Town Gaol, Launceston, Cornwall

This Gaol, called very appropriately "The Dark House," stands over the South Gate; and the ascent to it is by a flight of steps.

Debtors are sent hither by process issuing out of the Borough Court, for sums to any amount: a Court is held every three weeks.

The Prison is in a most filthy and dilapidated state. About a fortnight before my visit in 1803, a Debtor had made his escape very judiciously; and none have have been sent there since. Upon asking the Keeper when it had been cleaned and white-washed, I well remember his telling me "that he had frequently applied to the Mayor of Launceston to have it done; but the answer was, 'The blacker it is, the better : It has more the appearance of a Gaol'."

The room over the gateway, 15 feet by 11, for Criminals, has an iron-grated window towards the street, with an inside shutter; and two sleeping-cells, which open into the room, each about 7 feet square, and 8 feet high; the doors only four feet high, and fifteen inches wide.

Over this room is another, 22 feet by 18, assigned as a Gaol for Debtors! the only light it can possibly receive is from two opposite apertures in the wall, of about 3 feet by 9 inches. And that light, as if envied the quondam inhabitants, almost totally annihilated, by an iron bar placed lengthwise; just enough to tantalize the insolvent victim of such obscurity! Straw lies scattered over the floor; and here is a fire-place, but no fuel is allowed. To recompense such denial of luxury, however, a half tub effectually supplies the place of a necessary.

No court-yard. No water! but the Constable brings it, when wanted, thrice a day.

Gaoler, the Town Sergeant. No Salary. No Fees. I have not met with any Debtors here at my several visits; and in 1806 the three Criminals were out upon Bail, Allowance, two-pence a day

The Gaol of the borough is quite unfit for the abode of any description of persons; it consists of one room and two cells, and an upper room exclusively appropriated for the use of debtors; there is no yard attached to it, nor any means of exercise for the prisoners. It was stated by the town clerk that the inhabitants would not pursue their debtors in the civil court, lest they should cause them to be confined in the gaol, and that it was impossible to give an adequate supply of air to the prisoners, or to attempt to give labour or instruction to the persons confined.