Carlisle County Gaol and House of Correction

Overview

Details

Records

Overview

Alternative Names   Carlisle City and County Gaol, Carlisle Gaol, Carlisle County Gaol, Carlisle Prison, HMP Carlisle

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

Jurisdiction   County

Date opened   17th century [1827]

Date closed   post 1900 (1922)

Location   site of former monastery of Black Friars, English Street, at English Gate   Carlisle

Map location   exact or closely approximate

County   Cumberland

Critical Remarks

Entirely rebuilt in 1827.

Prison Info

Alternative Names   Carlisle City and County Gaol, Carlisle Gaol, Carlisle County Gaol, Carlisle Prison, HMP Carlisle

Prison Type   Local Prison

Jurisdiction   County

Date opened   17th century [1827]

Date closed   post 1900 (1922)

Location   site of former monastery of Black Friars, English Street, at English Gate   Carlisle

Map location   exact or closely approximate
Lat.   55.0076695  Long.   -2.9717415

County   Cumberland

Critical Remarks

Entirely rebuilt in 1827.

Prisoner Statistics

 

Year 1818

Annual Committed   -   224

Daily Greatest number   -   84

 

Year 1828

Annual Committed   -   317

Daily Census   -   64

 

Year 1833

Annual Committed   -   495

Daily Census   -   92

 

Year 1838

Annual Confined   -   567

Daily Census   -   79

 

Year 1843

Annual Confined   -   581

Daily Census   -   67

 

Year 1848

Annual Confined   -   531

Daily Daily average   -   97

 

Year 1853

Annual Confined   -   641

Daily Daily average   -   90

 

Year 1858

Annual Committed   -   538

Daily Daily average   -   79

 

Year 1863

Annual Committed   -   742

Daily Greatest number   -   116

 

Year 1868

Annual Committed   -   800

Daily Daily average   -   101

 

Year 1873

Annual Committed   -   799

Daily Daily average   -   106

 

Year 1878

Annual Committed   -   1494

Daily Daily average   -   142

 

Year 1883

Annual Committed   -   1191

Daily Daily average   -   104

 

Year 1888

Annual Committed   -   1212

Daily Daily average   -   101

 

Year 1893

Annual Committed   -   1255

Daily   -  

 

Year 1898

Annual Committed   -   1154

Daily   -  

Principal Primary Sources

  • James Neild, The State of the Prisons of England, Scotland and Wales (London, 1812), p.110
  • Account of Gaols, Houses of Correction or Penitentiaries in the United Kingdom, 1818 (Parl. Papers, 1819, XVII.371), p.8
  • 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.12; 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.9; 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.13; 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.20; 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.19; 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.7
  • Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1826, XXIV.1), p.50; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1826-27, XIX.365), p.44; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1828, XX.327), p.52; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1829, XIX.1), p.46; Reports and Schedules Pursuant To Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1830, XXIV.1), p.44; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1830-31, XII.1), p.44; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1831-32. XXXIII.197), p.44; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1833, XXVIII.1), p.46; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1834, XLVI.1), p.44; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1835, XLIV.225), p.46; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1836, XLII.1), p.29; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1837, XLV.1), p.31; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1837-8, XLIII.227), p.31; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1839, XXXVIII.17), p.29; Reports Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1840, XXXVIII.1), p.30; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1841, XVIII.1), p.32; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1842, XXXII.1), p.33; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1843, XLIII.1), p.37; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1844, XXXIX.403), p.34; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1845, XXXVII.417), p.35; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1846, XXXIV.187), p.36; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1847, XLVII.297), p.42; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1847-48, LII.465), p.42
  • Abstract Return of Establishment and Expenditure of Gaols and Houses of Correction in England and Wales (Parl. Papers, 1840, XXXVIII.241), p.6
  • Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern and Eastern District, Second Report (Parl. Papers, 1837, XXXII.499), p.100; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern and Eastern District, Fourth Report (Parl. Papers, 1839, XXII.1), p.98; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern and Eastern District, Seventh Report (Parl. Papers, 1842, XXI.1), p.6; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern and Eastern District, Ninth Report (Parl. Papers, 1844, XXIX.227), p.121; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain IV. Northern District, Thirteenth Report (Parl. Papers, 1847-8, XXXVI.361), p.53; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain IV. Northern District, Fourteenth Report (Parl. Papers, 1849, XXVI.167), p.78; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain IV. Scotland, Fifteenth Report (Parl. Papers, 1850, XXVIII.793), p.67; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain IV. Scotland, Sixteenth Report (Parl. Papers, 1851, XXVII.837), p.67; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain IV. Scotland, Seventeenth Report (Parl. Papers, 1852-53, LII.265), p.77; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain IV. Scotland, Eighteenth Report (Parl. Papers, 1852-53, LII.361), p.71; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain IV. Scotland, Nineteenth Report (Parl. Papers, 1854, XXXII.1), p.71; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain IV. Scotland, Twentieth Report (Parl. Papers, 1854-55, XXVI.123), p.51; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain IV. Scotland, Twenty-first Report (Parl. Papers, 1856, XXXIII.657), p.57; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain IV. Scotland, Twenty-second Report (Parl. Papers, 1857 Session 1, VII.505), p.57; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain III. Northern District, Twenty-third Report (Parl. Papers, 1857-58, XXIX.209), p.43; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain III. Northern District, Twenty-fourth Report (Parl. Papers, 1859, Session 1, XI.213), p.37; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain III. Northern District, Twenty-fifth Report (Parl. Papers, 1860, XXXV.381), p.26; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain III. Northern District, Twenty-eighth Report (Parl. Papers, 1863, XXIII.109), p.53; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern District, Twenty-ninth Report (Parl. Papers, 1864, XXVI.89), p.11; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern District, Thirtieth Report (Parl. Papers, 1865, XXIII.257), p.15; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern District, Thirty-first Report (Parl. Papers, 1866, XXXVII.233), p.18; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern District, Thirty-second Report (Parl. Papers, 1867-68, XXXIV.1), p.13; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern District, Thirty-fourth Report (Parl. Papers, 1871, XXIX.1), p.14; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern District, Thirty-fifth Report (Parl. Papers, 1871, XXIX.529), p.12; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern District, Thirty-sixth Report (Parl. Papers, 1872, XXXI.169), p.7; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern District, Thirty-seventh Report (Parl. Papers, 1873, XXXII.337), p.10; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern District, Thirty-eighth Report (Parl. Papers, 1874, XXIX.389), p.18; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern District, Thirty-ninth Report (Parl. Papers, 1875, XXXVII.417), p.19; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern District, Fortieth Report (Parl. Papers, 1876, XXXV.417), p.19; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern District, Forty-first Report (Parl. Papers, 1877, XLIII.421), p.19; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern District, Forty-second Report (Parl. Papers, 1878, XLI.417), p.19
  • Commissioners of Prisons, Second Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1878-79, XXXIV.1, 97), p.12; Commissioners of Prisons, Third Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1880, XXXV.1,73), p.13; Commissioners of Prisons, Fourth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1881, LI.441, 521), p.16; Commissioners of Prisons, Fifth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1882, XXXIII.443, 541), p.18; Commissioners of Prisons, Sixth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1883, XXXI.445, 579), p.20; Commissioners of Prisons, Seventh Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1884, XLII.461, 551), p.18; Commissioners of Prisons, Eighth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1884-85, XXXVII.527, 651), p.18; Commissioners of Prisons, Ninth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1886, XXXV.1, 93), p.18; Commissioners of Prisons, Tenth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1887, XLI.203, 335), p.18; Commissioners of Prisons, Eleventh Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1888, LVIII.1, 209), p.18; Commissioners of Prisons, Twelfth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1889, XLI.1, 181), p.18; Commissioners of Prisons, Thirteenth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1890, XXXVII.1, 183), p.18; Commissioners of Prisons, Fourteenth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1890-91, XLIII.1, 125), p.17; Commissioners of Prisons, Fifteenth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1892, XLII.1, 147), p.16; Commissioners of Prisons, Sixteenth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1893-94, XLVII.1, 121), p.17; Commissioners of Prisons, Seventeenth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1894, XLIV.1, 183), p.17; Commissioners of Prisons, Eighteenth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1895, LVI.727, 865), p.17
  • Report of Coms. of Prisons and Directors of Convict Prisons, 1895-96 (Parl. Papers, 1896, XLIV.235), p.45; Report of Coms. of Prisons and Directors of Convict Prisons, 1896-97 (Parl. Papers, 1897, XL.105), p.181; Report of Coms. of Prisons and Directors of Convict Prisons, 1897-98 (Parl. Papers, 1898, XLVII.23), p.202; Report of Coms. of Prisons and Directors of Convict Prisons, 1898-99 (Parl. Papers, 1899, XLIII.65), p.191; Report of Coms. of Prisons and Directors of Convict Prisons, 1899-1900 (Parl. Papers, 1900, XLI.1), p.224

Additional Primary Sources

  • William Parson and William White, History, Directory and Gazetteer of the Counties of Cumberland and Westmorland (Leeds, 1829), p. 132; Mannix and Whellan, History, Gazetteer and Directory of Cumberland (Beverley, 1847), p. 124; Joseph John Gurney, Notes of a visit made to some of the prisons in Scotland and the north of England, in company with Elizabeth Fry: with some general observations on the subject of prison discipline (London, 1819), p. 32

Secondary Sources

  • D.R. Perriam, ‘The dating of the County Gaol, Carlisle’, Transactions of the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society, NS 87 (1978), pp. 129-140

Management

Archive name: Carlisle Archive Centre

Catalogue ref: DHOD/11/73

Collection: Clerks of the Peace to Cumberland Quarter Sessions

Description: Miscellaneous papers relating to the County Gaol, Carlisle, concerning matters such as staffing, building the new Gaol, rules, Governor's report, maintenance of prisoners from the city of Carlisle, women prisoners and their children, photographing of prisoners 

Dates: 1792-1888


Archive name: Carlisle Archive Centre

Catalogue ref: CA/5/1/53

Collection: Carlisle City Council

Description: Contract regarding the reception of Carlisle City prisoners

Dates: 1873


Archive name: Carlisle Archive Centre

Catalogue ref: DHOD/11/223

Collection: Clerks of the Peace to Cumberland Quarter Sessions

Description: Government circulars, some with draft replies, including on the employment of prisoners

Dates: 1792-1803


Archive name: Carlisle Archive Centre

Catalogue ref: DHOD/11/241

Collection: Clerks of the Peace to Cumberland Quarter Sessions

Description: Gaol Committee administration 

Dates: 1859


Archive name: Carlisle Archive Centre

Catalogue ref: DHOD/11/59

Collection: Clerks of the Peace to Cumberland Quarter Sessions

Description: Quarterly and annual returns of prisoners

Dates: 1850-1851


Archive name: Carlisle Archive Centre

Catalogue ref: DHOD/11/62

Collection: Clerks of the Peace to Cumberland Quarter Sessions

Description: Case and counsel's opinion relating to the removal of prisoners from the County Gaol to other Lock-ups

Dates: 1853


Archive name: Carlisle Archive Centre

Catalogue ref: DHOD/11/67-72

Collection: Clerks of the Peace to Cumberland Quarter Sessions

Description: Annual and quarterly gaol reports

Dates: 1826-1876


Archive name: Carlisle Archive Centre

Catalogue ref: Q/A/G/11

Collection: Cumberland Quarter Sessions

Description: Reports of the Gaol Committee

Dates: 1866-1878


Archive name: Carlisle Archive Centre

Catalogue ref: Q/A/G/13/1-2

Collection: Cumberland Quarter Sessions

Description: Documents on prison dietary

Dates: 1849


Archive name: Carlisle Archive Centre

Catalogue ref: Q/A/G/14/1-2

Collection: Cumberland Quarter Sessions

Description: Prison emergency, reports and correspondence

Dates: 1868


Archive name: Carlisle Archive Centre

Catalogue ref: Q/A/G/4

Collection: Cumberland Quarter Sessions

Description: County Gaol Committee, reports and correspondence

Dates: 1822-1826


Archive name: Carlisle Archive Centre

Catalogue ref: Q/A/G/7/1-3

Collection: Cumberland Quarter Sessions

Description: Carlisle Prison authority and the Cumberland Prison authority, case for the opinion of counsel

Dates: 1874


Archive name: Carlisle Archive Centre

Catalogue ref: Q/A/G/7/4

Collection: Cumberland Quarter Sessions

Description: T.H.Hodgson and the Mayor etc., of Carlisle, contract for the reception of Carlisle prisoners in the County gaol, copy

Dates: 1874


Archive name: Carlisle Archive Centre

Catalogue ref: Q/A/G/8/2-4

Collection: Cumberland Quarter Sessions

Description: Prison Inspectors' reports [on Carlisle Prison]

Dates: 1851-1857


Archive name: Carlisle Archive Centre

Catalogue ref: SCons 4/4

Collection: Records of the Cumbria Constabulary

Description: Criminal and miscellaneous statistical returns

Dates: 1857-1870


Archive name: Carlisle Archive Centre

Catalogue ref: Q/A/G/16

Collection: Cumberland Quarter Sessions

Description: Visiting Committee papers relating to HM Prison Carlisle, covering reports, staffing, punishment, education, missions, re-siting of the prison, prisoners' aid societies

Dates: 1878-1922


Finance

Archive name: Carlisle Archive Centre

Catalogue ref: DHOD/11/56

Collection: Clerks of the Peace to Cumberland Quarter Sessions

Description: Various Gaol accounts

Dates: 1815


Archive name: Carlisle Archive Centre

Catalogue ref: DHOD/11/63

Collection: Clerks of the Peace to Cumberland Quarter Sessions

Description: Various Gaol accounts

Dates: 1854-1856


Archive name: Carlisle Archive Centre

Catalogue ref: Q/11/1/180/26-28

Collection: Cumberland Quarter Sessions

Description: Gaol's quarterly account and vouchers

Dates: 1836


Archive name: Carlisle Archive Centre

Catalogue ref: QF/9/4

Collection: Cumberland Quarter Sessions

Description: County Debt Book, loans for gaol

Dates: 1858-1889


Archive name: Carlisle Archive Centre

Catalogue ref: QF/9/6

Collection: Cumberland Quarter Sessions

Description: Gaol account book

Dates: 1867-1870


Staff

Archive name: Carlisle Archive Centre

Catalogue ref: DHOD/11/60

Collection: Clerks of the Peace to Cumberland Quarter Sessions

Description: Case and counsel's opinion and papers relating to the appointment and salary of the Chaplain to the County Gaol

Dates: 1851


Archive name: Carlisle Archive Centre

Catalogue ref: PROB/1871/W279(a)

Collection: Diocese of Carlisle probate documents

Description: Copy will of Chaplain to the County Gaol

Dates: 1871


Archive name: Carlisle Archive Centre

Catalogue ref: Q/A/G/10/1-5

Collection: Cumberland Quarter Sessions

Description: Papers relating to appointment of Gaol Chaplain, including decision to appoint, advert, letters of enquiry, and applications 

Dates: 1871


Archive name: Carlisle Archive Centre

Catalogue ref: Q/A/G/16/9

Collection: Cumberland Quarter Sessions

Description: Correspondence regarding promotion of Chief Warder to Governor of Carlisle Prison

Dates: 1899


Archive name: Carlisle Archive Centre

Catalogue ref: PROB/1883/W731(a)

Collection: Diocese of Carlisle probate documents

Description: Copy will of Prison Warder, Carlisle Gaol

Dates: 1883


Prisoners

Archive name: Carlisle Archive Centre

Catalogue ref: DLONS/L/1/3/217, 237, 247

Collection: Lowther family correspondence

Description: Lowther Family correspondence, including letters from prisoners in Carlisle / Appleby Gaols

Dates: 1817-1818


Archive name: Carlisle Archive Centre

Catalogue ref: PR 70/56

Collection: None

Description: Inquest verdict on prisoner in the County Gaol

Dates: 1813


Archive name: Carlisle Archive Centre

Catalogue ref: Q/11/1/180/32

Collection: Cumberland Quarter Sessions

Description: Petition of prisoners in the Gaol

Dates: 1836


Archive name: Carlisle Archive Centre

Catalogue ref: Q/9/7

Collection: Cumberland Quarter Sessions

Description: Adult conviction book

Dates: 1856-1900


Archive name: Carlisle Archive Centre

Catalogue ref: WPR 1/4/7

Collection: Asby, Overseers of the Poor

Description: Letter about prisoner in Carlisle Gaol

Dates: 1817


Archive name: Durham County Record Office

Catalogue ref: P/14/6

Collection: None

Description: Album of photographs of prisoners, probably in Carlisle Jail

Dates: 1888-1905


Archive name: Whitehaven Archive & Local Studies Centre

Catalogue ref: DLEC/CR/I/151/8

Collection: Coroners for Cockermouth and Egremont

Description: Inquest into the death of prisoner at Carlisle Gaol

Dates: 1835


Land & Buildings

Archive name: Carlisle Archive Centre

Catalogue ref: DPH/2/6

Collection: None

Description: Plan of Governor's house, Carlisle Gaol (photocopy of original drawing)

Dates: c.1835


Archive name: Carlisle Archive Centre

Catalogue ref: CA/5/3/83

Collection: Carlisle City Council

Description: Letter about sewers at Gaol

Dates: 1833


Archive name: Carlisle Archive Centre

Catalogue ref: DHOD/11/65

Collection: Clerks of the Peace to Cumberland Quarter Sessions

Description: Memorandum relating to the water supply to the County Gaol (c.1865)

Dates: c.1865


Archive name: Carlisle Archive Centre

Catalogue ref: DHOD/13/13

Collection: Clerks of the Peace to Cumberland Quarter Sessions

Description: Lawsuit regarding not repairing the County Gaol

Dates: 1821


Archive name: Carlisle Archive Centre

Catalogue ref: DX 1357/1

Collection: None

Description: Plans and elevations of Carlisle Gaol

Dates: c.1804-1808


Archive name: Carlisle Archive Centre

Catalogue ref: Q/A/G/15/2

Collection: Cumberland Quarter Sessions

Description: Alterations to the Prison

Dates: 1879


Archive name: Carlisle Archive Centre

Catalogue ref: Q/A/G/16/7

Collection: Cumberland Quarter Sessions

Description: Plan showing how the Victoria Viaduct overlooking the Gaol yard, including layout of male cells

Dates: 1877


Archive name: Carlisle Archive Centre

Catalogue ref: Q/A/G/5

Collection: Cumberland Quarter Sessions

Description: Plans of proposed new Gaol at Carlisle (not built)

Dates: 1822


Images

Archive name: Carlisle Archive Centre

Catalogue ref: DX 163/23/7

Collection: None

Description: Postcard of English Gate and the old Gaol (print)

Dates: Late 19th century


Other

Archive name: Hampshire Archives and Local Studies

Catalogue ref: 75M91/L6/17

Collection: None

Description: Letter from Charlotte Howard about visit to Carlisle Prison, where she viewed prisoners on treadmill and drop

Dates: 1827