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Ancestry UK

Town Bridewell, Launceston, Cornwall

The Launceston Town Bridewell, or House of Correction, was established in 1760 and occupied part of the Launceston parish workhouse on Horse Lane (now Dockacre Road), Launceston.

Former parish workhouse and bridewell, Launceston, Cornwall, 2005. © Peter Higginbotham

In 1812, James Neild recorded:

Keeper, the Master of the Work-house. Salary, 6l. It stands in the Work-house Yard; and consists of one room, and two sleeping-cells, for Women, and for Men ; with straw on the boarded floors. The Allowance for Prisoners here is the same as for the poor. They are not permitted the use of the court-yard. No water accessible. The Prison very dirty.

The prison appears to have ceased operation by 1818. The workhouse building still survives, now converted to residential accommodation, known as Kensey Place.

Records

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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.