[an error occurred while processing this directive] Town Bridewell, Tiverton, Devon
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Town Bridewell, Tiverton, Devon

The Tiverton Town Bridewell, House of Correction, was situated on St Andrew's Street, on the site of the former Chapel of St Andrew. It was in existence by 1630, when the Mayor and Burgesses of Tiverton purchased the property, on condition that it forever remained forever a House of Correction.

In 1784, John Howard wrote:

This was formerly a chapel, and is now an old thatched building, in which is a work-room, and three small rooms below; and three above. In the court there is an old work-shop and three malt mills, which have not been used for some time. Keeper's salary, £8 : 8 : 0. Fees, 3s. 4d. he lives distant and puts in a deputy. The prison is dirty. Allowance, three half-pence in bread and half their earnings. Clauses against spirituous liquors not hung up.

1782, Aug. 1, Prisoners 5.

The bridewell appears to have been rebuilt not long after Howard's visit. It was described in 1812 by James Neild:

This Prison, in St. Andrew's Street, was built about thirty years since, and is partly enclosed by a boundary wall. In front is the Keeper's garden, and at the back the Prisoners' court-yard, about 84 feet by 36, in which are a pump and sewer; with the waste water from the pump so directed, as constantly to run through the latter.

On the ground-floor is the Men's kitchen, 15 feet square, with a fire-place, boiler, cupboard, benches, a glazed iron-grated window, looking into the court-yard, and another window, semi-circular, in the front, with iron bars and a shutter. The whipping-post also makes part of its furniture.

Within a passage of 3 feet 6 inches wide, are three sleeping-cells, 9 feet 6, by 8 feet, and 8 feet 6 inches high, to the crown of the arch. They have a semi-circular iron grating at each end, for ventilation, with inside shutter, and a pot-hole in the door, about 7 inches square: each cell is furnished with a single crib bedstead, straw, one sheet, and one blanket.

Above stairs is the Women's day-room, in which are two looms for weaving, and two spinning-wheels. It has a fire-place, and two semi-circular glazed windows; one fixed, the other to be put up occasionally, if any Prisoner is sick: also three sleeping-cells, exactly like those for the Men below.

Beds are here supplied by the Keeper, at 1s. 6d. and 1s. per week, to those who can afford it.

There is no Chaplain; but when I made my visits, the Prayers were read every Sunday by John Hill, a Shoe-maker of the Town. For this purpose a Bible, with the Common Prayer-Book Service, is kept; on the first page of which is written as follows:

"Tiverton, Devon. Septr. 25, 1802.

This Bible was sent to Tiverton Bridewell, by Beavis Wood, esq. Town Clerk, on the very purpose for the confined Prisoners to hear read the order for Morning and Evening Prayers, on Sundays, and on all other occasional times, as shall or may be most convenient. And this Book is to be deposited into the care of the Keeper of the said Bridewell or Prison, to be kept decent and clean. As Witness my Hand, by Order of Beavis Wood, esq. Town Clerk

John Hill, the present Reader, of the Established Order."

The Prisoners here have two thirds of their earnings, and the rest goes to the Keeper.

Keeper, Ann John. Salary, 8l. 8s. Fees, 3s. 4d.

Surgeon, Mr. Smith. Makes a Bill.

Number of Prisoners, 1803, Oct. 20th, Five: viz. one Woman Transport,and four Frenchmen. 1806, Sept. 26th, Two Women; one of whom was the Female Transport I had seen here in 1803! Allowance, fourpence each per day, in money.

In 1829, Tiverton's Borough Gaol was transferred to the bridewell from its previous location under the Guildhall. Is inmates then expanded to include those committed for felonies, misdemeanors, want of bail, and on summary convictions. Debtors were housed in a separate building. A report in 1835 described the establishment as follows:

The Gaol was built about 30 years since at the expense of the town and parish by a liberty rate, There is a separate building for the debtors, of which the serjeants at mace are the keepers. The gaoler receives a salary of 26l. per annum out of the liberty rate, and the prisoners are supported out of the same fund. The magistrates have no stated periods for visiting the gaol, but inspect it occasionally. The prisoners are sometimes employed in breaking stones and beating hemp. There is no regular chaplain. The gaol contains six cells, two day rooms and a yard.

In 1838, the Inspector of Prisons provided more extensive details:

Construction.—It is overlooked by two windows of two neighbouring houses. This might be remedied by raising the walls. It is very scanty in cells. But there is some probability of a purchase being made of some neighbouring houses, in which case the whole building might be enlarged, and its discipline much improved.

Number of cells for debtors1
Number of cells for male prisoners3
Number of cells for female ditto3
Number of yards2

In four cells there are two beds placed; and in two of the cells I found a double bed. In each male cell there is a privy, which is neatly kept; the women have a good water-closet. There is no infirmary. Two of the day-rooms have each a fireplace, and the debtors' room also. The cells are not heated. The whole is clean and neat.

Management.—The present gaoler is a half-pay serjeant; and I believe that a considerable alteration for the better has taken place under him.

The prisoners are locked up in separate cells during a certain number of days of their term of imprisonment. The day-rooms are still used; and, indeed, as long as there .is no method employed of warming the cells in winter, they cannot be dispensed with; their use may, however, be very much restricted as to hours and seasons. Silence is enjoined, and tobacco is forbidden, but I perceived its odour in one part of the prison. The exercise for those in solitary confinement appears to be only one half hour daily, and probably does not always amount even to so much; it is too scanty, and more particularly in a prison like this.

The gaoler, about twice in the year, has usually to convey prisoners to the hulks.

The gaoler orders whatever soap he thinks necessary, and presents his account. It is only lately that he has enjoyed this privilege.

Some of the male prisoners' washing is done out of the prison by their friends.

Diet.—Five-pence a-day is given to the gaoler for each prisoner's food; it used to be 4d. The gaoler gives the prisoners tea or coffee twice a-day, with milk and treacle, and a loaf of seconds bread weighing 23 ounces. On alternate days they have also a stew composed of meat, or dripping and potatoes, or broth and potatoes.

Labour.—The hard labour is stone-breaking; this is carried on in the male yard.

Religious and other Instruction.—There is no chapel nor chaplain. The curate of Prior's Quarter gives his aid voluntarily; he sometimes comes to visit the prisoners, and converses with them, and reads aloud to them occasionally. The gaoler every Sunday brings all the prisoners, both male and female, into his parlour, and reads the morning service to them. Hitherto he has not interposed any screen, on these occasions, between the men and women, but he will do so in future. All the religious books that have entered the gaol during the four years of the present gaoler's residence, have been given by various individuals. Not one prisoner has had the sacrament administered to him during the above-mentioned period. The supply of religious books is moderate.

Care of the Sick, Disease, and Mortality.—The surgeon comes when he is sent for, and occasionally at other times, or otherwise his assistant. The surgeon has attended here 11 years. Since the Midsummer sessions 1836 he has received only the small salary of 6l. 6s., previously to which he used to send in a bill annually, which was more beneficial to him. There has been no death in the prison during 11 years. The number of severe complaints during the year 1836 did not amount to six; and the total number of cases in which medicine was administered was about 19. Since Midsummer 1836 the surgeon has kept no register. It would be desirable, perhaps, that his salary should receive a small increase, as well as that a register should be accurately kept. The principal diseases occurring here are very simple. Itch and venereal complaints frequently come in; but the surgeon has never known a case in which itch broke out after admission. Rheumatism occurs sometimes, as well as catarrh, and diarrhoea, but fever and dysentery are rare. Cholera did not appear in the prison, while there were some few cases in the town. A few slight cases of influenza occurred here in the spring. There is no insane prisoner here at present, and any such is very rare. The surgeon remarks that a great improvement has taken place in the cleanliness and general condition of the prison since the entrance of the present gaoler, and a corresponding beneficial change in the health and diseases of the prisoners.

Expenditure.

Borough and Liberty of Tiverton. Expenses of the Bridewell for One Year, from 1st January to 31st December 1836.
 £.  s.  d.
Sustenance of the prisoners39  1 10
Keeper's salary, coals, candles for the year, with the exception of 18 hundred-weight of coal laid in for the winter.25  0   0
N.B.—This does not include all the expenses, such as repairs, bedding, sending prisoners to Exeter, and transports.

Salaries.—Gaoler 25l. (no coals nor candles). The matron receives no salary. She charges 2d. apiece for washing the blankets and the mattresses, and a halfpenny each for the pillow-cases.

The surgeon receives 6l. 6s, annually, for which small sum he also sends in medicines, and is directed to be present at punishments.

Clothing.—There is only a store of two suits kept.

Bedding.—Consists of a mattress, two blankets, and a rug. There are 11 sets of bedding.

Registration.—The only book of this kind kept is a manuscript register by the gaoler.

Escapes.—Two have occurred since the gaoler has been here: neither of the fugitives was retaken.

In 1846, the bridewell moved to purpose-built premises on St Andrew's Road, becoming known as the Borough Gaol and House of Correction.

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.

  • Devon Heritage Centre, Great Moor House, Bittern Road, Sowton Exeter EX2 7NL. Has a bundle of correspondence including returns to the Home Office of names and numbers of prisoners (1829-79).
  • 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.