Bodmin County Gaol and House of Correction

Overview

Details

Records

Overview

Alternative Names   Bodmin County Gaol and Bridewell, Bodmin New Prison, Cornwall County Gaol and House of Correction, Bodmin County Gaol, Bodmin Prison, HMP Bodmin

Prison Type   Local Prison -  Common Gaol & House of Correction/Bridewell

Jurisdiction   County

Date opened   1779

Date closed   post 1900 (1927)

Location   Berrycoombe Road   Bodmin

Map location   exact or closely approximate

County   Cornwall

Prison Info

Alternative Names   Bodmin County Gaol and Bridewell, Bodmin New Prison, Cornwall County Gaol and House of Correction, Bodmin County Gaol, Bodmin Prison, HMP Bodmin

Prison Type   Local Prison

Jurisdiction   County

Date opened   1779

Date closed   post 1900 (1927)

Location   Berrycoombe Road   Bodmin

Map location   exact or closely approximate
Lat.   50.474883  Long.   -4.730792

County   Cornwall

Prisoner Statistics

 

Year 1818

Annual Committed   -   467

Daily Greatest number   -   185

 

Year 1823

Annual Committed   -   497

Daily Census   -   145

 

Year 1828

Annual Committed   -   477

Daily Census   -   143

 

Year 1833

Annual Committed   -   738

Daily Census   -   122

 

Year 1838

Annual Confined   -   710

Daily Census   -   115

 

Year 1843

Annual Confined   -   795

Daily Census   -   147

 

Year 1848

Annual Confined   -   926

Daily Daily average   -   159

 

Year 1853

Annual Confined   -   671

Daily Daily average   -   107

 

Year 1858

Annual Committed   -   810

Daily Daily average   -   120

 

Year 1863

Annual Committed   -   789

Daily Greatest number   -   142

 

Year 1868

Annual Committed   -   895

Daily Daily average   -   104

 

Year 1873

Annual Committed   -   674

Daily Daily average   -   89

 

Year 1878

Annual Committed   -   762

Daily Daily average   -   118

 

Year 1883

Annual Committed   -   657

Daily Daily average   -   119

 

Year 1888

Annual Committed   -   434

Daily Daily average   -   49

 

Year 1893

Annual Committed   -   471

Daily   -  

 

Year 1898

Annual Committed   -   566

Daily   -  

Principal Primary Sources

  • James Neild, The State of the Prisons of England, Scotland and Wales (London, 1812), p.51
  • Account of Gaols, Houses of Correction or Penitentiaries in the United Kingdom, 1818 (Parl. Papers, 1819, XVII.371), p.6
  • [Second] Report of the Committee of the Society for the Improvement of Prison Discipline and for the Reformation of Juvenile Offenders (London, 1820), p.38; The Third Report of the Committee of the Society for the Improvement of Prison Discipline and for the Reformation of Juvenile Offenders (London, 1821), Appendix, p.10; Fourth Report of the Committee of the Society for the Improvement of Prison Discipline and for the Reformation of Juvenile Offenders (London, 1822), Appendix, p.8; Fifth Report of the Committee of the Society for the Improvement of Prison Discipline and for the Reformation of Juvenile Offenders (London, 1823), Appendix, p.11; 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.16; 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.15; 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.5
  • Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1824, XIX.359), p.52; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1825, XXIII.1), p.46; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1826, XXIV.1), p.46; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1826-27, XIX.365), p.40; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1828, XX.327), p.48; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1829, XIX.1), p.44; Reports and Schedules Pursuant To Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1830, XXIV.1), p.42; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1830-31, XII.1), p.42; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1831-32. XXXIII.197), p.42; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1833, XXVIII.1), p.44; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1834, XLVI.1), p.42; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1835, XLIV.225), p.44; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1836, XLII.1), p.28; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1837, XLV.1), p.30; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1837-8, XLIII.227), p.29; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1839, XXXVIII.17), p.27; Reports Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1840, XXXVIII.1), p.28; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1841, XVIII.1), p.30; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1842, XXXII.1), p.31; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1843, XLIII.1), p.36; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1844, XXXIX.403), p.33; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1845, XXXVII.417), p.34; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1846, XXXIV.187), p.35; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1847, XLVII.297), p.40; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1847-48, LII.465), p.41
  • Abstract Return of Establishment and Expenditure of Gaols and Houses of Correction in England and Wales (Parl. Papers, 1840, XXXVIII.241), p.8
  • Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain III. Southern and Western District, Second Report (Parl. Papers, 1837, XXXII.659), p.37; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain III. Southern and Western District, Fourth Report (Parl. Papers, 1839, XXII.217), p.131; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain III. Southern and Western District, Sixth Report (Parl. Papers, 1841 Session 2, V.177), p.176; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain III. Southern and Western District, Ninth Report (Parl. Papers, 1844, XXIX.391), p.43; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain III. Southern and Western District, Eleventh Report (Parl. Papers, 1846, XXI.565), p.37; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain III. Southern and Western District, Twelfth Report (Parl. Papers, 1847-8, XXXV.1), p.49; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain III. Southern and Western District, Thirteenth Report (Parl. Papers, 1847-8, XXXVI.133), p.22; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain III. Southern and Western District, Fourteenth Report (Parl. Papers, 1849, XXVI.93), p.1; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain III. Southern and Western District, Sixteenth Report (Parl. Papers, 1851, XXVII.669), p.108; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain III. Southern and Western District, Nineteenth Report (Parl. Papers, 1854, XXXIV.1), p.9; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain III. Southern and Western District, Twenty-second Report (Parl. Papers, 1857, Session 1, VII.401), p.62; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Twenty-fourth Report (Parl. Papers, 1859, Session 1, XI.169), p.12; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Twenty-sixth Report (Parl. Papers, 1861, XXIX.1), p.10; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Twenty-eighth Report (Parl. Papers, 1863, XXIII.1), p.21; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Thirtieth Report (Parl. Papers, 1865, XXIII.1), p.50; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Thirty-first Report (Parl. Papers, 1866, XXXVII.1), p.44; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Thirty-second Report (Parl. Papers, 1867-68, XXXIV.203), p.54; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Thirty-third Report (Parl. Papers, 1868-69, XXIX.1), p.35; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Thirty-fourth Report (Parl. Papers, 1870, XXXVII.1), p.36; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Thirty-fifth Report (Parl. Papers, 1871, XXIX.241), p.42; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Thirty-sixth Report (Parl. Papers, 1872, XXXI.1), p.27; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Thirty-seventh Report (Parl. Papers, 1873, XXXII.1), p.51; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Thirty-eighth Report (Parl. Papers, 1874, XXIX.1), p.58; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Thirty-ninth Report (Parl. Papers, 1875, XXXVII.1), p.63; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Fortieth Report (Parl. Papers, 1876, XXXV.1), p.63; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Forty-first Report (Parl. Papers, 1877, XLIII.1), p.65; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Forty-second Report (Parl. Papers, 1878, XLI.1), p.65
  • Commissioners of Prisons, Second Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1878-79, XXXIV.1, 97), p.6; Commissioners of Prisons, Third Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1880, XXXV.1,73), p.5; Commissioners of Prisons, Fourth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1881, LI.441, 521), p.6; Commissioners of Prisons, Fifth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1882, XXXIII.443, 541), p.8; Commissioners of Prisons, Sixth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1883, XXXI.445, 579), p.8; Commissioners of Prisons, Seventh Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1884, XLII.461, 551), p.8; Commissioners of Prisons, Eighth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1884-85, XXXVII.527, 651), p.8; Commissioners of Prisons, Ninth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1886, XXXV.1, 93), p.8; Commissioners of Prisons, Tenth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1887, XLI.203, 335), p.8; Commissioners of Prisons, Eleventh Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1888, LVIII.1, 209), p.9; Commissioners of Prisons, Twelfth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1889, XLI.1, 181), p.9; Commissioners of Prisons, Thirteenth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1890, XXXVII.1, 183), p.9; Commissioners of Prisons, Fourteenth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1890-91, XLIII.1, 125), p.8; Commissioners of Prisons, Fifteenth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1892, XLII.1, 147), p.6; Commissioners of Prisons, Sixteenth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1893-94, XLVII.1, 121), p.6; Commissioners of Prisons, Seventeenth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1894, XLIV.1, 183), p.6; Commissioners of Prisons, Eighteenth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1895, LVI.727, 865), p.6
  • Report of Coms. of Prisons and Directors of Convict Prisons, 1895-96 (Parl. Papers, 1896, XLIV.235), p.21; Report of Coms. of Prisons and Directors of Convict Prisons, 1896-97 (Parl. Papers, 1897, XL.105), p.155; Report of Coms. of Prisons and Directors of Convict Prisons, 1897-98 (Parl. Papers, 1898, XLVII.23), p.172; Report of Coms. of Prisons and Directors of Convict Prisons, 1898-99 (Parl. Papers, 1899, XLIII.65), p.157; Report of Coms. of Prisons and Directors of Convict Prisons, 1899-1900 (Parl. Papers, 1900, XLI.1), p.186

Secondary Sources

  • http://www.bodminjail.org/; Bill Johnson, The History of Bodmin Jail (Bodmin Town Museum, 2009)

Management

Archive name: Cornwall Record Office

Catalogue ref: QS/1/11/517-549

Collection: Cornwall Quarter Sessions

Description: Report of chaplain (20 Oct 1829)

Dates: 1829


Archive name: Cornwall Record Office

Catalogue ref: QS/1/11/658-694

Collection: Cornwall Quarter Sessions

Description: Repairs and alterations; numbers of prisoners; chaplain's report; surgeon's report; comments on gaol rate (20 Oct 1830)

Dates: 1830


Archive name: Cornwall Record Office

Catalogue ref: AD661/8

Collection: None

Description: Order book, pattern shop, Oatey and Martyn, Iron Founders, Wadebridge. Includes orders for Bodmin Gaol. .

Dates: 1876-1883


Archive name: Cornwall Record Office

Catalogue ref: KL/24/3

Collection: Kendall of Pelyn Lanlivery

Description: Bill to authorise Magistrates to arrange care of prisoners and to control use of treadmill 

Dates: 1824-1872


Archive name: Cornwall Record Office

Catalogue ref: QS/1/11/467-487

Collection: Cornwall Quarter Sessions

Description: Prison labour and treadwheel

Dates: 1829


Archive name: Cornwall Record Office

Catalogue ref: RO/1299

Collection: Rogers and Son, Helston, Solicitors

Description: Bodmin Gaol Committee.

Dates: 1871


Archive name: Cornwall Record Office

Catalogue ref: RO/2355-2539

Collection: Rogers and Son, Helston, Solicitors

Description: Conveying prisoners to Gaol, prisoners' meals.

Dates: 1883


Archive name: The National Archives

Catalogue ref: PCOM7/6

Collection: Prison Commission

Description: Bodmin Prison: part taken over by the Admiralty for use as a naval prison

Dates: 1880-1888


Archive name: Cornwall Record Office

Catalogue ref: QS/1/1-22

Collection: Cornwall Quarter Sessions

Description: Contents of the Order Books are described great detail in Cornwall Record Office's Catalogue. They contain a wealth of information about the administration of the county prisons, especially Bodmin County Gaol. For example: reports of governor, surgeon, chaplain, Visiting Justices; staff appointments; physical alterations and additions to the prison; dietaries; prisoner statistics and escapes

Dates: 1801-1899


Archive name: Cornwall Record Office

Catalogue ref: AD1676/2/1-2

Collection: Cornwall Gaol Records

Description: Minutes, Visiting Committee

Dates: 1878-1916


Finance

Archive name: Cornwall Record Office

Catalogue ref: P99/16a/1

Collection: None

Description: Accounts payable to Keeper of Bodmin Gaol for maintenance of children

Dates: 1819


Archive name: Cornwall Record Office

Catalogue ref: CC/7/2/2

Collection: Mortgages on county rate

Description: Mortgages for Bodmin Gaol and County Asylum

Dates: 1857-1889


Archive name: Cornwall Record Office

Catalogue ref: HC1/2/1/3-2

Collection: St Lawrence's Hospital, Bodmin

Description: Abstract of County Treasurer's annual accounts. Summary of receipts and expenditure, including for the Gaol.

Dates: 1866-1877


Archive name: Cornwall Record Office

Catalogue ref: RO/5528-5569

Collection: Rogers and Son, Helston, Solicitors

Description: Quarterly accounts for maintenance of Helston Prisoners at Bodmin Gaol, with notification that prison taken over by government

Dates: 1867-1878


Staff

Archive name: Cornwall Record Office

Catalogue ref: FS/3/1270/38

Collection: Photocopies of papers, William Osbourne, Royal Marine and Prison Warder

Description: Photocopy, testimonial from Chaplain of County Gaol

Dates: 1867


Archive name: Cornwall Record Office

Catalogue ref: FS/3/1270

Collection: Photocopies of papers, William Osbourne, Royal Marine and Prison Warder

Description: Testimonial from retiring governor of Cornwall County Prison, 'William Osborn[e]' (1860). Also, travel warrant for six convicts and two officers from Bodmin to Leicester Prison (1864).

Dates: 1824-1867


Archive name: Cornwall Record Office

Catalogue ref: D/R/286

Collection: Diocese of Truro

Description: Register of licenses to perpetual curacies. Includes appointments to Bodmin Prison

Dates: 1891-1916


Prisoners

Archive name: Cornwall Record Office

Catalogue ref: AD1676/1/1-4

Collection: Cornwall Gaol Records

Description: Bridewell registers, Bodmin

Dates: 1821-1848


Archive name: Cornwall Record Office

Catalogue ref: AD1676/3/3-4

Collection: Cornwall Gaol Records

Description: Nominal registers, Bodmin prison

Dates: 1895-1903


Archive name: Cornwall Record Office

Catalogue ref: AD1676/4/1-4

Collection: Cornwall Gaol Records

Description: Gaol registers, Bodmin

Dates: 1831-1856


Archive name: Cornwall Record Office

Catalogue ref: AD1676/4/5-14

Collection: Cornwall Gaol Records

Description: Criminal registers, Bodmin

Dates: 1848-1879


Archive name: Cornwall Record Office

Catalogue ref: FS/6/5

Collection: Digital copies of documents

Description: Register of prisoners, Bodmin Gaol

Dates: 1821-1899


Archive name: Cornwall Record Office

Catalogue ref: BLAUS/500

Collection: Borough of Launceston

Description: List, prisoners committed to County Gaol from Launceston Borough. Prisoners committed to County Gaol from Launceston Borough in five years.

Dates: 1833


Archive name: Cornwall Record Office

Catalogue ref: FOX/B/2/90

Collection: Fox family of Falmouth incorporating G. C. Fox and Co

Description: Letter, Alfred Fox to Sarah Fox. From Bodmin Gaol. Written on a printed notice of meeting of trustees of Falmouth Savings Bank.

Dates: 1852


Archive name: Cornwall Record Office

Catalogue ref: HC1/4/2/2

Collection: St Lawrence's Hospital, Bodmin

Description: St Lawrence's Hospital, Bodmin, admissions, private patients. Includes inmates transferred fom Bodmin Prison.

Dates: 1886-1890


Archive name: Cornwall Record Office

Catalogue ref: X36

Collection: Papers, Bodmin, Camborne and London

Description: Printed material, prison sentences and topical verses.

Dates: 1820-1864


Archive name: Cornwall Record Office

Catalogue ref: X106/1-7

Collection: 19th century broadsheets

Description: Broadsheets including list of sentences given to prisoners

Dates: 1824-1863


Land & Buildings

Archive name: Cornwall Record Office

Catalogue ref: F/1/327/6

Collection: Fortescue family of Boconnoc

Description: Plan, lands in Bodmin Borough. Title on plan 'Statement of Lands in the borough in Bodmin the County of Cornwall'. Shows Bodmin Prison.

Dates: c.1811-1820


Archive name: Cornwall Record Office

Catalogue ref: FS/3/240

Collection: None

Description: Facsimile copy. Letter from James Chapple, Builder / Surveyor, regarding new Prison.

Dates: 1827


Archive name: Cornwall Record Office

Catalogue ref: QS/1/11/488-549

Collection: Cornwall Quarter Sessions

Description: Repairs and alterations, and new treadwheel

Dates: 1829


Archive name: Cornwall Record Office

Catalogue ref: QS/1/14/745-746

Collection: Cornwall Quarter Sessions

Description: Report by Gaol Committee on purchase of land required to enlarge Gaol; expenditure on alterations; proposals for alterations

Dates: 1853


Archive name: Cornwall Record Office

Catalogue ref: QS/HD/354

Collection: Cornwall Quarter Sessions

Description: Highway diversions at roads adjoining Gaol, Bodmin for enlargement of Gaol (deposition, certificate and plan) (November 1853)

Dates: 1853-1890


Archive name: Cornwall Record Office

Catalogue ref: TM/84

Collection: None

Description: Tithe map, Helston, by J. H. Rutger, Marazion, Cornwall;. Public buildings (coloured and named), including Prison

Dates: 1838


Archive name: Cornwall Record Office

Catalogue ref: X106

Collection: 19th century broadsheets

Description: Includes sale catalogue of Bodmin Prison (1930)

Dates: 1820-1930


Archive name: Cornwall Record Office

Catalogue ref: X793/76

Collection: Pethybridge collection  

Description: Signed undertaking, to deliver the title deeds of the old Prison, Bodmin (4 July 1835)

Dates: 1835-1836


Images

Archive name: Cornwall Record Office

Catalogue ref: corn00385

Collection: Cornwall County Council, Photographs of Cornwall Database

Description: Bodmin Prison, photograph

Dates: c.1900


Other

Archive name: Cornwall Record Office

Catalogue ref: G/1909/348

Collection: Gregor family of Trewarthenick

Description: Letter from Gordon Gregor to Sarah Gregor, comments on the number of prisoners in the gaol and their offences (14 Jul 1830)

Dates: 1830


Archive name: Cornwall Record Office

Catalogue ref: T/2536A

Collection: Tremayne family of Heligan, St Ewe

Description: From J. H. Tremayne to his father re petitions from Bodmin Gaol

Dates: 1819


Archive name: Cornwall Record Office

Catalogue ref: T/2614

Collection: Tremayne family of Heligan, St Ewe

Description: Letter from J H Tremayne to Reverend Henry Hawkins Tremayne, re visit to Bodmin gaol.

Dates: 1822


Archive name: Cornwall Record Office

Catalogue ref: T/2666/1-2

Collection: Tremayne family of Heligan, St Ewe

Description: From J. H. Tremayne to his father re Launceston Gaol and Prisoners

Dates: 1822