[an error occurred while processing this directive] County Bridewell, Winchester, Hampshire
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County Bridewell, Winchester, Hampshire

Prior to 1787, a County Bridewell, or House of Correction, was in operation on the lower part of the High Street in Winchester.

In 1784, John Howard wrote of the establishment:

The four rooms are too close, and the court (which is not paved, 37 feet 5 inches, by 13 feet 10) is too small for the prisoners, who are commonly numerous; especially at quarter sessions, when they are brought hither from the other bridewells. There is only one day-room (26 feet by 20 feet 4 inches) for men and women. The lodging-room below for the former, is 17 feet 3 inches by 10 feet 3. In that above (21 feet by 17 feet 5 inches) are beds, for which each pays 2s. 6d. a week, though three in a bed.—Adjoining is the women's room 15½ feet by 11 feet 2 inches.—At my visit in 1779, there were four young women, and in 1782, five, among the prisoners, some of whom were felons: at my last visit fix were king's evidence. I saw also a girl about 13 years of age, committed for two years, and had been long confined to her bed. This prison has been fatal to vast numbers. The misery of the prisoners formerly excited the compassion of the duke of Chandos; and for several years he sent them every week about thirty pounds of beef and two gallon loaves. A pump lately sunk. Clauses of act against spirituous liquors not hung up. Keeper's salary, £40: fees, 7s. 8d. no table. Licence for beer and wine. Allowance, a three-penny loaf in two days: no employment.

1774, Sep. 24,Prisoners 13.1779, Mar. 1,Prisoners 11.
1775, Dec. 28,21.1782, Feb. 25,23.

In 1788, the bridewell moved into new, purpose-built premises on the site of former Hyde Abbey, on what became King Alfred Place. Its former High Street site then became home to the Winchester City Gaol and Bridewell.

In 1812, James Neild described his visit to King Alfred Place:

Keeper, Richard Page. Salary, 10l. No Fees.

Chaplain, Rev. Nicholas Westcomb.
Duty, Prayers twice a week. Salary, 7oz. for Bridewell and County Gaol.

Surgeon, Mr. Giles Lyford. Salary, l00l. for both.

Number of Prisoners, 1801, Jan. 13th, Fifty. l802, Jan. 3d, Sixty-five. March 29th, Forty-nine. 1803, Oct. 24th, Sixty-three. 1807, Sept. 23d, Sixty.

Allowance, twenty-two ounces of best wheaten bread: I weighed several of the loaves, and found them good weight, though two days old. Also four, and sometimes five meals a week, during the winter, of meat boiled and broth together. The Keeper has a large garden, in which the Prisoners are occasionally employed; and from which, all the summer, the Bridewell is supplied with vegetables in season, and with potatoes during the winter, about one pound per day, to each Prisoner.

This spacious Prison is a modern structure, and was finished in November 1787. It has four large court-yards, with a pump and sewer in each. The Keeper's house is in the centre of the building, but only commands the view of about one half of each court-yard.

Here are four day-rooms, three for Men and one for Women, in size, 26 feet by 16, and 9 feet 6 inches high; to each of which the County liberally allows one faggot of wood per day till Michaelmas, and two faggots from Michaelmas to Lady-day: also cooking utensils, tin dishes to eat out of; with mops, brooms, pails, towels, soap, and every article necessary for prison-cleanliness.

Of sleeping-cells there are forty-six; viz. Thirty-two, 10 feet by 6; four, 16 feet square; four, 16 feet by 10; and six, 16 feet by 12; all 9 feet 6 inches high.

Six of the above thirty-two are solitary cells; each having a door that opens into a small court-yard, of 14 feet by 9, with a sewer in the corner of each court-yard; four for the Men and two for the Women: There are likewise two tiers of cells, one above the other; the passage leading to which is about 4 feet wide. Also six rooms, 16 feet each by 13, and ten feet high; two of them on the first floor, and four on the second: in which are wooden crib-bedsteads, each for one person, with straw-in-ticking bed, bolster, blanket and rug. The like bedding (but without a bedstead) is also allowed to all the cells in this Prison.

The Chapel is in the centre of the building; and the Prisoners, seated on forms are distinctly partitioned off, according to their respective wards: The Men are placed in three compartments; the Women in the fourth; and they are all in sight of each other.

Previous to trial, each Prisoner has the alledged offence stuck upon the cell-door; and the sentence, in like manner, after trial.

They are all let out of their respective cells at six o'clock in summer, and again locked up at sunset: in winter they are enlarged as soon as it is light, and remanded at dusk. Each cell is cleaned out by about six in summer, and eight in winter; and the Prisoners are not allowed to go into their sleeping-cells during the day.

Over the Prison, and on each side of the Keeper's house, are very spacious and convenient work-rooms; in one of which was deposited junk for the Prisoners, and in the other several spinning-wheels. The Women were employed in reeling off raw-silk; and I was given to understand that they received the whole of their earnings, amounting to about 1s. 6d. per week. I was concerned however to hear, at my visit in September 1807, that this chief branch of their Employment, at least for the present, was discontinued, owing to a decay of trade in the article of silk; but Needle-work is pursued by them, when they can procure it.

Some of the Men-Prisoners are employed either in the garden-grounds, or about the building: All Handicrafts are allowed to work at their respective trades; and of the profits of their labour, after two-pence in every shilling is appropriated to those poor who cannot work, the remaining five-sixths belong to the Prisoner himself.

All the sleeping-cells are lighted and ventilated by iron-grated windows, with inside shutters: also an iron-grating over each door opens into a passage four feet wide, and thus produces a free circulation of air. The Infirmary stands just behind the Chapel, from which it is detached by a court-yard. This room is pleasant and healthy, and looks over the spacious garden belonging to the Keeper's house.

Every Prisoner who comes hither in a filthy and ragged condition, is stripped at his entrance, and washed. He then receives the County-clothing, until his own is fumigated, or soaked in cold water, for six days at least, the water being changed every day.

The flag-stones in the lobbies of the ground-floor, being laid on chalk, are always damp in wet weather; as are also the floors of the day-rooms: But the boards of the cells, resting on what they call rubley-stones, are pretty tolerably dry.

The Dean of Winchester, on Christmas-Day, sends a dinner of boiled beef to the Bridewell and County Gaol. The Chaplain also, and Surgeon, give a half-guinea each, to be laid out, at the same season, in meat for the poor Prisoners.

The Keeper's house is a very good one: The whole of the Prison particularly clean, and frequently visited by the Magistrates, who enter their Remarks in a book prepared for so good a purpose.

No Rules and Orders. The Clauses against Spirituous Liquors are hung up; but not the Act for preserving the Health of Prisoners.

The annual average of Commitments, within the last seven years, up to September 1807, exclusive of Vagrants and Deserters, was 150. Six deaths only had happened during 20 years, to that time!

Prisoners always have money given to carry them home, according to their respective distances; and are constantly discharged in a morning.

In 1836, the Inspectors of Prisons reported on the establishment:

Construction.—This Building stands rather low: some, who have good means of acquaintance with the spot, affirm it to be damp, and even attribute occasional disorders to this source, while others, enjoying equally good opportunities, will not admit the fact. The Yards are large and airy. The greatest defect here is connected with the want of accommodation for the 'Females; there are only seven cells which are available for their use, and, consequently, when the prison happens to be crowded, so many as seven women are placed together sometimes to sleep in a cell about 16 feet long. Three small Yards are appropriated to the Females, but the wall of separation is so low that they can easily converse across, unless continually watched. From the Female Infirmary, also, conversation may be carried on with the prisoners in the yard. To prevent conversation and communication between prisoners, either adjoining each other or remote, does not seem until lately to have formed an elementary principle in prison:architecture, and a continual struggle consequently is now going on between the improved systems of discipline, and the stubborn impracticability of walls and windows which will not conform to the progress. of experience. There is an excellent Kitchen, a good Wash-house, and a Bathing-house, which also serves as a reception room for new-comers, until they have been searched. The building is moderately secure, being an old edifice; but it is well ventilated. There are coal-fires kept up in the Day Rooms during four months in the year; there are also fire-places in the Infirmaries, but no other mode of heating the cells as yet exists here, consequently solitary confinement cannot as yet be practised here during the winter.

Management.—Silence is enforced here, but the Day Rooms were in use at the time of my visit; the previous separation of prisoners was abandoned about the 1st of November, on account of the intense cold, which rendered it expedient to re-instate the prisoners in rooms which contained fire-places. There are 11 of these Day Rooms in use, in which 11 classes of prisoners are distributed. The accommodations of the house are not sufficiently ample to admit of a separation of all the prisoners, but before the 1st of November last it had been practised as far as possible. At night the prisoners are entirely separated, as far as the accommodation permits. The neatness, order and good discipline which reign: here are creditable to the officers. Every thing requisite for the use of the prison is made at home, as far as possible, but only those individuals are employed in shoemaking, tayloring, &c. who have formerly worked at the same trade. The Keeper believes such a plan to be very economical, when it is carefully superintended. The Keeper, Matron, and four Turnkeys reside in the house; a Chaplain and Surgeon are also attached to it: the Chaplain acts in the same capacity at the County Gaol.

Diet.—The Male adults receive daily 1 lb. 14 oz. of bread, and on five days of the week two quarts of oatmeal gruel. On the other two days half a pound of meat, and one pound of potatoes are allowed, with only one quart of.(True]. Those under seventeen years of age obtain three parts of the above allowance; one fourth is deducted. For the Females 1 lb. of bread are daily provided: they have the same rations of meat and vegetables as the males, but as far as the gruel is concerned, those only get it who are employed in the wash-kitchen, and they seldom ask for it.

The Men are furnished with a coat, trowsers, shirts and shoes; the Women with a jacket and skirt of cloth, petticoats, stockings, caps, aprons,-shifts, shoes and neckerchiefs. The Bedding is complete and clean.

Labour.—The hard labour in use here is-the Tread-mill, the Capstan-mill and the Crank; the other modes of employment consist in repairs of the premises, cleansing the prison, whitewashing, cooking, and in making, mending and washing all the clothes which are required. Half the profit of the labour goes to the county, one fourth to the Keeper, and one fourth to the Turnkeys.

There is a small hand-mill here, chiefly used for boys. It is worked by one boy, who is placed in the room alone, as a mode of solitary labour. The machine contains an index locked up within, which records the quantity of work performed.

Religious and other Instruction.—Divine Service is performed twice every Sunday, and Prayers are read every morning. The Chaplain makes frequent visits both to the Yards and Day Rooms, and also to those who are placed in solitary confinement. Instruction in reading was formerly given by the Wardsmen, but the introduction of the silent system has for the present suspended its operation. The prisoners are supplied with Bibles and other religious works. The Chaplain keeps a journal.

Care of the Sick, Disease and Mortality.—There are Four Sick Rooms provided for the Men, and One for the Women. Even here silence is enforced as far as is suitable to the nature of the place; but the extent to which silence is to be enjoined is a matter of serious consideration in regard to the sick, and is a subject which requires to be carefully weighed. It is often difficult to ascertain whether a prisoner is really unwell, or is endeavouring to procure greater indulgence by pretending to be indisposed. Whenever a prisoner is really ill, then 1believe that no greater restraint ought to be imposed on the expression of his thoughts and feelings than is usually attempted in the general hospitals. The Surgeon attends here daily, and more frequently, if required. The number of deaths is small; during the first 10 months of' 1885 not one death has occurred. In the previous year seven deaths took place among 849 persons admitted, and death has been rare during the seven preceding years. No epidemic has prevailed during the last year, and out of 920 prisoners who were received between Michaelmas 1834. and Michaelmas 1835, 54 were taken into the Infirmary. The greatest number of sick at one time was five. Many, however, have a medicine prescribed for them who are far from being fit objects for the Sick-ward. Diarrhoea appears to be one of the most frequent disorders which prevail here; febrile complaints and eruptions seem to be rare.

There is no insane prisoner at present in confinement here.

GENERAL STATISTICS

Number and Description of Prisoners in the Prison on the date of this Return.—Nov. 1835.
Number of Misdemeanors. Number of Felons. Prisoners for Trial. Prisoners under Sentence. TOTAL. Average Number of Prisoners daily. The greatest Number of Prisoners at one time in the course of the Year.
M.F.M.F.M.F.M.F.M.F.M.F.M.F.
106126411nonenone1702317023143821620
Total Numbers confined in the prison, &c.— continued.
Offences against the Customs, Excise, and Revenue Laws. Felons. Trial by a Jury. Summary Convictions. Under the Game Laws. Under the Bastardy Laws. Under the Vagrant Act.
Tried by a Jury. Summary Convictions.
M.F.M.F.M.F.M.F.M.F.M.F.M.F.M.F.
9none129636733225nonenone186none31107736

Number of Prisoners:—Sentenced by Courts of Justice to Solitary Confinement, 35 Males; 1 Female.—Sentenced by Courts of Justice to be Whipped, privately, 11; publicly, none.

Punishment for Offences within the Prison:—Whipping, 3; Irons, none; Refractory Cells, 41; other punishments, none.

Diminished Population.—Eighteen months ago increased labour and prohibition of visits were enforced simultaneously with partial silence. Since that period silence has been rendered a more uniform custom, and has become more complete. It has been observed, that, during these last is months the number of committals has diminished in proportion to the rate of former years. People would formerly come in here for trifling fines; but they now do everything to avoid the necessity, which has become really disagreeable.

In 1849, the bridewell, together with the county gaol in Winchester, were replaced by a new combined establishment on Romsey Road.

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.

  • Hampshire Record Office, Sussex Street, Winchester SO23 8TH. Holdings include: Governor's Journal (1820-52); Chaplain's Journal (1820-54); Various administrative documents, letters etc.
  • 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.