Alternative Names Exeter County High Gaol for Felons, Devon High Gaol, Devon County Gaol, , Exeter County Gaol, Exeter Prison, HMP Exeter
Prison Type Local Prison - Common Gaol
Jurisdiction County
Date opened 1794
Date closed post 1900 (still open)
Location New North Road Exeter
Map location exact or closely approximate
County Devon
When the County Gaol was rebuilt in 1853, the County House of Correction (ID 13) was officially merged with it. Until this time, the two institutions were located next to each other and shared the same senior management, but officially regarded as two separate institutions.
Alternative Names Exeter County High Gaol for Felons, Devon High Gaol, Devon County Gaol, , Exeter County Gaol, Exeter Prison, HMP Exeter
Prison Type Local Prison
Jurisdiction County
Date opened 1794
Date closed post 1900 (still open)
Location New North Road Exeter
Map location exact or closely approximate
Lat. 50.728353 Long. -3.5321493
County Devon
When the County Gaol was rebuilt in 1853, the County House of Correction (ID 13) was officially merged with it. Until this time, the two institutions were located next to each other and shared the same senior management, but officially regarded as two separate institutions.
Year 1818
Annual Committed - 221
Daily Greatest number - 146
Year 1824
Annual Committed - 389
Daily Census - 62
Year 1828
Annual Committed - 431
Daily Census - 102
Year 1833
Annual Committed - 501
Daily Census - 123
Year 1838
Annual Confined - 758
Daily Census - 138
Year 1843
Annual Confined - 881
Daily Census - 107
Year 1848
Annual Confined - 941
Daily Daily average - 84
Year 1853
Annual Confined - 1449
Daily Daily average - 196
Year 1858
Annual Committed - 1118
Daily Daily average - 148
Year 1863
Annual Committed - 1463
Daily Greatest number - 245
Year 1868
Annual Committed - 1620
Daily Daily average - 178
Year 1873
Annual Committed - 1330
Daily Daily average - 168
Year 1878
Annual Committed - 1714
Daily Daily average - 226
Year 1883
Annual Committed - 904
Daily Daily average - 114
Year 1888
Annual Committed - 1462
Daily Daily average - 153
Year 1893
Annual Committed - 1277
Daily -
Year 1898
Annual Committed - 1330
Daily -
Archive name: Devon Heritage Centre
Catalogue ref: 54Z/Q/1
Collection: County Prison
Description: Medical Officer's report on suggested alteration in Prison diet (printed)
Dates: 1863
Archive name: Devon Heritage Centre
Catalogue ref: 5853H
Collection: H.M. Prison, Exeter
Description: Records relating to justices and inspectors
Dates: 1867-1930
Archive name: Devon Heritage Centre
Catalogue ref: GMH/G3/24/10/4
Collection: None
Description: Acts of Parliament relating to Devon County Gaol
Dates: undated
Archive name: Devon Heritage Centre
Catalogue ref: QS/101/1-3
Collection: Devon Quarter Sessions
Description: Gaol Committee minute books
Dates: 1787-1827
Archive name: Devon Heritage Centre
Catalogue ref: QS/102/2
Collection: Devon Quarter Sessions
Description: Reports under 1823 Gaol Act
Dates: 1823-1828
Archive name: Devon Heritage Centre
Catalogue ref: QS/107/11
Collection: Devon Quarter Sessions
Description: Contract, for keeping city prisoners in county gaol
Dates: 1863
Archive name: Devon Heritage Centre
Catalogue ref: QS/107/3
Collection: Devon Quarter Sessions
Description: Contract to provide prisoners in county gaol and bridewell with bread
Dates: 1824
Archive name: Devon Heritage Centre
Catalogue ref: QS/110/1
Collection: Devon Quarter Sessions
Description: Gaol Committee report (under 1823 Act)
Dates: 1824
Archive name: Devon Heritage Centre
Catalogue ref: QS/110/2
Collection: Devon Quarter Sessions
Description: Report to Gaol Committee, Suggested alterations to County Gaol to meet requirements of 1823 Act
Dates: 1824
Archive name: Devon Heritage Centre
Catalogue ref: QS/110/3-7
Collection: Devon Quarter Sessions
Description: Annual reports, gaol and bridewell
Dates: 1834-1849
Archive name: Devon Heritage Centre
Catalogue ref: QS/102/1
Collection: Devon Quarter Sessions
Description: Visiting Justices minute book
Dates: 1825-1831
Archive name: Devon Heritage Centre
Catalogue ref: QS/107/12
Collection: Devon Quarter Sessions
Description: Correspondence between Devon Visiting Justices and Home Office
Dates: 1843-1845
Archive name: Devon Heritage Centre
Catalogue ref: MFC/38 (microfilm)
Collection: None
Description: Account book of W Pridham & Sons, [(ncluding) conveyance of prisoners for County of Devon
Dates: 1852-1876
Archive name: Devon Heritage Centre
Catalogue ref: QS/109/1
Collection: Devon Quarter Sessions
Description: Order of Quarter Sessions relating to all bills, repairs and expenditure at County Prison
Dates: 1823
Archive name: Devon Heritage Centre
Catalogue ref: QS/134/8/1-6
Collection: Devon Quarter Sessions
Description: Voucher bundle for expenses of County Gaol and Bridewell
Dates: 1820-1825
Archive name: Devon Heritage Centre
Catalogue ref: QS/138/1-3
Collection: Devon Quarter Sessions
Description: Gaol and Bridewell loans ledger (with account for rebuilding of County Gaol)
Dates: 1848-1856
Archive name: Devon Heritage Centre
Catalogue ref: 5853H
Collection: H.M. Prison, Exeter
Description: Hospital records
Dates: 1879-1971
Archive name: Devon Heritage Centre
Catalogue ref: 55Z/Q/1
Collection: County Prison
Description: Applications and testimonials of candidates for office of Chaplain of Devon County Prison (printed)
Dates: 1859
Archive name: Devon Heritage Centre
Catalogue ref: 1078/IRW/B/1619
Collection: Estate Duty Office Wills
Description: Will of James Brown, Governor of the High Gaol, Devon
Dates: 1823
Archive name: Devon Heritage Centre
Catalogue ref: 5853H
Collection: H.M. Prison, Exeter
Description: Staff records and accounts
Dates: 1882-1987
Archive name: Devon Heritage Centre
Catalogue ref: 83Z/S/1-3
Collection: None
Description: Letters to Under-Sheriff from William Mitchell, applicant for the post of Hangman at the County Prison
Dates: 1849
Archive name: Devon Heritage Centre
Catalogue ref: QS/107/13
Collection: Devon Quarter Sessions
Description: File (Prison Act 1877), Exeter Prison officers on staff
Dates: c.1877
Archive name: Devon Heritage Centre
Catalogue ref: 2065M/Z2
Collection: Buller of Downes, miscellaneous
Description: Letter from Ellen Budge, St Leonard's, Exeter to visiting Magistrates, applying for post of Schoolmistress at Devon County Prison
Dates: 1855
Archive name: Devon Heritage Centre
Catalogue ref: 5853H/A/5/1-14
Collection: H.M. Prison, Exeter
Description: Nominal Registers for Devon County Prison
Dates: 1879-1900
Archive name: Devon Heritage Centre
Catalogue ref: 5853H
Collection: H.M. Prison, Exeter
Description: Prisoners' records (not catalogued online)
Dates: 1863-1982
Archive name: Devon Heritage Centre
Catalogue ref: 5853H/A/3/1-39
Collection: H.M. Prison, Exeter
Description: Receiving books for Devon County Prison
Dates: 1852-1879
Archive name: Devon Heritage Centre
Catalogue ref: 5853H/A/4/1-28
Collection: H.M. Prison, Exeter
Description: Indexes to receiving books
Dates: 1852-1879
Archive name: Devon Heritage Centre
Catalogue ref: 5853H/A/8
Collection: H.M. Prison, Exeter
Description: Indexes to prisoners for Devon County and Exeter City Prisons
Dates: c.1875-c.1963
Archive name: Devon Heritage Centre
Catalogue ref: 5853H/A/9/1
Collection: H.M. Prison, Exeter
Description: Album of Devon and Exeter female prisoners
Dates: c.1870-c.1875
Archive name: Somerset Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: DD/X/HRG/11
Collection: Badcock family of Bampton (Devon) and Taunton
Description: Letters to Daniel Badcock. Mainly family, but including Admiral Cochrane and one from Richard Marley, a man under sentence of death at the High Gaol, Exeter
Dates: 1817-1833
Archive name: Devon Heritage Centre
Catalogue ref: 1326M/T/1-5
Collection: None
Description: Deeds for Gaol site at Exeter County Gaol, as well as leases etc
Dates: 1810-1815
Archive name: Devon Heritage Centre
Catalogue ref: DEX/4/a/TM/Exeter (St David)
Collection: None
Description: Exeter, St David tithe map. Depicts the county Gaol, Bridewell, City Prison, barracks.
Dates: 1842
Archive name: Devon Heritage Centre
Catalogue ref: QS/100/3
Collection: Devon Quarter Sessions
Description: Copy abstract of Title Gaol lands
Dates: 1810-1813
Archive name: Devon Heritage Centre
Catalogue ref: QS/105/1-10
Collection: Devon Quarter Sessions
Description: Contracts for building work and alterations at the gaol, bridewell and castle
Dates: 1821-1831