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Ancestry UK

County Bridewell, Thame, Oxfordshire

An Oxfordshire County Bridewell was established in 1708 on Pound Lane, now Wellington Street, Thame. In 1726, £100 was spent on converting part of the building for use as a workhouse. In 1784, John Howard wrote:

I was informed that this house, built in 1708, was given to the county for a bridewell; but the greatest part of it is now a parish work-house. For the prison there is only left, up stairs, a common day-room, and two small insecure lodging-rooms: and down 11 steps a dungeon, in which are three night-rooms, the Cubs, each 9 feet feet by by 7. If the house was put into good repair, and the whole used as a bridewell, it would be a commodious one. Then there would be no need of sending petty offenders, as is now done, to the county gaol: nor of locking up all day those few that are committed hither, men and women in the same room: nor of confining either sex at night in the Cubs. No allowance: no employment at my first visits, but in Feb. 1779, the prisoners were carding and spinning: no water accessible to prisoners: no sewers. Clauses against spirituous liquors not hung up. Keeper's salary, £16: fees, 4s. 6d. no table.

At my two first visits the keeper farmed the work-house and the rest of the poor at £480 a year for the whole maintenance, clothing, medicines, &c. At my two last visits, he farmed them at £500. In 1782, the prison was quite out of repair and insecure.—From midsummer 1778 to midsummer 1779, the number committed to this prison was twenty-six;—to 1780, nine;—to 1781, eighteen; to 1782, fourteen.

1776, Jan. 3,Prisoners 2.1779, Oct. 20,Prisoners 0.
1776, Nov. 2,- - 3.1782, April 28,- - 0.
1779, Feb. 25,- - 4.1782, Oct. 26,- - 1.

When the new Oxford House of Correction was opened in 1787, the justices closed the Thame one. The building was put up for sale in 1788 and bought by the parish for dedicated use as a workhouse in 1790. The building later burnt down. The Wellington public house later stood on the site.

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.

  • No individual records identified for this establishment — any information welcome.
  • 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.

Except where indicated, this page () © Peter Higginbotham. Contents may not be reproduced without permission.