City Bridewell, Norwich, Norfolk

Four rooms, 21 feet square and 10 high, with fire-places, and two warehouses for wood. The dungeons are down 15 steps: in one part, four for the men; and in another part, three, more close and damp, for the women. In these, and in the other rooms, are cribs. But it is to be hoped the gentlemen, who have made many improvements in their gaol, will be so considerate as to order these cells to be barred to all, unless to such as are very refractory and disobedient.—Only one court: river, and pump Allowance two pennyworth of bread daily, two hot dinners in a week, and firing from Michaelmas to Lady-day. The sick have four pence a day and firing when wanted. Employment, cutting logwood, of which in 1782, there were 15 or 16 ton in the warehouses. This employment is too laborious and severe, where most of the prisoners are women.—Keeper's salary, £25.

1774, Dec. 10,	Prisoners 3.	1779, March 31,	Prisoners 7.
1776, Feb. 5,	5.	1782, July 6,	4.

Keeper, Richard Mingay. Salary, 60l. with coals and mops, brooms, pails, towels, and thirteen pence per week for soap, to keep the Prison clean.

Fees, none: except for night-charges, or assaults; which are 2s. each.

Chaplain, Rev. Mr. Millard. Duty, Sermon and Prayers every other Sunday.

Salary, 30l. for Bridewell and City Gaol.

Surgeon, Mr. Robinson. Salary, 5l. 5s.

Number of Prisoners, 5th Sept. 1805, Eleven; 10th Sept. 1810, Four.

Allowance, one pound and half of best wheaten bread per day, sent in loaves from the Baker's; which I examined, and found of full weight. Also seven pence in money per week: A tub of coals (about a peck) to each day-room; and the cinders from the Keeper's fire daily, from Michaelmas to Lady-Day.

This Bridewell is situate opposite St. Andrew's Church; and in the front is the Keeper's house, the windows of which command the court-yard: This is 19 feet by 12, paved with pebbles; has two sewers in it, a pump with excellent spring-water, and soft-water also is laid on.

On the left-hand is the Men's day-room, 21 feet square, with a brick-floor, three lofty glazed windows, and a fire-place. Here are also three sleeping-cells, each 14 feet 9 inches by 6 feet, 10 feet 6 inches high; lighted and ventilated by a double iron-bar grated and glazed window, with double casement, 3 feet by 18 inches; opening into a lobby of 5 feet 6 inches wide, and communicating with the Men's day-room.

Over the Men's cells is the Women's day-room; which is also 21 feet square, and 10 feet high, with a fire-place, and three lofty glazed windows. Here is like wise a room up stairs, set apart for the sick, of the same size.

The Keeper's apartments open into the Chapel above stairs, which is 24 feet long by 17 feet 6 inches, and 10 feet 2 inches high. It has a pew for the Keeper, and seats are set apart for the Prisoners.

The Dungeon (to which from the court-yard is a descent of 15 steps) has, on its right-hand, a large vaulted sleeping-cell, with two wooden bedsteads, and straw; and is lighted by a small iron-grating from the court-yard. At the farther end of the dungeon just mentioned, are two other vaulted sleeping-cells; the first of which, 16 feet 6 inches long by 9 feet 4 inches wide, and 8 feet 6 in height, is called The Light Dungeon, from its receiving just sufficient to make darkness visible: the other, called The Dark Dungeon, is equally long and high, but 15 feet wide, and totally obscure! These gloomy caverns have brick-floors, with straw; and I was given to understand they have not been inhabited these seven years. In each there is a wooden tube, to carry off foul air and noxious vapours, very judiciously left open at the top of the building.

On the right-hand are seven sleeping-cells, which communicate with a lobby, or passage, 39 feet long, 4 feet 6 inches wide; and each cell is 12 feet 10, by 6 feet 8, and 9 feet high. Above stairs is the same number of cells, with a lobby of like dimensions. Every cell is fitted up with a crib-bedstead, straw-in-sacking bed, a double blanket, and a coverlet.

The Prisoners all attend Chapel, or lose their bread allowance of the day: They are also required to wash themselves every morning, previous to their receiving it. Their employment formerly consisted in cutting wood for the dyers, and spinning; but none had been procured these seven years. No part of their earnings is assigned them; but, if their behaviour has been good under confinement, money is given to them on being discharged. They have clean linen once a week.

Here are no Rules and Orders. No bath, nor oven. The Prison is white-washed once a year, and kept very clean. The Act for the preservation of Health is hung up, but not the Clauses against Spirituous Liquors. The Number of Prisoners committed to this Bridewell, from June 1804, to June 1805, was 380; and from the 10th September 1809, to the 10th of September 1810, 175.

This new prison is now occupied. It contains eight classes in the gaol, and six classes in the house of correction. There are 114 sleeping-cells. The tread wheel labour has been introduced and its constant application is stated to have been productive of the most beneficial effects, both as to the conduct of the prisoners whilst confined in the gaol, as well as to their moral improvement after their discharge. Every debtor and other prisoner, not at hard labour, is allowed 14 lb. of white bread daily. Prisoners sentenced to hard labour for less than three months receive 2lbs. of bread daily; and those sentenced for longer periods receive 2½lbs. of bread, and one penny per day for milk.

Divine service is performed twice on Sundays. The chaplain frequently visits the prison, and provides every class with religious and instructive books.