County Bridewell, Morpeth, Northumberland

A work-room and two small bed-rooms for men on the ground-floor, only 7 feet high. That above for women is larger. The court not being secure, the prisoners are always locked up, and appear dirty and sickly. Over the way is a long room (72 feet) which is a warehouse and work-shop: and above it another work-shop. The keeper, a clothier, now resides at a distance: he employs his prisoners; the men and boys from eight o'clock to four, at two shillings a week: women from eight to five, at one shilling and six-pence a week. He gives them also firing. No county allowance: no water: no fewer. His salary, £30: no fees. Clauses against spirituous liquors not hung up.

Gaoler, John Doxford; now Nicholas Henderson. Salary, 30l.

Fees, 13s. 4d.; for Misdemeaners, 3s. 4d. No religious attentions.

Surgeon, Mr. Sands; who makes a Bill.

Number of Prisoners, Sept. 9th, 1802, Four. Sept. 18th, 1809, Five.

Allowance, four-pence a day. At my visit, in 1802, those who were committed to hard labour, and in health, had only their earnings to subsist on: But, in 1809, the workshop was sold, and there had been no employment since.

REMARKS.

This Prison, near the South-end of the Bridge, is at the back of the Keeper's house; and a covered passage, 16 yards long, and 6 feet 3 inches wide, leads to the Bridewell, which has twelve sleeping-cells on the ground-floor, divided by a passage 6 feet wide.

Each cell is 8 feet by 6, and 8 feet high, to the crown of the arch, and fitted up with crib-bedsteads for a single person, loose straw, and 3 blankets or coverlets; a stool to sit on, and lighted and ventilated by an iron-grated and glazed window, 17 inches by 15. A small tub, used as a sewer, is emptied every morning. An inspecting wicket in each cell door, about 9 inches square.

Above stairs is a day and working-room for the Men, and another for Women, each 17 feet by 15, with bagged stone floors, fire-places, and grated and glazed casement windows in each: And into these rooms open four cells; one of which is used as an Infirmary, of 13 feet by 8, with fire-place, beds and bedding: The others are sleeping-cells.

The Women's court-yard, 45 feet by 18, and laid down in grass, has a sewer in the centre. That for the Men is about the same size in front, with a pump to 'sup ply the Prison, and a dust-pen. The lower cells are damp; and, to render them less unhealthy, might be warmed by the tube of a German stove running through them.

The Prisoners have no employment assigned them; nor, if procured, do they obtain any part of their earnings. When discharged, they are allowed money, from one shilling to ten shillings, according to their distance from home

This is a distinct prison from the gaol. The only classification that can be observed at present is the separation of the sexes. There are two day-rooms, and two airing-yards. Prisoners sentenced to hard labour are employed in the works of the new prison, the site of which is contiguous to the house of correction. Stones for the buildings are raised by a mill at which the prisoners work. The prisoners are paid sixpence a day each, in money, with which they purchase food and necessaries. Convicts who labour, when the term of their imprisonment expires, are allowed small sums of money, by the contractors for the building.

No chaplain is appointed to this prison, and no provision is made for the instruction of the prisoners: the keeper lends them bibles and prayer books.

The greatest number of prisoners at one time last year was twenty. The whole number committed during the year was eighty.