King's/Queen's Bench Prison, Southwark, London

This prison was part old buildings, part new.

The old buildings were — a coffee-room just within the gate — and a street called King-street. On the right hand was the tap-house; and four houses for prisoners: each consisted of a ground-floor, and two floors of chambers; four rooms on each floor; near 10 feet square, and 7 high.. On the left-hand side of the street was the chapel; and six houses for prisoners; of equal depth with the former houses: but the back-rooms had not, as the former had, communication with the fore-rooms. At the hither end of the fore-rooms, on the ground-floor, was a common kitchen, much too small. The cook, a prisoner, had the room over it. There houses also had ground rooms, and two floors of chambers. All the rooms fronting King-street, and the whole of the houses on the other side the way, were for master's-side debtors; who paid for each room unfurnished a shilling a week. The back-part of the left-hand row was the common-side; the doors in the back-front. The first room on the ground-floor they called their court-room. The two houses at the further end had six rooms each, for crown-debtors and fines; and were called Crown-court. The rest of this range on all the three floors was for common-side debtors. At the farther end of King-street, in a small court enclosed from the rest of the yard, was a building called the Statehouse; consisting of ground-floors, and two floors of chambers; four sizeable rooms on each floor; total twelve. A debtor who chose to be here, paid the marshal from eight to ten guineas for his whole time; besides a shilling a week, like other master's-side debtors.

All these old buildings were out of repair.

The new buildings were — first, a house at the gate for the turnkey. The chambers were very convenient; and were let to a prisoner who paid a very high rent. — But the principal new building was at the farther end of the yard. The two parts of it formed. a right angle. One part was four houses, with four ground-rooms to each; and the same number of chambers on each of the three floors above; total sixty-four. The rooms were about 13 feet by 11, and about eight feet high. The other part (the wing). was built as the Fleet prison; but more airy and commodious. It had the same number of floors as the first part. On each floor was a passage 7½ feet wide, and 73½ long:. rooms on each side the passage, eleven on each floor, total forty-four; each room 13½ feet by 9½, about 8 feet high.

The prison is well supplied with water. Among the improvements, of 108 new rooms, and a spacious court, they should have built an infirmary. At more than one of my visits some had the small-pox. It was so crowded the summer 1776, that a prisoner paid five shillings a week for half a bed, and many lay in the chapel. In May 1776, the number of prisoners within the walls was 395; and by an accurate list which I procured, their wives (including a few that were only called so) were 279, children 725, total 1004: about two thirds of these were in the prison.

The above was the state of the prison in 1776; but afterwards some of the old buildings were taken down, and a chapel and many rooms added to the new buildings, and another wing similar to that which has been already mentioned; but no infirmary.— This spacious prison is enclosed with a strong wall about thirty feet high, with a chevaux de frise [topped with spikes].

The Rules, or bounds of this prison are extensive, including St. George's Fields, one side of Blackman-street, and part of the Borough High-street, of which a plan is published.

This prison is visited at Michaelmas term, as the act directs; yet at my first visits there was a wine-club, and a beer-club; and one could scarcely ever enter the walls without seeing parties at skittles, mississippi, portobello, tennis, fives, &c.

The above was the account of the prison before it was burnt by the rioters in 1780: and now it is rebuilt on the plan of the former new buildings. No infirmary. Many good regulations are introduced, and a stop is put in a great measure to gaming and the illicit practice of selling spirituous liquors and smuggled goods.

The tables of rules and orders for the government of this prison are hung up for common inspection. I presume to give an abridgment of them.

RULES and ORDERS for the better Government, &c. Made and Signed the 25th of November 1729.

1. The stocks to be kept up for punishment of blasphemers, swearers, riotous, &c.

2. Against illegal methods of confinement. None to be confined in an unusual place or manner, unless for attempting to escape. And such may appeal to the court, or a judge.

3. Marshal not to remove any to the Fleet by writ of habeas corpus.

4. Marshal not to remove any one from the common-side and its benefits without three days notice: during which time, the prisoner may appeal to a judge.

5. Coroner's inquest upon the dead.

6. Against garnish and partial distribution of dividends.

7. Prisoners to send out for necessaries; and to bring in their own bedding, &c.

10. Turnkey always to attend at the door.

11. No servants to partake of, or even distribute the charity.

12. Chapel to be kept in repair. Chaplain duly to perform.

13. The abusive to the stocks.

14. Dining-room to be kept in repair for devotion, or conversation: with a fire. Two rooms for the sick.

15. Those who make oath before &c. that they have not £5 &c. to be admitted to the charities, offices in the prison, &c.

16. No person committed for any criminal matter to vote for steward, &c. or to partake of any charity but the baskets.

17. Lodging in the cabin of any ward, gratis.

18. Any prisoner may be chosen assistant, and enjoy the benefits of that station.

19. The seal of the common-side to be kept by the master of King's Bench office; and not put to any deed without the approbation of marshal, steward, and assistants.

20. One supersedable action may be superseded with common-side money: more than one, not without application to the court, or a judge. No judge's clerk to take a fee on the occasion.

21. The sick to be taken care of by the steward and assistants: who are to be reimbursed out of the first county-money.

22. Debts contracted by the steward and assistants with the marshal's and master's consent, for support of the poor, to be paid out of the next dividend.

23. Steward and assistants to have no pay Easter-term, to have but one quarter of the Midsummer dividend.

25. All money brought in by the basket-men, or brought in at Christmas, Easter and Whitsuntide, to be divided immediately after paying the basket-men for their trouble.

26. If the marshal advance money for a supersedeas, he is to be reimbursed out of the next county-money.

27. Common-side prisoners may elect an annual steward; who is not to be deposed, but on application to the court or a judge. No prisoner in the rules may vote.

28. The steward to enter in books the table of fees, these rules, and a list of the charities. All, together with his accounts, for inspection of the prisoners.

29. A prisoner wronged by the steward and assistants, on applying to the court or a judge, shall be paid his damages out of the next dividend of the steward and assistants: if he complain unjustly, he shall make satisfaction from his own next dividend.

30. If the steward or assistants embezzle the money, successors may call them to account, and stop their dividends of the grate-money, So. for reparation of the injury.

31. These orders to be read publicly every third Monday.

22. Marshal, servants, and prisoners to observe these rules under pain of the utmost punishment of law.

33. No clerk or servant of a judge to take any fee on occasion of a petition founded on these orders.

R. RAYMOND    JA. REYNOLDS    E. PROBYN.

The preceding rules fill one side of a large sheet of paper, on which they are printed. Another sheet has what follows,viz.

FURTHER RULES and ORDERS for the Government, &c. Made and Signed the 10th Day of May 1759.

1. No person to bring any weapon.

2. Those on the master's-side who demand garnish, to he turned to common-side for a time, not longer than a month. Those on the common-side are for the like offence to be excluded, not longer than a fortnight, from all profits except share of the baskets.

3. Doors of the great garden to be shut at dark: doors of the wards at nine.

4. The chambers at disposal of the marshal, &c..

5. If a master-side prisoner neglect for a month to pay his chamber-rent; he may be turned over to the common-side till he pays. His goods to he delivered to him, by a witnessed inventory. If discharged by the plaintiff, he may yet be detained for fees, and a month's chamber-rent.

6. None to sell in the prison victuals or drink without consent of marshal. A prisoner thus offending may be turned over to the common-side for a month. Marshal to take care that those who sell do keep good order, &c.

7. Confirms the 14th rule preceding, i.e. That is the great room for exercise and the two rooms for the sick.

8. Prisoners turned to common-side for offending, or non-payment, to have no profit but share of the baskets; to bear no office; nor vote for officers.

9. There rules to be fixed in the most public places, for inspection.

Signed,

MANSFIELD,    T. DENNISON,   ;M. FORSTER,    E. WILMOT.

A further RULE and ORDER, &c. made 19th May 1760.

Those who attempt or assist an escape — who sell or promote the sale of victuals or liquors without leave of the marshal — who assault another — who blaspheme the name of God, swear or make a riot, may be sent by the marshal to any one of the following prisons in Southwark, — viz. the county gaol for Surry, the bridewell for that county, or to the Marshalsea: and there confined for the first offence not exceeding one month; for a second offence not exceeding three months. This rule to be hung up.

>Signed,

MANSFIELD,    T. DENNISON,   ;M. FORSTER,    E. WILMOT.

It is situated at the top of Blackman-street, in the Borough of Southwark. The entrance to it, from St. George's Fields, is by a handsome court-yard, where there are three good houses. The largest of them is the proper residence of the Marshal; one for the Clerk of the papers, with his office on the ground-floor; and the third is generally let to persons of rank and fortune, who are committed by the Court for challenges, libels, or other misdemeanors. From this court-yard the ascent is by a few stone steps into a lobby, which has a good room on the right-hand, and over it several good apartments, which, I was informed, usually let at five guineas a week; also two rooms, called Strong Rooms, to secure those who have attempted to escape. These Strong Rooms are about 12 feet by 8: one of them has a flagged floor, and is occasionally used as a coal-hole; the other has a boarded floor. No fire-place in either; no casements, or shutters, to keep out the weather.

From the lobby is a descent, by a few stone steps, into a small square yard, where there is a pair of great gates, and a small door, with a lodge for the Turnkeys, and a room over it, generally let at one guinea a week. On the right-hand of this gate, upon entering the inner part of the Prison, is a brick building, called "the State House," containing eight large handsome rooms, let at 2s. 6d. each per week to those who have interest to procure one. Opposite to the State House is the Tap-room, where from 12 to 24 butts of beer are drawn weekly. In this tap-room is a bar; and on one side is a very neat small parlour, belonging to the person who keeps the tap. On the other side is a room on a larger scale, called the Wine-room, where Prisoners and their friends occasionally resort. The residence of the Prisoners is in a large brick building, about 120 yards long, with a wing at each end, and a neat uniform Chapel in the centre. There is a space of ground in front of the building, of about forty yards, including a parade of about three yards, paved with broad flagstones. In the space between the building and the wall are three pumps, well supplied with spring and river water; also another pump, at the side of the further wing, with a spring of very fine water. Part of the ground next the wall is appropriated for playing at rackets and fives; and there are also, in different parts, frames of wood, with nine holes in each frame, called Bumble-puppy grounds; where the Prisoners amuse themselves with trying to bowl small iron balls into the holes marked with the highest numbers.

The building is divided into sixteen staircases, with stone steps and iron railings. No. 1, at the further wing, contains 21 rooms; and on each staircase the ranges of rooms are divided by a passage, or gallery, about two yards wide. In the staircases No. 2, 3, 4, and 5, there are four rooms on each floor, making l6 in each staircase, separated from each other by a passage, of about a yard wide. The staircase, No. 6, contains 12 rooms, besides two small cabins. No. 7, 8, and 9, contain eight rooms each. No. 10, contains 30 rooms, separated from each other by a passage, about 20 yards long and two wide. The staircases No. 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15, have eight rooms each, and are at the back of the building, but separated from the wall by a space of about eight yards. Each staircase has eight rooms, with a passage of about a yard wide. No. 16 is also in the further wing, at the back of the building; has a spacious wide staircase, with passages or galleries on each floor, four yards wide; and contains, in the whole, 20 rooms.

The whole number of rooms, including the eight state rooms, is 224; the size of them, in general, is 15 to 16 feet by 12 or 13 feet: some few are on a little larger scale. In each room is a strong iron range, and on each side a recess, either for a bed or cupboard. All the rooms that were destroyed by the fire, some years ago, are now arched with brick, to prevent in future any fire from extending beyond a single room. In the passage from the entrance to the back of the building is a Coffee House, where formerly there was an ordinary every day, at 2s. per head, with a pint of porter included. Here a prisoner may be accommodated with a bed by the nigh, or week, (as he can agree,) till he gets chummage, or a room. The Marshal, I am told, receives an annual rent of 105l. from the person who keeps it.

Beyond the coffee-room is a Bake-house, which pays also a rent of 36 guineas per annum. And on the opposite side of the way is the Public Kitchen, where the Prisoners may have their meat roasted and boiled gratis, before one o'clock. After that time the cook charges 2d. or 3d. for each joint, according to the size of it. Between the coffee-house and the public kitchen, there are generally two or three butcher's stalls, a green-market, and persons selling fish: and in the further wing is a large tap-room, called the Brace, from its having once been kept by two brothers, whose names were Partridge. Over this tap-room is another room of the same size, occupied by a Prisoner; where the newspapers may be read, and tea, coffee, &c. may be had: but the man having been detected in selling spirituous liquors, the Marshal turned him out, and gave the room to another Prisoner. The lower rooms on the parade are, many of them, converted into chandlers shops, kept by Prisoners. I was informed by a prisoner, in January 1804, that there were fifteen whistle-shops in the prison, where debtors could buy gin, which was sold under various names; viz. Moonshine, Sky-blue, Mexico, &c. and that a hogshead of gin was consumed weekly in it!

The superintendence and government of this Prison rest with the Marshal; who has under him a Deputy Marshal, a Clerk of the Papers, several other Clerks, three Turnkeys, and their Assistants. As the Marshal, Deputy Marshal, and Clerk of the Papers, I am informed, seldom come into the Prison, every complaint must be made by letter, or by a personal application at the office of the Clerk of the Papers. If it relates to any quarrel or disturbance, it is generally settled in a summary way. The Marshal is a Magistrate, and also armed with a Rule of Court, authorizing him to commit any person to the New Gaol for riotous or disorderly conduct; one month for the first offence, and three months for a second: But, the Prisoner may appeal either to the Court, or to a Judge out of term.

No spirituous liquors are allowed to be sold within the Prison: and, by a Rule of Court, no Women or Children ought to stay in the Prison after ten o'clock. At half past nine, therefore, a Man goes round, with a bell, and at certain places calls out, "Strangers, Women, and Children, out!" The number of Prisoners, before the Act of Insolvency in 1797, was upwards of 600; about 200 of whom were excluded, by the limitations of the sum, and time. After the Act of 1801, about 150 were left in Prison: many, of those who had been a great number of years confined, were excluded from the benefit, on account of the limitation of the sum; and others, who were not within the term specified by the Act. Not more than three or four were remanded under the Act, for fraud, &c. March 10th, l802, the numbers within the walls were 315, and 57 within the Rules: Jan. 13th, 1804, within the walls and Rules, 520.

When a Debtor is first committed to this Prison, he is entitled to have what is called a Chummage, as soon as he has paid his fees. This Chummage is a ticket given him by the Clerk of the Papers, to go to such a room; and whether it be to a whole room, the half, or the third of a room, must entirely depend on the number of Prisoners within the walls. But, as it is more convenient for persons, when they first come to this Prison, to hire a bed for a week or two, there are always great numbers of distressed persons willing to hire out their beds, on being paid two or three shillings per night. Others, who are distressed, let their right to half a room at 5s. per week, and sleep in the tap-room, on the benches, in hammocks, or on. matresses. The Clerk of the Papers has the entire management and disposition of the rooms. He is assisted by the eldest Turnkey, who goes round every Monday morning, and receives the weekly rent of one shilling.

The Poor Side of the Prison now consists of sixteen rooms, at the back of the building. The number of their inhabitants seldom exceeds 30.

When once Prisoners are admitted on the Poor-side, they become entitled to their share of all charities, bequests, gifts, and donations: A list of them ought to be put up in some conspicuous part of the Prison; but, for some reasons, it is not complied with. Every person, as soon as he is admitted on this charity, must also take his turn to hold the begging-box at the door; which prevents many, who have lived in respectable situations, from applying for relief in this way. Nay, there are instances, of men that have held situations in the army and navy, respectable merchants, and tradesmen, who, (sunk in misfortune, and abandoned by their former friends,) rather than submit to this degradation, have shut themselves up for months in their rooms and become go emaciated, from the want of wholesome and necessary food, as to lay the foundation of those disorders, which ended in their death! The staircases and lobbies are in the most filthy state imaginable. With respect to the Prisoners' rooms, some are very dirty, others tolerably clean; but, each preserving that degree of cleanliness that satisfies the individual himself.