox, lying on loose straw, and their only covering was common mats.

Gaoler, John Downe; afterwards Daniel Kingsnorth; now Thomas Okill.

Salary, 50l. and five chaldrons of coals yearly for the Keeper's house, and the Prison.

Fees, Felons, 13s. 4d. Misdemeanors, 6s. 8d. Faulty Servants, 4s. 6d. No Table. Garnish, not yet abolished, 2s.

Chaplain, none. Divine Service never performed here, nor any religious attentions paid whatever; although Prisoners are sometimes committed hither for so long a term as two years.

Surgeon, Mr. Coleman.
Salary, for this Prison, and the County Gaol, 75l.

Number of Prisoners,

Allowance, a half quartern loaf each, in two days, to those who do not work; and to those who work, five half quartern loaves per week. No beer.

The Men's court-yard in this bridewell is 54 feet by 42, paved with flag-stones; and has a pump in it, with a sewer in one corner. Their day or mess-room is 12 feet by 8; with a fire-place, benches to sit upon, and shelves for provisions.

They have also two sleeping-rooms on the ground floor: one, called the Upper Ward, 22 feet by l6, has straw-in-sacking beds on the floor; no bedding whatever; and two iron-grated windows, which look into the court. Eleven Prisoners slept in this room.

The Lower Ward, 19 feet by l6, has barrack beds, with straw-in-sacking, but no bedding. The iron-grated windows look into a narrow passage, 5 feet wide, and 21 feet long. In this twelve Prisoners slept.

The Men's Infirmary, which is likewise on the ground floor, and in size 15 feet by 12, has two wooden turn-up bedsteads, with flock beds, two blankets, two sheets, and a rug each.

The Women have a court-yard, paved with flag-stones, 42 feet by 36; the door of which has a cylinder, and opens into the narrow passage above described. Their day or mess-room is 8 feet by 7, with a fire-place and copper. Their sleeping-room, 21 feet by 16, has straw-in-sacking laid on the floor, but no bedding. Six Women slept here.

Their Infirmary room is up stairs, above the Men's Infirmary, and of the same size, with two grated and glazed windows, and a fire-place. When this room is not occupied by the sick, the barrack beds are furnished by the Keeper with bedding, for those who can pay him 2s. 4d. a week.

If a Prisoner is sick, the Surgeon has a discretionary power to order a better regimen, or clothing, as he deems needful; which is humanely allowed by the County.

In the Women's court-yard, (and seven steps under ground,) are two loathsome dungeons, 15 feet by 10, and 6 feet 6 inches high, totally dark, for confining the refractory. They give, indeed, no inadequate idea of Penitentiary Retirement.

Nine Prisoners, and a little boy just sent in, were heavily ironed, at one time when I was here. Upon my enquiring the cause of such unusual rigour, the Keeper informed me "that he made it a constant practice to put every new-comer into irons; which, if they behaved well for some time, he took off." At my visit in 1804, few were either manacled or fettered: but in 1807 I found they were all again in irons; and amongst them, I recollect, was one man committed for bastardy.

The Gaoler's house, till lately, commanded no view of any part of the Prison. If this were the cause of his official rigour, it is hoped that a remedy has been provided; for in l808, I found a window made, through which the Keeper has a command of the Men's court. Indeed, the whole Prison is now put under better regulation; and lenity, in some degree, has supplied the place of severity.

For many years a great part of this Prison has been rented of the Keeper by Mr. Blundell, a Weaver in the Town, at 10l. per annum; and here he has a work room, of 28 feet by 16, the three windows of which look into the Men Criminals' court. In this room are nine hemp-blocks, and the Prisoners are occasionally employed in beating hemp, making sacks, and picking oakum; but they receive no part of their earnings. Above stairs are store-rooms, the whole length of the Prison, in which Mr. Blundell deposits the rough materials used in his business.

This Bridewell is white-washed twice a year; and the whole Prison kept clean.

Prisoners are discharged in a morning, but have no money issued, to carry them safely home.

The Act for Preservation of health is not hung up; but the prohibitory Clauses against Spirituous Liquors are placed in the Keeper's house.

Since writing the above account, the Keeper by letter acquaints me, That "a new Chapel is taken from what is here called the Long Warehouse, where the Rev. Mr. Skelton attends Service once a week. A new sleeping-ward, and likewise an hospital is provided for the Women. The Men's work-room is now divided into two sleeping-wards; and the walls of the court-yards have been white-washed."