19th Century Prison History : 19th Century Prison Search

Great Yarmouth Borough Lock-Ups

Overview

Location   police station  Great Yarmouth

County   Norfolk

Year Opened   unknown

Year Closed   c.1842

Century of Operation   1800-1899

Remarks   Might have opened with the establishment of the borough police force in 1836. It is presumed that this lock-up closed when a new police station with cells opened as part of the town hall complex. The prison inspector suggested this in his report for 1841 (published in 1842). See: https://www.prisonhistory.org/lockup/great-yarmouth-police-station/

Further information can be found at
https://www.prisonhistory.org/lockup/great-yarmouth-borough-lock-ups/

Descriptions

  • 'In the room where the police assemble are two wooden cages, in which prisoners, males and females, are placed, while in temporary custody, previous to being brought before the magistrates. These dens are secured with strong wooden bars, and have a narrow bench for prisoners to sit upon ... In these places from seven to ten persons have been placed at a time, a circumstance hardly credible, from no accident resulting. Tubs for their natural occasions are placed in each; and males and females are exposed to each other, and also to the constables in the room. I have in no other instance witnessed so glaring a contempt of common decency. These contracted dens are the only places for temporary custody, at the disposal of the police, for the large and lately extended jurisdiction of this borough. The superintendent of police, on being questioned by me, stated, "I am frequently obliged to leave the place in consequence of the effluvia from the tubs, and the prisoners have at times been so seriously affected by it as to compel me to resort to brandy to restore them. We had ten people in these cages at one time, and I really thought they would have been suffocated." '
    Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern and Eastern District, Fourth Report (Parl. Papers, 1839, XXII.1), p.174

  • 'I visited the lock-ups, and found them clean and without a prisoner. The wooden cages, a disgrace to humanity, are still suffered to remain, but I understand are not made use of, to the extent they formerly were [Report includes a statement of the number of prisoners who passed through the lock-up during the year 1839: 316 (276 males, 40 females)]'
    Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern and Eastern District, Fifth Report (Parl. Papers, 1840, XXV.565), p.132

  • 'I have great satisfaction in reporting that a new police station and lock-up is in progress of erection and that the discreditable place of confinement described in former reports will cease to be used.'
    Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern and Eastern District, Seventh Report (Parl. Papers, 1842, XXI.1), p.157

Sources

  • Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern and Eastern District, Fourth Report (Parl. Papers, 1839, XXII.1), p.174
  • Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern and Eastern District, Fifth Report (Parl. Papers, 1840, XXV.565), p.132
  • Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern and Eastern District, Seventh Report (Parl. Papers, 1842, XXI.1), p.157