County Bridewell, Tynemouth, Northumberland

Keeper, Robert Robson. Salary, 30l. and six loads of coals. Fees, 13s. 4d.

No religious attentions.

Surgeon, Mr. Trotter. Makes a Bill.

Number of Prisoners, 17th Sept. 1809, Four Men.

Allowance, four-pence a day.

REMARKS.

This Prison, first inhabited in 1792, has on the ground floor two apartments for the Keeper, divided by a passage 5 feet 10 inches wide, which leads to the Men's sleeping-cells; four on one side, and three on the other, separated by a lobby of like dimensions. Each cell is 7 feet by 6, and 8 feet high, to the crown of the arch; entirely built of stone, and furnished with crib bedsteads for one person in each; loose straw, and three coverlets; a covered sewer, emptied twice a day; a corner seat, with a shelf for provisions. They are all lighted and ventilated by an iron grated and glazed window, 18 inches by 14, and an aperture into the lobby, of 20 inches by 3, with an inspecting-wicket in each door.

Here are two court-yards: that for the Women, about 60 feet square, has a sewer in the centre. The Men's court, of nearly the same size, has in it a kitchen, 16 feet by 10, and conveniences for boiling the Prisoners' clothes, moistening junk, &c. and a stone cistern, through which passes a constant stream of excellent water, that supplies the Prison. The Prisoners are let out singly for one hour in the day, accompanied by the Keeper.

The upper story is appropriated for the Women, and exactly similar to the one already described.

In wet and cold weather the Prisoners work in the lobby; which is flagged, and has an iron-grated window at the end, for ventilation.

When a Prisoner is brought in ragged or filthy, his clothes are boiled in soap lees and allum. Their employ consists in picking of oakum, knitting stockings, sewing and spinning. None are suffered to be idle here; and Prisoners have one half of their earnings, which is given them on discharge.

Religious books are supplied to them by the Magistrates; and the silence and decorum observed throughout this real House of Correction must greatly tend to a wholesome reformation of Morals.

The annual average number of Commitments, is about 40.

In this prison there are only two divisions, or classes, with two airing-yards, a kitchen and day-room, and seven sleeping-cells attached to each yard. There is no work-room, and but little means of employment for the prisoners. Picking oakum is sometimes carried on by the men, and the women spin and knit. The earnings are trifling. Each prisoner is allowed fourpence a day in money for food.

There is no chapel, and no chaplain attends the prison. The keeper furnishes the prisoners with Bibles and Testaments.

The number of prisoners committed in 1823, was 78; and the greatest number at one time in confinement was 11. Only one re-committal took place.

There is no officer besides the keeper

The prison at Tynemouth is used chiefly as a house of correction. It stands on the outskirts of the village of Tynernouth, and about half a mile therefore from North Shields. Part of the building is rather old, but the other part has been put up within these few years. The construction is comparatively good, and is such as to admit generally of the separation of the prisoners. There are 20 cells (two of them having fire-places, and being used for sick prisoners) and 2 rooms, the latter being used, to a little extent, as day-rooms. There are also 2 airing yards.

The prison appears to be secure, there having been no escape for many years. This Present state. security is, no doubt, partly attributable to the prisoners being generally kept separate. The place is dry, and tolerably well ventilated; and. I found it very clean. It is cold, however, in winter, as there is no provision for warming the

Prisoners.—Criminals, both before and after trial, are admitted, but this is not a prison for debtors. There were 15 prisoners at the time of my visit, (13 males and 2 females,) which appears to be about the average number for the last two years. The prisoners were all clean. They wash themselves every day.

Health.—Generally good. The keeper states that there has been no death, and no case of liberation on account of illness, during the whole time that he has had the charge of the prison—a period of 40 years. At the tune of my visit, however, there was a prisoner who had a sickly appearance, and I was informed that the surgeon had expressed apprehensions of an attack of consumption. I did not, however, see the surgeon myself, as my visit was somewhat hurried.

Food.—The prisoners are fed entirely on bread and milk. The daily allowance to each is 3.penny rolls (together weighing 1 pound at present), and a pennyworth of milk (now 2 pints). The bread, as may be expected from the price, is made of fine flour. The total cost of the food is 4d. per day each. Additional supplies from without are not permitted. I found, however, a large piece of bread that had been conveyed to one of the prisoners in his linen, which his friends had had home to wash. Front what I saw and heard, however, I am inclined to think that cases of smuggling food, &c., are rare; though there must always be danger of their occurring when communication for any purpose is allowed with the friends or associates of prisoners.

Bedding.—Each prisoner has a straw mattress, 2 blankets, and 3 rugs. I found all the bedding clean.

Discipline.—The discipline of this prison is severe. As already stated, the prisoners are generally kept separate—a regulation which is not in itself inconsistent with cheerfulness, as is shown by the experience of Glasgow Bridewell, and other prisons; but at Tynemouth the employment is all of the dullest kind (picking oakum only, and. that with a feeling of the work being unproductive); and even this employment is not allowed to prisoners before trial. There is, too, no provision for instruction, and none for lighting the cells in the evenings and mornings; so that in winter there are long periods of darkness and necessary idleness.

The conduct of the prisoners is reported to be generally good. When an offence is committed, the usual punishment is restriction to bread and water, though sometimes corporal punishment is inflicted.

The treatment of the prisoners appears to be as kind as is consistent with the general arrangements. I received no complaint. It should be remarked that the prisoners, though confined during the greater part of the day to their cells, have regular access to the airing-yards, and at these times the principle of separation is broken through, as there are generally two or three prisoners in the yard together.

Female Prisoners.—The females are superintended by the keeper's wife; but they are not treated in any other way differently from the males.

Miscellaneous.—There is no difference between tried and untried prisoners, except the one already mentioned, namely, that the untried are not allowed to work. Visits are permitted, at the discretion of the keeper, but he discourages them. Smoking is not allowed.

Officers.—The only recognized and paid officer, besides the surgeon, is the keeper. The keeper's wife, however, takes the regular charge of the female prisoners, and appears to give, efficient assistance in the general management of the prison; indeed, at the time of my visit, she had the sole care of it, owing to the illness of her husband. Both the keeper and his wife appear to be very well qualified for their office, and to discharge their duties with zeal and discretion. There was nothing approaching to a complaint against them from any of the prisoners. They reside in the prison.

Fees.—None of any kind.

Accounts.—A register of imprisonments, and an account of expenses.

Average number of prisoners during the year about 18.

Average cost of each prisoner during the year (excluding repairs) about 20l. Daily cost about 13d.

General Observations.—It is probable that offenders whose aberrations from an honest course of life have not become habitual, and who possess the means of obtaining an honest livelihood, are much benefited by a temporary confinement in this prison, since with them opportunities for reflection alone are of great value. But the confirmed criminal, or the young offspring of bad parents, requires much more than this to effect a cure; for him a long and regular course of training to new habits is necessary, with instruction in the means of maintaining himself reputably on leaving prison. In point of fact, notwithstanding the Tynemouth prison is looked upon with dread, (as I was assured in different parts of the county is the case,) there are many recommitments to it.

Jurisdiction.—he prison is under the jurisdiction of the justices of the peace for Northumberland. February, 1838