19th Century Prison History : 19th Century Prison Search

Yeovil Watch House

Overview

Location   George Court (alleyway linking High Street and South Street now demolished)  Yeovil

County   Somerset

Year Opened   1830

Year Closed   1849

Century of Operation   1800-1899

Remarks   It seems likely that this Watch House replaced the former Blind House in Yeovil which had been operating since the 15th century (https://www.prisonhistory.org/lockup/yeovil-lock-up/). Leslie Brooke describes a scandal in 1838 when a prisoner confined in the Watch House died. In 1849 this Watch House was replaced with cells in a police station located in the 'Town House' (https://www.prisonhistory.org/lockup/yeovil-police-station/).

Further information can be found at
https://www.prisonhistory.org/lockup/yeovil-watch-house/

Sources

  • Roy's Blog, 'SOMERSET. Lock-up at Wrington and demolished lock-up detail.' (13 July 2013)
    http://roys-roy.blogspot.com/2013/07/somerset-lock-up-at-wrington.html
  • Leslie Brooke, Some West-Country Lock-Ups (Castle Cary, Fox Publications, 1985), p. 15