Colchester Borough Gaol

Overview

Details

Records

Overview

Alternative Names   Colchester Borough Gaol and Bridewell, Colchester Felons Gaol

Prison Type   Local Prison -  Common Gaol

Jurisdiction   Municipality

Date opened   17th century

Date closed   1878

Location   town hall   Colchester

Map location   in the vicinity

County   Essex

Critical Remarks

From c1868, only used for prisoners on remand and juveniles.

Prison Info

Alternative Names   Colchester Borough Gaol and Bridewell, Colchester Felons Gaol

Prison Type   Local Prison

Jurisdiction   Municipality

Date opened   17th century

Date closed   1878

Location   town hall   Colchester

Map location   in the vicinity
Lat.   51.888024  Long.   0.8903295

County   Essex

Critical Remarks

From c1868, only used for prisoners on remand and juveniles.

Prisoner Statistics

 

Year 1818

Annual Committed   -   103

Daily Greatest number   -   12

 

Year 1828

Annual Committed   -   167

Daily Census   -   18

 

Year 1832

Annual Committed   -   243

Daily Greatest number   -   28

 

Year 1838

Annual Confined   -   228

Daily Census   -   0

 

Year 1843

Annual Confined   -   243

Daily Census   -   3

 

Year 1848

Annual Confined   -   167

Daily Daily average   -   0

 

Year 1853

Annual Confined   -   95

Daily Daily average   -   0

 

Year 1858

Annual Committed   -   257

Daily Daily average   -   6

 

Year 1863

Annual Committed   -   90

Daily Greatest number   -   17

 

Year 1868

Annual Committed   -   73

Daily Daily average   -   4

Principal Primary Sources

  • James Neild, The State of the Prisons of England, Scotland and Wales (London, 1812), p.140
  • Account of Gaols, Houses of Correction or Penitentiaries in the United Kingdom, 1818 (Parl. Papers, 1819, XVII.371), p.14
  • [Second] Report of the Committee of the Society for the Improvement of Prison Discipline and for the Reformation of Juvenile Offenders (London, 1820), p.16; 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.20; 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 (1829, XIX.401), p.45
  • Return of Places of Confinement Outside Gaol Acts in England and Wales (Parl. Papers, 1833, XXVIII.425), p.31
  • 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.49; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Home District, Third Report (Parl. Papers, 1837-38, XXX.1), p.220; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Home District, Fourth Report (Parl. Papers, 1839, XXI.1), p.142; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Home District, Fifth Report (Parl. Papers, 1840, XXV.1), p.159; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Home District, Sixth Report (Parl. Papers, 1841 Session 2, IV.1), p.125; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Home District, Seventh Report (Parl. Papers, 1842, XX.1), p.112; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Home District, Tenth Report (Parl. Papers, 1845, XXIII.1), p.179; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Home District, Fourteenth Report (Parl. Papers, 1850, XXVIII.1), p.98; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Twenty-fourth Report (Parl. Papers, 1859, Session 1, XI.169), p.21; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Twenty-sixth Report (Parl. Papers, 1861, XXIX.1), p.16; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Twenty-eighth Report (Parl. Papers, 1863, XXIII.1), p.32; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Thirtieth Report (Parl. Papers, 1865, XXIII.1), p.85; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Thirty-first Report (Parl. Papers, 1866, XXXVII.1), p.74; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Thirty-second Report (Parl. Papers, 1867-68, XXXIV.203), p.97; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Thirty-third Report (Parl. Papers, 1868-69, XXIX.1), p.65

Secondary Sources

  • http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/essex/vol9/pp274-277

Management

Archive name: Essex Record Office

Catalogue ref: D/B 5 SBb1/45-59

Collection: Colchester Borough records

Description: Colchester Sessions bundles. Contain returns of the Gaoler and information on individual prisoners.

Dates: 1806-1820


Archive name: Essex Record Office

Catalogue ref: D/B 5 Sr461

Collection: Colchester Borough records

Description: Quarter Sessions file. Includes presentment by Justices that a House of Correction should be provided for the Borough in conformity with statute 22 George III.

Dates: 1829


Finance

Archive name: Essex Record Office

Catalogue ref: D/B 5 Ab1/37-51

Collection: Colchester Borough records

Description: Colchester Chamberlain's bills and vouchers, including Coroners' bills and vouchers in respect of inquests on named persons, detailed Gaoler's bills, giving names of prisoners.

Dates: 1799-1833


Prisoners

Archive name: Essex Record Office

Catalogue ref: D/B 5 SBb2/1-10

Collection: Colchester Borough records

Description: Colchester Sessions (Gaolor's) bundles. Typical entries include orders to convey prisoners to Gaol. Gives name and parish of prisoners and details of crime and sentence. Some include notes of discharge, further receipts for delivery to Chelmsford Gaol.

Dates: 1821-1834