Alternative Names Chelmsford County Gaol
Prison Type Local Prison - Common Gaol & House of Correction/Bridewell
Jurisdiction County
Date opened 1777
Date closed 1848
Location Moulsham Street Chelmsford
Map location exact or closely approximate
County Essex
Although the Chelmsford County House of Correction (ID 129) was located next to the Chelmsford County Gaol, they were considered separate institutions until 1823 when they officially merged. When Springfield Gaol (ID 17) was completed in 1825, the Chelmsford County House of Correction and Gaol was used to hold females and debtors only.
Alternative Names Chelmsford County Gaol
Prison Type Local Prison
Jurisdiction County
Date opened 1777
Date closed 1848
Location Moulsham Street Chelmsford
Map location exact or closely approximate
Lat. 51.73115 Long. 0.47334
County Essex
Although the Chelmsford County House of Correction (ID 129) was located next to the Chelmsford County Gaol, they were considered separate institutions until 1823 when they officially merged. When Springfield Gaol (ID 17) was completed in 1825, the Chelmsford County House of Correction and Gaol was used to hold females and debtors only.
Year 1818
Annual Committed - 392
Daily Greatest number - 168
Year 1823
Annual Committed - 422
Daily Census - 76
Year 1828
Annual Committed - 509
Daily Census - 96
Year 1833
Annual Committed - 305
Daily Census - 72
Year 1838
Annual Confined - 212
Daily Census - 44
Year 1843
Annual Confined - 289
Daily Census - 28
Year 1848
Annual Confined - 172
Daily Daily average - 27
Archive name: Essex Record Office
Catalogue ref: Q/CR 4/1-3
Collection: Essex Quarter Sessions
Description: Returns. Of expenses of prisons and houses of correction (1815-1838); of chaplains of prisons (salaries and duties) (1832); of the number of prisoners in the gaols and houses of correction (1830-1849)
Dates: 1815-1849
Archive name: Essex Record Office
Catalogue ref: D/DCc F15
Collection: Diary of Sir Charles Smith
Description: Includes comments on incarceration of prisoners in old and new Chelmsford gaols.
Dates: 1829
Archive name: Essex Record Office
Catalogue ref: P/C P55-67
Collection: Chelmsford Division, Petty Sessions papers
Description: The Petty Session papers include weekly returns of the numbers of prisoners in the County Gaols and the House of Correction in Chelmsford.
Dates: 1841-1849
Archive name: Essex Record Office
Catalogue ref: Q/ACM 1-9
Collection: Essex Quarter Sessions
Description: General Committee minutes. Include reports of the Gaol Committee and much relevant material on the administration of the county gaols and houses of correction (including improvements, staffing, labour)
Dates: 1796-1897
Archive name: Essex Record Office
Catalogue ref: Q/ACp 2
Collection: Essex Quarter Sessions
Description: Reports of committees as to Gaols (including additional Gaol) and Houses of Correction
Dates: 1819-1828
Archive name: Essex Record Office
Catalogue ref: Q/AGp 11
Collection: Essex Quarter Sessions
Description: Sheriff's report to Quarter Sessions, and report and minutes of Gaol Committee, after escape of 11Â prisoners from County Gaol, Moulsham (Chelmsford)
Dates: 1817
Archive name: Essex Record Office
Catalogue ref: Q/AGp 15
Collection: Essex Quarter Sessions
Description: Examinations on prison discipline by Quarter Sessions gaol committee. Including evidence of Officers of Gaols and Houses of Correction on such matters as staffing, salaries, living conditions, cost, feeding arrangements, employment of prisoners, exercise, and effect of sentences, with analysis and statistics.
Dates: 1841-1844
Archive name: Essex Record Office
Catalogue ref: Q/AGp 4
Collection: Essex Quarter Sessions
Description: Reports of committee on proposed alteration to County Gaol in Moulsham (Chelmsford), and Houses of Correction
Dates: 1817-1819
Archive name: Essex Record Office
Catalogue ref: Q/AGp 6
Collection: Essex Quarter Sessions
Description: Papers re Parliamentary Bill. The Act was the result of a presentment by the Grand Jury at the Lent Assizes (1819), of the insufficiency of the existing County Gaol in Moulsham (Chelmsford).
Dates: 1820-1821
Archive name: Essex Record Office
Catalogue ref: Q/CR 4/4
Collection: Essex Quarter Sessions
Description: Annual returns required by 1823 Gaol Act submitted by each county prison on printed forms giving particulars under 34 heads. Chelmsford Gaol and House of Correction combined
Dates: 1844-1848
Archive name: Essex Record Office
Catalogue ref: Q/SBb 378 onwards
Collection: Essex Quarter Sessions
Description: Quarter Sessions bundles include individually catalogued reports of the Keepers, Chaplains, Surgeons and Visiting Justices of the County's Gaols, including Colchester and Newport Houses of Correction, the Gaol, House of Correction and Convict Gaol at Chelmsford, Ilford House of Correction, and Springfield Gaol. The records also include accounts, staff appointments and dismissals, dietaries and labour accounts, and correspondence on prison conditions and prisoners. Up to mid 1840s, contents described in great detail.
Dates: 1800 onwards
Archive name: Essex Record Office
Catalogue ref: AA14226 (Q/ACM)
Collection: None
Description: Chelmsford Gaol Visiting Magistrates minute and order book
Dates: 1819-1848
Archive name: Essex Record Office
Catalogue ref: Q/ACM 44
Collection: Essex Quarter Sessions
Description: Minutes of Visiting Justices of Chelmsford Gaol, Chelmsford House of Correction and Springfield Gaol
Dates: 1828-1846
Archive name: Essex Record Office
Catalogue ref: Q/FAC 5/1-15
Collection: Essex Quarter Sessions
Description: County Treasurers' Special Accounts: Gaols and Houses of Correction
Dates: 1767-1849
Archive name: Essex Record Office
Catalogue ref: Q/ALl 9
Collection: Essex Quarter Sessions
Description: Includes return to Government of number of criminal lunatics in Gaol and five Houses of Correction, with original returns from Gaol etc (1808). Copy of lists of lunatics in the Gaol and Houses of Correction within the previous 10 years, giving names, ages, crimes, and observations (1819).
Dates: 1808-1841
Archive name: Essex Record Office
Catalogue ref: A11508
Collection: None
Description: Bible annotated by Revd George Somers Clarke whilst in prison. Imprisoned in the old Essex gaol for contempt of the Ecclesiastical Court and insisted on remaining there for the rest of his life.
Dates: 1824-1837
Archive name: Essex Record Office
Catalogue ref: Q/AGb 1/13A
Collection: Essex Quarter Sessions
Description: Includes valuation of old Moulsham (Chelmsford) gaol and house of correction
Dates: 1848
Archive name: Essex Record Office
Catalogue ref: Q/AGb 1/3/1
Collection: Essex Quarter Sessions
Description: Plans, signed by Thomas Hopper, County Surveyor, for alterations to Moulsham (Chelmsford) Gaol and House of Correction
Dates: 1819
Archive name: Essex Record Office
Catalogue ref: Q/AGb 1/5-6
Collection: Essex Quarter Sessions
Description: Plans. Thomas Hopper. Chelmsford Gaol and House of Correction, and new gaol at Springfield
Dates: 1820-1828
Archive name: Essex Record Office
Catalogue ref: Q/AGb 1/7-8
Collection: Essex Quarter Sessions
Description: Plans. Moulsham (Chelmsford) Gaol (including for gas fitting)
Dates: 1819-1831
Archive name: Essex Record Office
Catalogue ref: Q/AGp 10
Collection: Essex Quarter Sessions
Description: Papers re county gaol. Royal Exchange Assurance Fire policy on county gaol, Moulsham (Chelmsford), 1808, and printed prospectus, post 1797.
Dates: 1797-1808
Archive name: Essex Record Office
Catalogue ref: I/LS/CFD/00028
Collection: None
Description: Copy of pencil drawing of the Old Gaol, Moulsham Street (demolished 1859), beside the Stone Bridge. From a drawing signed C. Ely (1893).
Dates: c.1820