Canterbury City Gaol and House of Correction

Overview

Details

Records

Overview

Alternative Names   Canterbury City Gaol, Canterbury Westgate Gaol

Prison Type   Local Prison -  Common Gaol

Jurisdiction   Municipality

Date opened   pre 1800

Date closed   1869

Location   West Gate   Canterbury

Map location   exact or closely approximate

County   Kent

Prison Info

Alternative Names   Canterbury City Gaol, Canterbury Westgate Gaol

Prison Type   Local Prison

Jurisdiction   Municipality

Date opened   pre 1800

Date closed   1869

Location   West Gate   Canterbury

Map location   exact or closely approximate
Lat.   51.2815969  Long.   1.0748288

County   Kent

Prisoner Statistics

 

Year 1818

Annual Committed   -   52

Daily Greatest number   -   9

 

Year 1832

Annual Committed   -   112

Daily Greatest number   -   21

 

Year 1838

Annual Confined   -   150

Daily Census   -   13

 

Year 1843

Annual Confined   -   141

Daily Census   -   11

 

Year 1848

Annual Confined   -   103

Daily Daily average   -   12

 

Year 1853

Annual Confined   -   90

Daily Daily average   -   12

 

Year 1858

Annual Committed   -   207

Daily Daily average   -   12

 

Year 1863

Annual Committed   -   91

Daily Greatest number   -   20

 

Year 1868

Annual Committed   -   90

Daily Daily average   -   7

Principal Primary Sources

  • James Neild, The State of the Prisons of England, Scotland and Wales (London, 1812), p.105
  • Account of Gaols, Houses of Correction or Penitentiaries in the United Kingdom, 1818 (Parl. Papers, 1819, XVII.371), p.24
  • 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.43; 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.54; 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.64; 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.19
  • Return of Places of Confinement Outside Gaol Acts in England and Wales (Parl. Papers, 1833, XXVIII.425), p.26
  • Royal Commission of Inquiry into Municipal Corporations of England and Wales, First Report, Appendices: Part 2 (Parl. Papers, 1835, XXIII.133), p.704
  • Abstract Return of Establishment and Expenditure of Gaols and Houses of Correction in England and Wales (Parl. Papers, 1840, XXXVIII.241), p.20
  • Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Home District, Second Report (Parl. Papers, 1837, XXXII.1), p.47; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Home District, Third Report, Supplement (Parl. Papers, 1837-38, XXX.367), p.17; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Home District, Fourth Report (Parl. Papers, 1839, XXI.1), p.229; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Home District, Sixth Report (Parl. Papers, 1841 Session 2, IV.1), p.206; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Home District, Tenth Report (Parl. Papers, 1845, XXIII.1), p.297; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Home District, Fourteenth Report (Parl. Papers, 1850, XXVIII.1), p.72; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Home District, Fifteenth Report (Parl. Papers, 1851, XXVII.1), p.97; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Twenty-fourth Report (Parl. Papers, 1859, Session 1, XI.169), p.34; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Twenty-sixth Report (Parl. Papers, 1861, XXIX.1), p.40; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Twenty-eighth Report (Parl. Papers, 1863, XXIII.1), p.49; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Thirtieth Report (Parl. Papers, 1865, XXIII.1), p.127; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Thirty-first Report (Parl. Papers, 1866, XXXVII.1), p.113; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Thirty-second Report (Parl. Papers, 1867-68, XXXIV.203), p.153; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Thirty-third Report (Parl. Papers, 1868-69, XXIX.1), p.104

Additional Primary Sources

  • Samuel Bagshaw, History, Gazetteer and Directory of Kent, Volume II (1847), p. 95.

Management

Archive name: Canterbury Cathedral Archives

Catalogue ref: CCA-CC/J/Q/P/3

Collection: Canterbury Quarter Sessions

Description: Inquiry into the liability of the Corporation to maintain the Gaol of the City by Mr Charles Sandys

Dates: 1828


Archive name: Canterbury Cathedral Archives

Catalogue ref: CCA-CC-A/C/15, 17

Collection: Canterbury City

Description: Minute Book of the Committees of the Council. These contain various entries for the Gaol (1844-1865, 1883-1892). 

Dates: 1844-1892


Archive name: Canterbury Cathedral Archives

Catalogue ref: CCA-CC-J/Q/P/10/1-5

Collection: Canterbury Quarter Sessions

Description: Records relating to tenders: for the erection of the new gaol and supplies (clothing, food)

Dates: 1828-1865


Archive name: Canterbury Cathedral Archives

Catalogue ref: CCA-CC-J/Q/P/7/1-21

Collection: Canterbury Quarter Sessions

Description: Returns for City Gaol

Dates: 1836-1851


Archive name: Canterbury Cathedral Archives

Catalogue ref: CCA-CC-J/Q/P/8/2

Collection: Canterbury Quarter Sessions

Description: Justices of the Peace. Minutes concerning works to the gaol

Dates: 1830


Archive name: Canterbury Cathedral Archives

Catalogue ref: CCA-CC-J/Q/P/8/3

Collection: Canterbury Quarter Sessions

Description: Justices of the Peace. Minutes concerning bills and other business

Dates: 1838


Finance

Archive name: Canterbury Cathedral Archives

Catalogue ref: CCA-CC-BB/135/13

Collection: Canterbury City

Description: Gaol Committee reports

Dates: 1835-1868


Archive name: Canterbury Cathedral Archives

Catalogue ref: CCA-CC-F/E/1

Collection: Canterbury City

Description: Account for the Treasurer of the County of Canterbury stock. This relates mostly to gaol requisitions. 

Dates: 1813-1836


Daily Business

Archive name: Canterbury Cathedral Archives

Catalogue ref: CCA-CC-Supp MS 14

Collection: Canterbury City

Description: Gaol diary of Mr Wellard, keeper of the city gaol, Canterbury. On local news and events, including local deaths and casualties, weather, thefts and building works. Also rough accounts.

Dates: 1795-1832


Archive name: Canterbury Cathedral Archives

Catalogue ref: CCA-CC/J/Q/P/2

Collection: Canterbury Quarter Sessions

Description: Gaol diary

Dates: 1820-1826


Archive name: Canterbury Cathedral Archives

Catalogue ref: CCA-CC-J/Q/P/12/1

Collection: Canterbury Quarter Sessions

Description: Canterbury Gaol misconduct book

Dates: 1844-1867


Staff

Archive name: Canterbury Cathedral Archives

Catalogue ref: CCA-CC-J/Q/P/9/1-2

Collection: Canterbury Quarter Sessions

Description: Records relating to Gaol staff: applications for the post of Gaoler

Dates: 1838


Archive name: Canterbury Cathedral Archives

Catalogue ref: CCA-CC-J/Q/P/8/4

Collection: Canterbury Quarter Sessions

Description: Justices of the Peace. Minutes concerning dismissal of Keeper of Gaol and other business. Enclosed, statements from Matron, Gaoler.

Dates: 1838


Prisoners

Archive name: Canterbury Cathedral Archives

Catalogue ref: CCA-CC/J/Q/252

Collection: Canterbury Quarter Sessions

Description: Informations, recognisances, list of prisoners (July 1815), convictions

Dates: 1815


Archive name: Canterbury Cathedral Archives

Catalogue ref: CCA-CC/J/Q/255

Collection: Canterbury Quarter Sessions

Description: Letter about Mr Peel's Bill amending the 1823 Gaol Act, and brief for prisoner - James Cullen.

Dates: 1823-1827


Archive name: Canterbury Cathedral Archives

Catalogue ref: CCA-CC/J/Q/P/1

Collection: Canterbury Quarter Sessions

Description: Commitments. Includes section of Commitments for debt (1821-1840, 1824-1838).

Dates: 1824-1838


Archive name: Canterbury Cathedral Archives

Catalogue ref: CCA-CC-J/Q/P/11/1-4

Collection: Canterbury Quarter Sessions

Description: Records relating to individual prisoners (statements by officials, payment of fees)

Dates: 1821-1856


Archive name: Canterbury Cathedral Archives

Catalogue ref: CCA-CC-J/Q/P/11/5

Collection: Canterbury Quarter Sessions

Description: Blank return for transfer of convicts

Dates: undated


Land & Buildings

Archive name: Canterbury Cathedral Archives

Catalogue ref: CCA-CC/J/Q/P/4

Collection: Canterbury Quarter Sessions

Description: Contract to erect and make alterations and additions to the Gaol, and orders relating thereto

Dates: 1828-1830


Archive name: Canterbury Cathedral Archives

Catalogue ref: CCA-CC-J/Q/P/8/1

Collection: Canterbury Quarter Sessions

Description: Justices of the Peace. Minutes for considering alterations and enlargement of the Gaol

Dates: 1828-1830


Archive name: Canterbury Cathedral Archives

Catalogue ref: CCA-CC-SuppMs/19/8

Collection: Canterbury City

Description: Case for the opinion of Samuel Wells concerning the construction of the new Gaol and how it should be funded

Dates: 1833


Archive name: Canterbury Cathedral Archives

Catalogue ref: CCA-Map/77

Collection: None

Description: Designs for a new City Gaol at Westgate, comprising 19 floor plans. By Architect John Cooper? 

Dates: 1800-1825


Archive name: Canterbury Cathedral Archives

Catalogue ref: CCA-Map/78

Collection: None

Description: Tender for ironwork, railings and lights, in Dane John and at the new City Gaol. Surveyor - John Cooper.

Dates: 1830-1835


Archive name: Canterbury Cathedral Archives

Catalogue ref: CCA-Map/88

Collection: None

Description: Ground plan of a new wall to be built opposite the new Gaol in Pound Lane. Surveyor - J. Cooper.

Dates: 1830


Images

Archive name: Canterbury Cathedral Archives

Catalogue ref: CCA-AddMs-73/24

Collection: None

Description: Pencil sketch - Westgate towers, wouth view, with Holy Cross church and Prison

Dates: 1837-c.1858