Chelmsford Gaol and House of Correction

Overview

Details

Records

Overview

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

Critical Remarks

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.

Prison Info

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

Critical Remarks

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.

Prisoner Statistics

 

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

Principal Primary Sources

  • James Neild, The State of the Prisons of England, Scotland and Wales (London, 1812), p.117
  • Account of Gaols, Houses of Correction or Penitentiaries in the United Kingdom, 1818 (Parl. Papers, 1819, XVII.371), p.12
  • [Second] Report of the Committee of the Society for the Improvement of Prison Discipline and for the Reformation of Juvenile Offenders (London, 1820), p.13; 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.19; 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.14; 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.22; 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.30; 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.35; 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.12
  • Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1824, XIX.359), p.86; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1825, XXIII.1), p.92; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1826, XXIV.1), p.86; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1826-27, XIX.365), p.81; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1828, XX.327), p.86; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1829, XIX.1), p.72; Reports and Schedules Pursuant To Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1830, XXIV.1), p.66; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1830-31, XII.1), p.66; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1831-32. XXXIII.197), p.69; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1833, XXVIII.1), p.73; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1834, XLVI.1), p.68; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1835, XLIV.225), p.72; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1836, XLII.1), p.44; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1837, XLV.1), p.47; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1837-8, XLIII.227), p.45; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1839, XXXVIII.17), p.44; Reports Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1840, XXXVIII.1), p.44; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1841, XVIII.1), p.46; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1842, XXXII.1), p.47; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1843, XLIII.1), p.53; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1844, XXXIX.403), p.52; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1845, XXXVII.417), p.56; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1846, XXXIV.187), p.57; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1847, XLVII.297), p.62; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1847-48, LII.465), p.58
  • Abstract Return of Establishment and Expenditure of Gaols and Houses of Correction in England and Wales (Parl. Papers, 1840, XXXVIII.241), p.12
  • Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Home District, Second Report (Parl. Papers, 1837 XXXII.1), p.322; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Home District, Third Report (Parl. Papers, 1837-38, XXX.1), p.210; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Home District, Fourth Report (Parl. Papers, 1839, XXI.1), p.126; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Home District, Fifth Report (Parl. Papers, 1840, XXV.1), p.137; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Home District, Sixth Report (Parl. Papers, 1841 Session 2, IV.1), p.106; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Home District, Seventh Report (Parl. Papers, 1842, XX.1), p.92; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Home District, Tenth Report (Parl. Papers, 1845, XXIII.1), p.154

Secondary Sources

  • http://www.pastscape.org.uk/hob.aspx?hob_id=1099871&sort=2&type=&rational=a&class1=11&period=&county=&district=&parish=&place=Chelmsford&recordsperpage=10&source=text&rtype=&rnumber=&p=3&move=n&nor=120&recfc=0

Management

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 11 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


Finance

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


Prisoners

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


Land & Buildings

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


Images

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