Prison Type Local Prison - House of Correction/Bridewell
Jurisdiction Municipality
Date opened 1553
Date closed 1855
Location Bridge Street, Blackfriars London, Blackfriars
Map location exact or closely approximate
County Middlesex
At the opening of the nineteenth century, a dual purpose as a house of correction and a house of occupation (for poor apprentices) but by 1830 a house of correction only. From 1853 no longer accepted female prisoners.
Prison Type Local Prison
Jurisdiction Municipality
Date opened 1553
Date closed 1855
Location Bridge Street, Blackfriars London, Blackfriars
Map location exact or closely approximate
Lat. 51.511794 Long. -0.105758
County Middlesex
At the opening of the nineteenth century, a dual purpose as a house of correction and a house of occupation (for poor apprentices) but by 1830 a house of correction only. From 1853 no longer accepted female prisoners.
Year 1838
Annual Confined - 1227
Daily Census - 105
Year 1843
Annual Confined - 1114
Daily Census - 70
Year 1848
Annual Confined - 1464
Daily Daily average - 89
Year 1853
Annual Confined - 979
Daily Daily average - 69
Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives
Catalogue ref: CLA/032/01
Collection: Prisons and Compters
Description: These records include accounts and financial papers, statutes and bills relating to Gaols and Prisons, Acts of the Court of Common Council and the Court of Aldermen, various Committee minutes and papers, including reports of the Gaol Committee, contracts, petitions, regulations, papers relating to the health of the prisoners, reports of the Commissioners of Prisons, and papers relating to prison charities. Prisons mentioned include the Bridewell.
Dates: 1487-1878
Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives
Catalogue ref: CLA/066/01/009
Collection: Bridewell Hospital
Description: General reports of the Royal Hospitals of Bridewell and Bethlem, and of the House of Occupations
Dates: 1856
Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives
Catalogue ref: CLA/068/01/002
Collection: Royal Hospitals
Description: Acts of Parliament, including those relating specifically to Bridewell Hospital
Dates: 1782-1836
Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives
Catalogue ref: CLA/068/01/006-009
Collection: Royal Hospitals
Description: Royal Hospitals Committee, Minute books
Dates: 1836-1848
Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives
Catalogue ref: CLC/275/MS33131/002
Collection: Royal Hospitals of Bridewell and Bethlem
Description: Prison Committee minute book
Dates: 1792-1802
Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives
Catalogue ref: CLC/275/MS33132/001-012
Collection: Royal Hospitals of Bridewell and Bethlem
Description: Prison Sub-Committee minutes
Dates: 1792-1854
Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives
Catalogue ref: COL/CA/GAC
Collection: Court of Alderman: Gaol Committee
Description: Responsible for the administration of London prisons. Minutes, papers and reports contain material relevant to the administration of the Bridewell Hospital
Dates: 1794-1878
Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives
Catalogue ref: COL/CCS/CO/07/001
Collection: Comptroller and City Solicitor
Description: Opinions of Counsel, including regarding the right of the Lord Mayor and Aldermen as Magistrates of the City of London to commit offenders to Bridewell
Dates: 1842
Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives
Catalogue ref: H01/ST/LIB/12/004
Collection: St Thomas' Hospital Group
Description: Report of the Royal Hospitals of Bridewell and Bethlem, and of the House of Occupations
Dates: 1844
Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives
Catalogue ref: H09/GY/A/071/001
Collection: Guy's Hospital Group
Description: Report of the Commissioners for Inquiring concerning charities in England and Wales (1837). Contains detailed reports on Guy's, St Bartholomew's, Christ's, Bridewell and Bethlem, St. Thomas' and Foundling Hospitals. Reports include plans (1840).Â
Dates: 1837-1840
Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives
Catalogue ref: H09/GY/A/104/006/001
Collection: Guy's Hospital Group
Description: Letter book of Treasurer. With leaflet entitled 'The Royal Hospitals of Bridewell and Bethlem'. The duties of the Treasurer of both hospitals.
Dates: 1866-1868
Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives
Catalogue ref: CLC/275/MS33135
Collection: Royal Hospitals of Bridewell and Bethlem
Description: Superintendent's petty cash book
Dates: 1833-1855
Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives
Catalogue ref: CLC/275/MS33136
Collection: Royal Hospitals of Bridewell and Bethlem
Description: Superintendent's quarterly cash book
Dates: 1847-1855
Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives
Catalogue ref: COL/CC/FNG
Collection: Court of Common Council: Gaol Expenses and Finance Committee
Description: Responsible for the financial administration of those prisons owned by the Corporation. Minutes and committee papers contain evidence relating to Bridewell Hospital
Dates: 1816-1834
Archive name: Sheffield City Archives
Catalogue ref: WWM/H/239
Collection: Wentworth Woodhouse muniments
Description: Bridewell Hospital. Abstract of the accounts of Bridewell from Christmas 1820 to Christmas 1821, London.
Dates: 1820-1821
Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives
Catalogue ref: CLC/275/MS33141A
Collection: Royal Hospitals of Bridewell and Bethlem
Description: Chaplain's journal of prayers and readings with prisoners
Dates: 1850-1854
Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives
Catalogue ref: CLA/068/02/003-006
Collection: Royal Hospitals
Description: MS and printed Lists of Governors
Dates: 1776-1900
Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives
Catalogue ref: MS 11936
Collection: Records of Sun Fire Office
Description: Insurance for the Governors of Bridewell Hospital and other workers on the site
Dates: 1802 onwards
Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives
Catalogue ref: CLC/275/MS33141/001-004
Collection: Royal Hospitals of Bridewell and Bethlem
Description: Prisoners' character books giving name, age, date, crime and sentence with remarks on prisoner's background and demeanour, by both superintendent and chaplain (only apprentices after 1855)Â
Dates: 1841-1916
Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives
Catalogue ref: CLA/041/PI/01/002,009
Collection: City of London Coroners Court
Description: Inquests into deaths of prisoners, including Bridewell
Dates: 1783-1838
Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives
Catalogue ref: CLC/275/MS33137/002
Collection: Royal Hospitals of Bridewell and Bethlem
Description: Prisoners' admission or discharge orders
Dates: 1773, 1846-1868
Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives
Catalogue ref: CLC/275/MS33138/001-009
Collection: Royal Hospitals of Bridewell and Bethlem
Description: Prisoners' committal books (from May 1854 only apprentices were committed to Bridewell)
Dates: 1809-1916
Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives
Catalogue ref: CLC/275/MS33140/001-014
Collection: Royal Hospitals of Bridewell and Bethlem
Description: Weekly returns of prisoners in custody
Dates: 1817-1830
Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives
Catalogue ref: COL/CHD/AP/04/05/001
Collection: Chamberlain's Department: Apprenticeship
Description: Names of City apprentices sent to Bridewell
Dates: 1837-1916
Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives
Catalogue ref: H09/GYPH/17/010/001
Collection: Guy's Hospital Group
Description: Hand-coloured aquatint entitled 'Pass-Room Bridewell' by Hill, from drawing and engraving by Pugin and Rowlandson
Dates: 1808
