Great Yarmouth Borough Gaol and House of Correction

Overview

Details

Records

Overview

Alternative Names   Yarmouth Town Gaol, Yarmouth Gaol

Prison Type   Local Prison -  Common Gaol

Jurisdiction   Municipality

Date opened   13th century [1818]

Date closed   1875

Location   adjoins to the Toll-House Hall, Gaol Street (now Tolhouse Street?)   Great Yarmouth

Map location   exact or closely approximate

County   Norfolk

Critical Remarks

According to the prison inspectors, there was a gaol on this site from about the 1200s. The most recent gaol built in 1818.

Prison Info

Alternative Names   Yarmouth Town Gaol, Yarmouth Gaol

Prison Type   Local Prison

Jurisdiction   Municipality

Date opened   13th century [1818]

Date closed   1875

Location   adjoins to the Toll-House Hall, Gaol Street (now Tolhouse Street?)   Great Yarmouth

Map location   exact or closely approximate
Lat.   52.604175  Long.   1.726741

County   Norfolk

Critical Remarks

According to the prison inspectors, there was a gaol on this site from about the 1200s. The most recent gaol built in 1818.

Prisoner Statistics

 

Year 1818

Annual Committed   -   64

Daily Greatest number   -   19

 

Year 1828

Annual Committed   -   103

Daily Census   -   103

 

Year 1832

Annual Committed   -   105

Daily Greatest number   -   27

 

Year 1838

Annual Confined   -   235

Daily Census   -   15

 

Year 1843

Annual Confined   -   432

Daily Census   -   35

 

Year 1848

Annual Confined   -   208

Daily Daily average   -   21

 

Year 1853

Annual Confined   -   261

Daily Daily average   -   23

 

Year 1858

Annual Committed   -   232

Daily Daily average   -   24

 

Year 1863

Annual Committed   -   365

Daily Greatest number   -   65

 

Year 1868

Annual Committed   -   372

Daily Daily average   -   46

 

Year 1873

Annual Committed   -   328

Daily Daily average   -   34

Principal Primary Sources

  • James Neild, The State of the Prisons of England, Scotland and Wales (London, 1812), p.603
  • Account of Gaols, Houses of Correction or Penitentiaries in the United Kingdom, 1818 (Parl. Papers, 1819, XVII.371), p.34
  • [Second] Report of the Committee of the Society for the Improvement of Prison Discipline and for the Reformation of Juvenile Offenders (London, 1820), p.21; 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.58; 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.83; 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.103; 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.113; 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.32
  • Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1844, XXXIX.403), p.254; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1845, XXXVII.417), p.291; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1846, XXXIV.187), p.303; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1847, XLVII.297), p.306; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1847-48, LII.465), p.311
  • Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (1829, XIX.401), p.82
  • Return of Places of Confinement Outside Gaol Acts in England and Wales (Parl. Papers, 1833, XXVIII.425), p.121
  • Abstract Return of Establishment and Expenditure of Gaols and Houses of Correction in England and Wales (Parl. Papers, 1840, XXXVIII.241), p.42
  • Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern and Eastern District. First Report (Parl. Papers, 1836, XXXV.161), p.67; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Home District, Second Report (Parl. Papers, 1837, XXXII.1), p.47; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern and Eastern District, Fourth Report (Parl. Papers, 1839, XXII.1), p.170; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern and Eastern District, Fifth Report (Parl. Papers, 1840, XXV.565), p.122; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern and Eastern District, Seventh Report (Parl. Papers, 1842, XXI.1), p.155; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern and Eastern District, Eighth Report (Parl. Papers, 1843, XXV. & XXVI.249), p.180; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern and Eastern District, Tenth Report (Parl. Papers, 1845, XXIV.1), p.194; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Midland and Eastern District, Fourteenth Report (Parl. Papers, 1849, XXVI.1), p.38; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern and Eastern District, Fifteenth Report (Parl. Papers, 1850, XXVIII.291), p.39; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern and Eastern District, Sixteenth Report (Parl. Papers, 1851, XXVII.461), p.159; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern and Eastern District, Seventeenth Report (Parl. Papers, 1852-53, LII.1), p.75; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern and Eastern District, Nineteenth Report (Parl. Papers, 1856, XXXIII.385), p.54; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern and Eastern District, Twentieth Report (Parl. Papers, 1857, Session 1, VII.313), p.41; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern and Eastern District, Twenty-second Report (Parl. Papers, 1857-58, XXIX.1), p.45; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Midland District, Twenty-third Report (Parl. Papers, 1859, Session 1, XI.1), p.89; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Midland District, Twenty-fourth Report (Parl. Papers, 1860, XXXV.1), p.84; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Midland District, Twenty-fifth Report (Parl. Papers, 1860, XXXV.229), p.79; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Midland District, Twenty-sixth Report (Parl. Papers, 1861, XXIX.45), p.81; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Twenty-eighth Report (Parl. Papers, 1863, XXIII.1), p.64; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Thirtieth Report (Parl. Papers, 1865, XXIII.1), p.175; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Thirty-first Report (Parl. Papers, 1866, XXXVII.1), p.157; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Thirty-second Report (Parl. Papers, 1867-68, XXXIV.203), p.211; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Thirty-third Report (Parl. Papers, 1868-69, XXIX.1), p.148; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Thirty-fourth Report (Parl. Papers, 1870, XXXVII.1), p.160; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Thirty-fifth Report (Parl. Papers, 1871, XXIX.241), p.200; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Thirty-sixth Report (Parl. Papers, 1872, XXXI.1), p.116; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Thirty-seventh Report (Parl. Papers, 1873, XXXII.1), p.233; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Thirty-eighth Report (Parl. Papers, 1874, XXIX.1), p.268; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Thirty-ninth Report (Parl. Papers, 1875, XXXVII.1), p.289

Additional Primary Sources

  • Francis White, History, Gazetteer and Directory of Norfolk (Sheffield, 1854), p. 289

Secondary Sources

  • http://www.museums.norfolk.gov.uk/Visit_Us/The_Tolhouse/A_History_of_The_Tolhouse/index.htm

Management

Archive name: Norfolk Record Office

Catalogue ref: Y/TC 5/32

Collection: Great Yarmouth Borough Council

Description: Gaol Committee agenda and Assistant Chaplain's report re books for Prison library

Dates: 1856


Archive name: Great Yarmouth Museums

Catalogue ref: Y/L 2/65 (MF 1886)

Collection: Great Yarmouth Borough Gaol

Description: Gaol Sessions minute book

Dates: 1853-1876


Archive name: Norfolk Record Office

Catalogue ref: Y/S 11/1-3

Collection: Great Yarmouth Borough Council

Description: Recorder's minute books

Dates: 1872-1880, 1882-1883, 1887-1893


Archive name: Norfolk Record Office

Catalogue ref: Y/S 2/1-9 (MF 1031-1033)

Collection: Great Yarmouth Borough Council

Description: Quarter Sessions waste (draft) books

Dates: 1811-1864


Archive name: Norfolk Record Office

Catalogue ref: Y/TC 3/37

Collection: Great Yarmouth Borough Council

Description: Other Committees, including Gaol 

Dates: 1851-1875


Archive name: Norfolk Record Office

Catalogue ref: Y/TC 4/1

Collection: Great Yarmouth Borough Council

Description: Draft Committee minutes, Gaol

Dates: 1836-1843


Archive name: Norfolk Record Office

Catalogue ref: Y/TC 90/1/15

Collection: Great Yarmouth Borough Council

Description: Miscellaneous papers, prisoners' van

Dates: 1887


Archive name: Norfolk Record Office

Catalogue ref: Y/TC 90/10/16

Collection: Great Yarmouth Borough Council

Description: Yarmouth prison claims

Dates: 1875-1888


Archive name: Great Yarmouth Museums

Catalogue ref: Y/L 2/61 (MF 1885)

Collection: Great Yarmouth Borough Gaol

Description: Visiting Justices' order book

Dates: 1846-1875


Archive name: Great Yarmouth Museums

Catalogue ref: Y/L 2/62-63 (MF 1885-1886)

Collection: Great Yarmouth Borough Gaol

Description: Visiting Justices' minute books

Dates: 1843-1876


Finance

Archive name: Norfolk Record Office

Catalogue ref: Y/TC 3/36

Collection: Great Yarmouth Borough Council

Description: Port dues (1836-1850), Mayor's Assistants (1836-1851), market tolls (1836-1853), Gaol (1836-1850)

Dates: 1836-1853


Daily Business

Archive name: Great Yarmouth Museums

Catalogue ref: Y/L 2/27 (MF 1878)

Collection: Great Yarmouth Borough Gaol

Description: Register of employment

Dates: 1868-1875


Archive name: Great Yarmouth Museums

Catalogue ref: Y/L 2/56-58 (MF 1884-1885)

Collection: Great Yarmouth Borough Gaol

Description: Chaplain's journals

Dates: 1847-1865


Archive name: Great Yarmouth Museums

Catalogue ref: Y/L 2/59 (MF 1885)

Collection: Great Yarmouth Borough Gaol

Description: Chaplain's private journal (1856-1865); later used for accounts of money taken at Tollhouse Museum door (1886-1887)

Dates: 1856-1887


Archive name: Great Yarmouth Museums

Catalogue ref: Y/L 2/46-51 (MF 1882-1883)

Collection: Great Yarmouth Borough Gaol

Description: Gaol keepers' journals 

Dates: 1825-1876


Archive name: Great Yarmouth Museums

Catalogue ref: Y/L 2/60 (MF 1885)

Collection: Great Yarmouth Borough Gaol

Description: Schoolmaster's journal

Dates: 1853-1862


Archive name: Great Yarmouth Museums

Catalogue ref: Y/L 2/52-55 (MF 1884)

Collection: Great Yarmouth Borough Gaol

Description: Surgeon's journals

Dates: 1838-1875


Archive name: Great Yarmouth Museums

Catalogue ref: Y/L 2/64 (MF 1886)

Collection: Great Yarmouth Borough Gaol

Description: Visitors' book (unofficial visitors)

Dates: 1843-1879


Archive name: Great Yarmouth Museums

Catalogue ref: Y/L 2/34 (MF 1879)

Collection: Great Yarmouth Borough Gaol

Description: Dietary book

Dates: 1839-1844


Archive name: Great Yarmouth Museums

Catalogue ref: Y/L 2/35 (MF 1879)

Collection: Great Yarmouth Borough Gaol

Description: Provisions account book

Dates: 1835-1843


Archive name: Great Yarmouth Museums

Catalogue ref: Y/L 2/36-42 (MF 1879-1881)

Collection: Great Yarmouth Borough Gaol

Description: Receipt and consumption account books

Dates: 1845-1875


Archive name: Great Yarmouth Museums

Catalogue ref: Y/L 2/43 (MF 1881)

Collection: Great Yarmouth Borough Gaol

Description: Diet class book

Dates: 1852-1867


Archive name: Great Yarmouth Museums

Catalogue ref: Y/L 2/44-45 (MF 1882)

Collection: Great Yarmouth Borough Gaol

Description: Gaol account books

Dates: 1850-1875


Archive name: Great Yarmouth Museums

Catalogue ref: Y/L 2/66 (MF 1886)

Collection: Great Yarmouth Borough Gaol

Description: Misconduct book

Dates: 1849-1875


Archive name: Norfolk Record Office

Catalogue ref: MC 528/1-14

Collection: Papers of and about Sarah Martin

Description: Prison visitor at Great Yarmouth Borough Gaol. Notes and papers.

Dates: 1841-1843


Archive name: Tolhouse Museum, Great Yarmouth Museum Service

Catalogue ref: None

Collection: None

Description: Sarah Martin, prison visitor: Everyday Books

Dates: undated


Staff

Archive name: Norfolk Record Office

Catalogue ref: Y/C 19/41

Collection: Great Yarmouth Borough Council

Description: Petition of Richard Helsdon, Gaoler, for increase of yearly allowance of six chaldrons of coal for the gaol, seven chalders, 21 bushels and three pecks being consumed yearly on the kitchen fire, the debtors' fire and the felons' fire (the latter lit only half the year), besides coal used for occasional fires for Corporation Assemblies, Poor Rate appeals, examinations of prisoners etc (24 December 1801). One additional chalder granted.

Dates: 1800-1804


Prisoners

Archive name: Great Yarmouth Museums

Catalogue ref: Y/L 2/25 (MF 1877)

Collection: Great Yarmouth Borough Gaol

Description: Summary of convictions register

Dates: 1852-c1870s


Archive name: Great Yarmouth Museums

Catalogue ref: Y/L 2/26 (MF 1877)

Collection: Great Yarmouth Borough Gaol

Description: Register of prisoners' belongings

Dates: 1867-1875


Archive name: Great Yarmouth Museums

Catalogue ref: Y/L 2/28 (MF 1878)

Collection: Great Yarmouth Borough Gaol

Description: Register of admissions

Dates: 1868-1873


Archive name: Great Yarmouth Museums

Catalogue ref: Y/L 2/30 (MF 1878)

Collection: Great Yarmouth Borough Gaol

Description: Register of particulars of prisoners convicted under 1st schedule of Habitual Criminals Act (1869)

Dates: 1870-1873


Archive name: Great Yarmouth Museums

Catalogue ref: Y/L 2/67 (MF 1886)

Collection: Great Yarmouth Borough Gaol

Description: Register of prisoners committed for re-examination

Dates: 1875-1877


Archive name: Great Yarmouth Museums

Catalogue ref: Y/L 2/8-18 (MF 1873-1876)

Collection: Great Yarmouth Borough Gaol

Description: Gaol registers (including indexes and supplementary register)

Dates: 1808-1875


Archive name: Great Yarmouth Museums

Catalogue ref: Y/D 41

Collection: Great Yarmouth Borough Council

Description: Yarmouth Borough Gaol. Gaol receiving book, record of prisoners received and discharged, including descriptions and personal details.

Dates: 1842-1845


Archive name: Great Yarmouth Museums

Catalogue ref: Y/L 2/1-3 (MF 1872)

Collection: Great Yarmouth Borough Gaol

Description: Gaol books

Dates: 1798-1865


Archive name: Great Yarmouth Museums

Catalogue ref: Y/L 2/22-24 (MF 1877)

Collection: Great Yarmouth Borough Gaol

Description: Daily number books

Dates: 1837-1873


Archive name: Great Yarmouth Museums

Catalogue ref: Y/L 2/29 (MF 1878)

Collection: Great Yarmouth Borough Gaol

Description: Journal of admissions and discharges

Dates: 1869-1876


Archive name: Great Yarmouth Museums

Catalogue ref: Y/L 2/31-33 (MF 1878)

Collection: Great Yarmouth Borough Gaol

Description: Discharge books

Dates: 1850-1874


Archive name: Great Yarmouth Museums

Catalogue ref: Y/L 2/4 (MF 1872)

Collection: Great Yarmouth Borough Gaol

Description: Bridewell book

Dates: 1822-1838


Archive name: Great Yarmouth Museums

Catalogue ref: Y/L 2/5-6 (MF 1873)

Collection: Great Yarmouth Borough Gaol

Description: Committal and discharge books, with separate sections for debtors and Bridewell inmates

Dates: 1819-1838


Archive name: Norfolk Record Office

Catalogue ref: Y/L 2/7

Collection: Great Yarmouth Borough Gaol

Description: Index and Receiving book (prisoners and their belongings)

Dates: 1838-1839


Archive name: Norfolk Record Office

Catalogue ref: Y/C 34/15/1-21

Collection: Great Yarmouth Borough Council

Description: Package containing indentures transferring the prisoners in the Gaol from the outgoing to the incoming Mayor at Michaelmas. Names and offences of prisoners stated.

Dates: 1814-1834


Archive name: Great Yarmouth Museums

Catalogue ref: Y/L 2/19-21 (MF 1876)

Collection: Great Yarmouth Borough Gaol

Description: Analyses of registers

Dates: 1840-1870


Land & Buildings

Archive name: Norfolk Record Office

Catalogue ref: Y/C 36/27

Collection: Great Yarmouth Borough Council

Description: Correspondence, specifications, tenders and other papers. Relating to the extension of the Borough Gaol (Francis Stone of Norwich, Architect)

Dates: 1823-1825