Alternative Names Devizes Town Gaol and County Bridewell
Prison Type Local Prison - House of Correction/Bridewell, Lock Up
Jurisdiction County
Date opened 1579
Date closed [1836]
Location Bridewell Street Devizes
Map location exact or closely approximate
County Wiltshire
Mainly used as a lock up from 1817 until 1836 when it was converted into a police station.
Alternative Names Devizes Town Gaol and County Bridewell
Prison Type Local Prison
Jurisdiction County
Date opened 1579
Date closed [1836]
Location Bridewell Street Devizes
Map location exact or closely approximate
Lat. 51.3494683 Long. -1.9923619
County Wiltshire
Mainly used as a lock up from 1817 until 1836 when it was converted into a police station.
Year 1818
Annual Committed - 207
Daily Greatest number - 49
Year 1824
Annual Committed - 180
Daily Census - 31
Year 1828
Annual Committed - 208
Daily Census - 20
Year 1833
Annual Committed - 224
Daily Census - 33
Archive name: Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre
Catalogue ref: A1/505/1
Collection: Wiltshire Quarter Sessions
Description: Gaol Committee minutes. Committee appointed to examine the state and condition of the County Gaols and Houses of Correction. Questions asked of the Gaolers at Devizes, Marlborough and Fisherton Anger as to the Prison buildings and the food, clothing, linen allowances, health and hygiene of the prisoners. All were reported as 'insufficient, incomplete and insecure', and the construction of a new Bridewell at Devizes and extensive alterations at Marlborough and Fisherton Anger were recommended.
Dates: 1807-1809
Archive name: Gloucestershire Archives
Catalogue ref: D1571/X48
Collection: Sotheron-Estcourt family of Shipton Moyne
Description: Draft reports (1824-1825), including abstracts of accounts of County Gaol at Fisherton Anger, Marlborough and Devizes Bridewells, and Salisbury Gaol (1823-1824).
Dates: 1823-1825
Archive name: Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre
Catalogue ref: A1/512
Collection: Wiltshire Quarter Sessions
Description: Draft general reports to the Secretary of State under George IV (1823). From the Justices, based on the reports of the Chaplains, Visiting Justices and Keepers at Devizes, Marlborough and Fisherton Anger
Dates: 1824-1857
Archive name: Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre
Catalogue ref: A1/711
Collection: Wiltshire Quarter Sessions
Description: Accounts for rebuilding Devizes Bridewell (1771-1817), of Gaol and Bridewell Committee (1807-1817), of Devizes New Bridewell and Penitentiary (1810-1817); Also, vouchers (1785-1824) with gaps, returns with cost of maintaining prisoners (1857-78).
Dates: 1771-1878
Archive name: Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre
Catalogue ref: A1/510/1
Collection: Wiltshire Quarter Sessions
Description: Bonds for due execution of the offices. Applications and testimonials for the post of Governor, Devizes Gaol (1815).
Dates: 1787-1850
Archive name: Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre
Catalogue ref: A1/513/2
Collection: Wiltshire Quarter Sessions
Description: Papers relating to the sale of the Old Bridewell, Devizes.
Dates: 1837-1879
Archive name: Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre
Catalogue ref: A1/587/12
Collection: Wiltshire Quarter Sessions
Description: Fire insurance for buildings, including Old Bridewell, now Devizes Police Station, Prisons in Devizes and Fisherton in Salisbury, Old Bridewell in Marlborough
Dates: 1870
Archive name: Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre
Catalogue ref: A1/592/3
Collection: Wiltshire Quarter Sessions
Description: Devizes - sales particular and plan of the 'Old Bridewell' and 3 cottages in Bridewell Street
Dates: 1879
Archive name: Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre
Catalogue ref: F2/2201/1
Collection: Wiltshire County Council
Description: Title deeds, the Old Bridewell and three cottages adjoining, Bridewell Street, Devizes
Dates: 1879
