Giltspur Street Prison

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Overview

Alternative Names   Giltspur Street Compter, Giltspur Street Prison and House of Correction, Giltspur Street House of Correction

Prison Type   Local Prison -  Common Gaol & House of Correction/Bridewell

Jurisdiction   Municipality

Date opened   1791

Date closed   1853

Location   Giltspur Street, Smithfield (opposite St Sepulchre's Church)   London, Smithfield

Map location   exact or closely approximate

County   Middlesex

Critical Remarks

The 1818 Return splits the prison into two institutions, the Giltspur Street Prison and the Giltspur Street House of Correction. As no other official source does this, they have been merged into one ID and statistics for 1818 adjusted accordingly. A City of London prison.

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Prison Info

Alternative Names   Giltspur Street Compter, Giltspur Street Prison and House of Correction, Giltspur Street House of Correction

Prison Type   Local Prison

Jurisdiction   Municipality

Date opened   1791

Date closed   1853

Location   Giltspur Street, Smithfield (opposite St Sepulchre's Church)   London, Smithfield

Map location   exact or closely approximate
Lat.   51.5165  Long.   -0.1016

County   Middlesex

Navigation

Critical Remarks

The 1818 Return splits the prison into two institutions, the Giltspur Street Prison and the Giltspur Street House of Correction. As no other official source does this, they have been merged into one ID and statistics for 1818 adjusted accordingly. A City of London prison.

Prisoner Statistics

Year 1818

Annual Committed   -   4800

Daily Greatest number   -   124

Year 1823

Annual Committed   -   4539

Daily Census   -   133

Year 1828

Annual Committed   -   5450

Daily Census   -   145

Year 1833

Annual Committed   -   5344

Daily Census   -   115

Year 1838

Annual Confined   -   592

Daily Census   -   144

Year 1843

Annual Confined   -   2414

Daily Census   -   188

Year 1848

Annual Confined   -   3983

Daily Daily average   -   307

Principal Primary Sources

  • James Neild, The State of the Prisons of England, Scotland and Wales (London, 1812), p.228
  • Account of Gaols, Houses of Correction or Penitentiaries in the United Kingdom, 1818 (Parl. Papers, 1819, XVII.371), p.30
  • 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.41; 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.55; 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.77; 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.86; 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.26
  • Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1824, XIX.359), p.248; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1825, XXIII.1), p.342; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1826, XXIV.1), p.326; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1828, XX.327), p.336; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1829, XIX.1), p.300; Reports and Schedules Pursuant To Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1830, XXIV.1), p.302; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1830-31, XII.1), p.297; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1831-32. XXXIII.197), p.296; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1833, XXVIII.1), p.321; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1834, XLVI.1), p.306; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1835, XLIV.225), p.292; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1836, XLII.1), p.196; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1837, XLV.1), p.198; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1837-8, XLIII.227), p.200; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1839, XXXVIII.17), p.200; Reports Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1840, XXXVIII.1), p.214; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1841, XVIII.1), p.228; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1842, XXXII.1), p.230; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1843, XLIII.1), p.232; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1844, XXXIX.403), p.222; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1845, XXXVII.417), p.261; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1846, XXXIV.187), p.271; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1847, XLVII.297), p.274; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1847-48, LII.465), p.277
  • Abstract Return of Establishment and Expenditure of Gaols and Houses of Correction in England and Wales (Parl. Papers, 1840, XXXVIII.241), p.38
  • Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Home District, Second Report (Parl. Papers, 1837 XXXII.1), p.185; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Home District, Third Report, Supplement (Parl. Papers, 1837-38, XXX.367), p.31; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Home District, Fourth Report (Parl. Papers, 1839, XXI.1), p.260; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Home District, Fifth Report (Parl. Papers, 1840, XXV.1), p.264; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Home District, Sixth Report (Parl. Papers, 1841 Session 2, IV.1), p.284; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Home District, Seventh Report (Parl. Papers, 1842, XX.1), p.195; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Home District, Tenth Report (Parl. Papers, 1845, XXIII.1), p.473; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Home District, Fourteenth Report (Parl. Papers, 1850, XXVIII.1), p.5; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Home District, Fifteenth Report (Parl. Papers, 1851, XXVII.1), p.119

Additional Primary Sources

  • Walter Thornbury, 'St. Sepulchre's and its neighbourhood', in Old and New London: Volume 2 (London, 1878), pp. 477-491. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/old-new-london/vol2/pp477-491

Secondary Sources

  • https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/things-to-do/london-metropolitan-archives/visitor-information/Documents/59-prison-records.pdf

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Management

Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives

Catalogue ref: CLA/032/01/037

Collection: Prisons and Compters

Description: Returns as to the state (ie numbers of prisoners of various categories in custody) of the prisons and the health of the prisoners, made by the Keeper and the Surgeon

Dates: 1808-1819

Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives

Catalogue ref: CLA/025/PC/01/018-025

Collection: Sheriffs' Court, City of London (Poultry Compter)

Description: Minutes of actions, including Giltspur Street (indexed)

Dates: 1798-1830

Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives

Catalogue ref: CLA/025/WS/01/045-051

Collection: Sheriffs' Court, City of London (Wood Street Compter, later Giltspur Street Compter)

Description: Minutes of actions

Dates: 1797-1833

Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives

Catalogue ref: CLA/025/WS/02/001-003

Collection: Sheriffs' Court, City of London (Wood Street Compter, later Giltspur Street Compter)

Description: Giltspur Compter Rolls. Entitled 'Plaints Levied'. 

Dates: 1823-1849

Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives

Catalogue ref: CLA/029/01/002, 007

Collection: Giltspur Street Compter

Description: Miscellaneous papers (chiefly relating to Giltspur Street Compter)

Dates: 1799-1817, 1834-1843

Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives

Catalogue ref: CLA/030/03/014

Collection: Poultry Compter

Description: Includes brief account of circumstances of building of Giltspur Street Compter, and removal thereto of prisoners from Wood Street and Ludgate (London Workhouse).

Dates: 1807

Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives

Catalogue ref: CLA/032/01/004

Collection: Prisons and Compters

Description: Returns as to state of prison and prisoners' health

Dates: 1808-1819

Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives

Catalogue ref: CLA/032/01/040

Collection: Prisons and Compters

Description: Annual returns to the Secretary of State including for Giltspur Street made under 1823 Gaol Act (1831-1832, 1834-1836, 1840-1841, 1843-1844)

Dates: 1831-1844

Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives

Catalogue ref: COL/CA/GAC

Collection: Court of Alderman: Gaol Committee

Description: Responsible for the administration of London prisons. Minutes, papers and reports contain material relevant to the administration of Giltspur Street

Dates: 1794-1878

Finance

Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives

Catalogue ref: CLA/032/03/026

Collection: Prisons and Compters

Description: Receipts of the Stewards of the various prisons - including Giltspur Street Compter, for 65 penny loaves each per month, the gift of Mrs M. Sincolt

Dates: 1814-1828

Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives

Catalogue ref: COL/CC/FNG

Collection: Court of Common Council: Gaol Expenses and Finance Committee

Description: Responsible for the financial administration of those prisons owned by the Corporation. Minutes and committee papers contain evidence relating to Giltspur Street

Dates: 1816-1834

Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives

Catalogue ref: CLA/032/03/003

Collection: Prisons and Compters

Description: List of Donations to Giltspur Street Compter (Christmas 1824-Christmas 1826)

Dates: 1824-1826

Staff

Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives

Catalogue ref: CLA/032/01/029/A

Collection: Prisons and Compters

Description: Return of duties, names and ages of officers

Dates: 1847

Prisoners

Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives

Catalogue ref: CLA/028/01/027-042

Collection: Wood Street Compter (later Giltspur Compter)

Description: Prisoners' lists

Dates: 1791-1815

Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives

Catalogue ref: CLA/033/01/007

Collection: Ludgate Prison

Description: Prisoners' lists

Dates: 1807-1815

Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives

Catalogue ref: CLA/033/01/007

Collection: Ludgate Prison

Description: Copy or draft lists of prisoners in Ludgate and Giltspur Street Compter

Dates: 1807-1815

Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives

Catalogue ref: CLA/025/WS/03/026-035

Collection: Sheriffs' Court, City of London (Wood Street Compter, later Giltspur Street Compter)

Description: Indexes

Dates: 1797-1841

Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives

Catalogue ref: CLA/028/02/001-003

Collection: Wood Street Compter (later Giltspur Compter)

Description: Ducie Books. Names of prisoners sent from Wood Street Compter to Ludgate and Newgate.

Dates: 1770-1829

Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives

Catalogue ref: CLA/029/01/008-009

Collection: Giltspur Street Compter

Description: Commitment records

Dates: 1803-1823

Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives

Catalogue ref: CLA/030/01/014-015, 023

Collection: Poultry Compter

Description: Charge and commitment books and Giltspur Street Compter book

Dates: 1802-1823

Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives

Catalogue ref: CLA/030/01/014-105

Collection: Poultry Compter

Description: Charge books

Dates: 1807-1811

Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives

Catalogue ref: CLA/030/01/023

Collection: Poultry Compter

Description: Giltspur St. Compter Commitment Book

Dates: 1811-1823

Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives

Catalogue ref: CLA/041/PI/01/001-002, 005, 011-013

Collection: City of London Coroners Court

Description: Inquests into prisoners' deaths

Dates: 1783-1829

Land & Buildings

Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives

Catalogue ref: COL/CCS/PL/02/521

Collection: Comptroller and City Solicitor

Description: Plans

Dates: 1794-1848

Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives

Catalogue ref: COL/PL/02/U/005/f-v

Collection: Corporation of London: Plans

Description: Plans of Giltspur Street Compter, with accommodation

Dates: c.1800-1848

Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives

Catalogue ref: COL/SVD/PL/08/0108-0115

Collection: Surveyor's Department: Plans

Description: Plans

Dates: 1794-1848

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