Alfreton County Lock Up House

Overview

Images

Sources

Comments Print

Overview

Nation   England

County   Derbyshire

Location   King Street  Alfreton

Map location   exact or closely approximate

Year opened   c1843

Year closed   unknown

Century of Operation   1800-1899

Building Type   Lock Up

Descriptions

'This lock up house is on the same construction as that at Wirksworth, and was built about the same time [i.e. Five years ago]. It stands in a convenient and good situation. Two of the cells are not dry, owing to the bad state of the drainage, and this same want of proper drainage renders the warming apparatus, I was informed, or little use, especially in the winter, when it is most required. It was stated also that in rainy weather, owing to the want of an outlet, the foul water from the cesspool sometimes ran into the house, and emitted a great stench, to the danger of the health of the inmates. The bedding is sufficient.'

Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern and Eastern District, Fifteenth Report (Parl. Papers, 1850, XXVIII.291), p.171

'Parish lock-up. Mid C18. Ashlar with shallow pitched roof of large stone slabs plus stone slab ridge stack. Single storey and 2 bays. Gabled street elevation has central semicircular headed doorcase with wide raised surround, raised keystone and studded wooden door. Above is a raised plaque inscribed 'House of Confinement'. To either side there are circular openings with raised plain surrounds. Interior has central corridor with cells to either side. Unusually large example of village lock-up.'

Historic England, National Heritage List for England, 'House of Confinement, LEN 1109033' (https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1109033)

Featured Images

  • 'House of Confinement', exteriorPhoto © Nikki Mahadevan (cc-by-sa/2.0)

SOURCES

    Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern and Eastern District, Fifteenth Report (Parl. Papers, 1850, XXVIII.291), p.171
  • Roy's Blog, 'DERBYSHIRE. Lock-ups at Alfreton, Cromford and Curbar.' (09 April 2013)

  • http://roys-roy.blogspot.com/2013/04/lock-ups-at-alfreton-cromford-and.html
  • Historic England, National Heritage List for England, 'House of Confinement, LEN 1109033'

  • https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1109033

Comments

Is there something you’d like to tell us about this lock-up which doesn’t fit easily into the categories of information above? Perhaps you have a good story about someone who was confined in the lock up. Would you like to start a conversation about the lock-up with others who are also interested in either lock-ups or local history? Or would you like to tell us how you have used the data on this lock-up? Please leave a reply!

Alternatively, if you would like to correct or add to the data in the record, please follow this link. Or, click here if you like to find out more about contributing to this project.

2 Comments

  1. Robert Mee

    According to an article in the Derbyshire Courier, on 6 January 1844, the cost of the Alfreton lock up to the Quarter Sessions was £569 10s, which included £60 for the land. At this time it had not yet been finished.
    The same article mentions lock ups at Chapel-en-le-Frith, Eckington, Smalley, Ashbourne, Wirksworth, Bakewell and Glossop. albeit more briefly.

    • Rosalind Crone

      Thanks for this. It is always interesting to see how much was spent on the construction of lock-ups. Also this article captures a moment, which is also recorded in the prison inspectorate reports – the building of new lock-ups houses in Derbyshire. The inspectors’ reports suggest that the new lock-up houses shared design features and layouts too. We have some, but not all of these sites in the database – yet!!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *