Battle House of Correction

Overview

Details

Records

Overview

Alternative Names   Battel Gaol, Battle Gaol, Sanguelake House of Correction

Prison Type   Local Prison -  House of Correction/Bridewell, Lock Up

Jurisdiction   County

Date opened   1822

Date closed   1853 [1861]

Location   Lower Lake (where present day Auction House, Burstow & Hewett, stands)   Battle

Map location   exact or closely approximate

County   Sussex

Critical Remarks

Closed in 1853 and prisoners transferred to Lewes Prison (ID 78). However, it was already being used as a police lock up at this time, and continued to be until 1861 when the new police station and law courts opened.

Prison Info

Alternative Names   Battel Gaol, Battle Gaol, Sanguelake House of Correction

Prison Type   Local Prison

Jurisdiction   County

Date opened   1822

Date closed   1853 [1861]

Location   Lower Lake (where present day Auction House, Burstow & Hewett, stands)   Battle

Map location   exact or closely approximate
Lat.   50.9129684  Long.   0.491421

County   Sussex

Critical Remarks

Closed in 1853 and prisoners transferred to Lewes Prison (ID 78). However, it was already being used as a police lock up at this time, and continued to be until 1861 when the new police station and law courts opened.

Prisoner Statistics

 

Year 1823

Annual Committed   -   65

Daily Census   -   2

 

Year 1828

Annual Committed   -   63

Daily Census   -   63

 

Year 1833

Annual Committed   -   44

Daily Census   -   5

 

Year 1838

Annual Confined   -   88

Daily Census   -   1

 

Year 1843

Annual Confined   -   82

Daily Census   -   2

 

Year 1848

Annual Confined   -   61

Daily Daily average   -   2

Principal Primary Sources

  • Sixth Report of the Committee of the Society for the Improvement of Prison Discipline and for the Reformation of Juvenile Offenders (London, 1824), Appendix, p.143; Seventh Report of the Committee of the Society for the Improvement of Prison Discipline and for the Reformation of Juvenile Offenders (London, 1827), Appendix, p.149; Eighth Report of the Committee of the Society for the Improvement of Prison Discipline and for the Reformation of Juvenile Offenders (London, 1832), Appendix, p.44
  • Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1824, XIX.359), p.226; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1825, XXIII.1), p.278; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1826, XXIV.1), p.268; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1826-27, XIX.365), p.246; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1828, XX.327), p.282; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1829, XIX.1), p.250; Reports and Schedules Pursuant To Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1830, XXIV.1), p.249; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1830-31, XII.1), p.245; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1831-32. XXXIII.197), p.245; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1833, XXVIII.1), p.270; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1834, XLVI.1), p.257; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1835, XLIV.225), p.246; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1836, XLII.1), p.165; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1837, XLV.1), p.166; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1837-8, XLIII.227), p.169; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1839, XXXVIII.17), p.165; Reports Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1840, XXXVIII.1), p.183; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1841, XVIII.1), p.195; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1842, XXXII.1), p.198; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1843, XLIII.1), p.197; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1844, XXXIX.403), p.190; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1845, XXXVII.417), p.225; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1846, XXXIV.187), p.228; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1847, XLVII.297), p.234; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1847-48, LII.465), p.240
  • Abstract Return of Establishment and Expenditure of Gaols and Houses of Correction in England and Wales (Parl. Papers, 1840, XXXVIII.241), p.62
  • Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Home District, Third Report, Supplement (Parl. Papers, 1837-38, XXX.367), p.113; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Home District, Fourth Report (Parl. Papers, 1839, XXI.1), p.347; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Home District, Tenth Report (Parl. Papers, 1845, XXIII.1), p.641

Secondary Sources

  • George Kiloh, 'Prisons in Battle', Battle District Historical Society (https://tinyurl.com/y8clxbda); Jill Kirby, 'A study of Battle House of Correction with special reference to the period 1820-1853' (undated manuscript at The Keep)

Management

Archive name: East Sussex Record Office

Catalogue ref: QAP/3/5/1-2

Collection: Sussex Quarter Sessions

Description: Papers concerning new House of Correction (also includes petition from keeper for increase in salary)

Dates: 1820-1841


Archive name: East Sussex Record Office

Catalogue ref: QAP/3/1

Collection: Sussex Quarter Sessions

Description: Reports and returns under schedule B of 1823 Gaol Act

Dates: 1823-1853


Archive name: East Sussex Record Office

Catalogue ref: QAP/3/4

Collection: Sussex Quarter Sessions

Description: Draft annual general report

Dates: 1833-1846


Archive name: East Sussex Record Office

Catalogue ref: QAP/3/3/1-2

Collection: Sussex Quarter Sessions

Description: Battle House of Correction, reports of Visiting Justices, Chaplain and Keeper

Dates: 1832-1853


Archive name: East Sussex Record Office

Catalogue ref: QDB/6

Collection: Sussex Quarter Sessions

Description: Visiting Magistrates' book, including reports

Dates: 1836-1853


Archive name: East Sussex Record Office

Catalogue ref: QDB/10

Collection: Sussex Quarter Sessions

Description: Miscellaneous papers (concerning 1823 Gaol Act and registers required by keepers)

Dates: 1823


Finance

Archive name: East Sussex Record Office

Catalogue ref: WIN 1654-1660

Collection: Winchelsea Corporation

Description: Letters from County Treasurers, acknowledging payments in respect of Winchelsea prisoners in the County Gaols at Lewes and Battle.

Dates: 1839-1849


Archive name: East Sussex Record Office

Catalogue ref: WIN 1661-1687

Collection: Winchelsea Corporation

Description: Quarterly accounts and receipts for sums paid for the maintenance of Winchelsea prisoners in the County Gaols at Lewes and Battle

Dates: 1823-1866


Daily Business

Archive name: East Sussex Record Office

Catalogue ref: QDB/4

Collection: Sussex Quarter Sessions

Description: Chaplain's journal, with notes of duties performed

Dates: 1833-1853


Archive name: East Sussex Record Office

Catalogue ref: QDB/5

Collection: Sussex Quarter Sessions

Description: Chaplain's attendance book, stating length of visit

Dates: 1833-1853


Archive name: East Sussex Record Office

Catalogue ref: QDB/3/1-3

Collection: Sussex Quarter Sessions

Description: Keeper's daily journals

Dates: 1823-1853


Archive name: East Sussex Record Office

Catalogue ref: QDB/9

Collection: Sussex Quarter Sessions

Description: Copies of Keeper's bills.

Dates: 1823-1847


Archive name: East Sussex Record Office

Catalogue ref: QDB/7

Collection: Sussex Quarter Sessions

Description: Surgeon's journal, with remarks on patients and diet prescribed

Dates: 1846-1853


Staff

Archive name: East Sussex Record Office

Catalogue ref: QAP/3/2

Collection: Sussex Quarter Sessions

Description: Statement of increase or diminution of officers and servants

Dates: 1824-1853


Prisoners

Archive name: East Sussex Record Office

Catalogue ref: QDB/2/1-2

Collection: Sussex Quarter Sessions

Description: Registers of committals

Dates: 1822-1853


Archive name: East Sussex Record Office

Catalogue ref: QDB/1

Collection: Sussex Quarter Sessions

Description: Orders of committal

Dates: 1822-1853


Land & Buildings

Archive name: East Sussex Record Office

Catalogue ref: BAT 4470B/170

Collection: None

Description: Plot 170 - the old Gaol and premises, in Battle

Dates: 1860


Archive name: East Sussex Record Office

Catalogue ref: BAT 464-465

Collection: None

Description: Sanguelake Borough. Lease and release. For building a Bridewell or House of Correction for East Sussex.

Dates: 1821


Archive name: East Sussex Record Office

Catalogue ref: QDB/8

Collection: Sussex Quarter Sessions

Description: Inventory. Articles handed over by William Austin to Samuel Cooke (2 August 1823).

Dates: 1823


Archive name: East Sussex Record Office

Catalogue ref: R/A 2/501/1

Collection: East Sussex County Council

Description: Plan endorsed 'Battle Prison'. Ground plan of site containing a three-storey building comprising a house and 13 cells

Dates: c.1850