Alternative Names Bristol Gaol, Bristol City Common Gaol, Bristol Prison
Prison Type Local Prison - Common Gaol
Jurisdiction Municipality
Date opened 1820
Date closed 1883
Location Cumberland Road Bristol
Map location exact or closely approximate
County Somersetshire
Alternative Names Bristol Gaol, Bristol City Common Gaol, Bristol Prison
Prison Type Local Prison
Jurisdiction Municipality
Date opened 1820
Date closed 1883
Location Cumberland Road Bristol
Map location exact or closely approximate
Lat. 51.4462 Long. -2.598
County Somersetshire
Year 1823
Annual Committed - 181
Daily Census - 473
Year 1828
Annual Committed - 195
Daily Census - 471
Year 1833
Annual Committed - 224
Daily Census - 605
Year 1838
Annual Confined - 979
Daily Census - 142
Year 1843
Annual Confined - 1094
Daily Census - 160
Year 1848
Annual Confined - 855
Daily Daily average - 156
Year 1853
Annual Confined - 545
Daily Daily average - 124
Year 1858
Annual Committed - 634
Daily Daily average - 159
Year 1863
Annual Committed - 741
Daily Greatest number - 174
Year 1868
Annual Committed - 713
Daily Daily average - 119
Year 1873
Annual Committed - 592
Daily Daily average - 132
Year 1878
Annual Committed - 1851
Daily Daily average - 166
Year 1883
Annual Committed - 2255
Daily Daily average - 145
Archive name: Bristol Archives
Catalogue ref: 9352
Collection: None
Description: Commissioners' minute book under the Act for building new Gaol
Dates: 1815-1824
Archive name: Bristol Archives
Catalogue ref: 14180/10-16
Collection: None
Description: Miscellaneous agreements and contracts for annual supplies of bread to the Gaol and House of Correction
Dates: 1835-1840
Archive name: Bristol Archives
Catalogue ref: 17128/3-12
Collection: New Gaol Papers
Description: New Gaol papers. Advertisement, tenders, estimates and agreement for supply of bread to prisoners in new Gaol.
Dates: 1820-1823
Archive name: Bristol Archives
Catalogue ref: 43484/RC/2/17
Collection: Brice and Burges
Description: RC-Riots Compensation (1831-1834). Rough notes of losses in Mansion House, Gaol, Bridewell and Custom House.
Dates: 1831-1834
Archive name: Bristol Archives
Catalogue ref: Acts/4/1816/1
Collection: None
Description: Act for building a new Gaol in the City of Bristol (20 June 1816)
Dates: 1816
Archive name: Bristol Archives
Catalogue ref: BCC/A/3/2/1-3
Collection: Corporation of Bristol
Description: An Act for building a new Gaol in the City of Bristol. Commissioners' minute book and Gaol rate books, and bank pass book.
Dates: 1815-1824
Archive name: Bristol Archives
Catalogue ref: JQS/P/340
Collection: Bristol Quarter Sessions
Description: Case papers and counsels' opinions re new Bristol Gaol
Dates: 1815-1816
Archive name: Hampshire Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: 44M69/K7/54
Collection: None
Description: Bristol Gaol Bill. Case relative to the Bill (opposing it), detailed statement of case of the promoters, petition to the House of Commons against the Bill.
Dates: 1816
Archive name: Somerset Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: Q/RUo/37
Collection: Somerset Quarter Sessions
Description: Copies of Acts, including Bristol Gaol (1816)
Dates: 1794-1830, 1816
Archive name: East Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: WIN/15/2/2141-2142
Collection: None
Description: Letter from Worrall, Town Clerk of Bristol, seeking support for their opposition to the Bristol Gaol Bill, with printed case
Dates: 1816
Archive name: Bristol Archives
Catalogue ref: JQS/P/753
Collection: Bristol Quarter Sessions
Description: List of Visitors of the Gaol and House of Correction
Dates: 1835
Archive name: Bristol Archives
Catalogue ref: 14182/HB/X/10
Collection: Hale Bequest papers
Description: Rate for building the new Gaol, G. W.B.'s receipt
Dates: 1817
Archive name: Bristol Archives
Catalogue ref: F/AC/Box/128-168
Collection: Bristol City Council
Description: Payment for goods and services, including for / within the City Gaols
Dates: 1815-1855
Archive name: Bristol Archives
Catalogue ref: 17128/13
Collection: New Gaol Papers
Description: Copy resolution of Mayor etc regarding salaries of new Gaol.
Dates: 1821
Archive name: Bristol Archives
Catalogue ref: 17128/14
Collection: New Gaol Papers
Description: Letter regarding appointment of taskmaster
Dates: 1814
Archive name: Bristol Archives
Catalogue ref: JQS/P/726
Collection: Bristol Quarter Sessions
Description: Escape of 12 prisoners from Bristol Gaol: advertisements, governor's report, other documents
Dates: 1833
Archive name: Bristol Archives
Catalogue ref: 41648/P 3/10
Collection: Malago Society
Description: Booklet - Smyth v Smyth. Written by Tom Provis whilst in Prison. Includes various press cuttings.
Dates: 1853
Archive name: Bristol Archives
Catalogue ref: BCC/D/POL/WS/1/1
Collection: Corporation of Bristol
Description: Police warrants. Notice of escape from Prison of George Anson, vagrant.
Dates: 1875
Archive name: Bristol Archives
Catalogue ref: 17128/1-2
Collection: New Gaol Papers
Description: Letters regarding repairs
Dates: 1811
Archive name: Bristol Archives
Catalogue ref: 17128/15
Collection: New Gaol Papers
Description: Specification for repairs
Dates: 1823
Archive name: Bristol Archives
Catalogue ref: 17567/5
Collection: Bristol photographs and papers
Description: Plan of the old Gaol, New Cut (built 1820, reconstructed 1831)
Dates: c.1820, 1831
Archive name: Bristol Archives
Catalogue ref: 4312/66
Collection: None
Description: Plan of Common Gaol for City and County of Bristol
Dates: 1869
Archive name: Bristol Archives
Catalogue ref: 4312/76
Collection: None
Description: Plan of Bristol Gaol (old Gaol, New Cut)
Dates: 1883
Archive name: Gloucestershire Archives
Catalogue ref: Q/RUm/201/2
Collection: Gloucestershire Quarter Sessions
Description: Bristol water supply, improvements. Plan and section (volume, printed). Includes new Gaol, Lawford's Gate Prison.
Dates: 1845
Archive name: Somerset Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: DD/CC/T/6296
Collection: None
Description: Map of Bedminster. Streets and various churches, chapels, Gaol and Police station are named
Dates: 1859
Archive name: Bristol Archives
Catalogue ref: M4114
Collection: None
Description: Bristol Riots - The Gaol Burning and St Paul's, Bedminster. Oil on paper, William James Müller.
Dates: 1831
Archive name: Bristol Archives
Catalogue ref: 26154/11
Collection: None
Description: Documents once the property of the Reverend. F. W. Potto Hicks. Includes printed broadsheet with illustrations concerning the Bristol Riots. A description of the trial and 'Lament of the Unhappy Prisoners'.
Dates: 1832