Hastings Borough Gaol

Overview

Details

Records

Overview

Alternative Names   Hastings Gaol

Prison Type   Local Prison -  Common Gaol, Lock Up

Jurisdiction   Municipality

Date opened   1818

Date closed   [1856]

Location   Bourne Street, overhanging Bourne Stream   Hastings

Map location   exact or closely approximate

County   Sussex

Critical Remarks

In 1856, converted into a police station. The gaol listed in the 1818 Return could be a previous gaol located on a different site.

Prison Info

Alternative Names   Hastings Gaol

Prison Type   Local Prison

Jurisdiction   Municipality

Date opened   1818

Date closed   [1856]

Location   Bourne Street, overhanging Bourne Stream   Hastings

Map location   exact or closely approximate
Lat.   50.856271  Long.   0.59225

County   Sussex

Critical Remarks

In 1856, converted into a police station. The gaol listed in the 1818 Return could be a previous gaol located on a different site.

Prisoner Statistics

 

Year 1818

Annual Committed   -   8

Daily Greatest number   -   3

 

Year 1832

Annual Committed   -   42

Daily Greatest number   -   9

 

Year 1838

Annual Confined   -   131

Daily Census   -   6

 

Year 1843

Annual Confined   -   83

Daily Census   -   4

 

Year 1848

Annual Confined   -   118

Daily Daily average   -   4

 

Year 1853

Annual Confined   -   142

Daily Daily average   -   6

Principal Primary Sources

  • Account of Gaols, Houses of Correction or Penitentiaries in the United Kingdom, 1818 (Parl. Papers, 1819, XVII.371), p.48
  • 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.76; 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.112; 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.44
  • Return of Places of Confinement Outside Gaol Acts in England and Wales (Parl. Papers, 1833, XXVIII.425), p.51
  • Royal Commission of Inquiry into Municipal Corporations of England and Wales, First Report, Appendices: Part 2 (Parl. Papers, 1835, XXIII.133), p.1000
  • Abstract Return of Establishment and Expenditure of Gaols and Houses of Correction in England and Wales (Parl. Papers, 1840, XXXVIII.241), p.62
  • Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Home District, Second Report (Parl. Papers, 1837, XXXII.1), p.43; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Home District, Fourth Report (Parl. Papers, 1839, XXI.1), p.359; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Home District, Tenth Report (Parl. Papers, 1845, XXIII.1), p.649; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Home District, Fifteenth Report (Parl. Papers, 1851, XXVII.1), p.12

Secondary Sources

  • http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/rd/b2947868-6d0d-4cf3-a543-8d07aef77b79; http://www.pbnpublications.com/hastings_gaol1832-41.htm

Management

Archive name: East Sussex Record Office

Catalogue ref: DH/B 136/666-675

Collection: Hastings Borough Council

Description: Includes correspondence regarding closure of Hastings Gaol and committal of borough prisoners to the House of Correction at Lewes

Dates: 1856


Archive name: East Sussex Record Office

Catalogue ref: DH/B 143

Collection: Hastings Borough Council

Description: Government circulars and returns including those regarding Hastings Gaol and its prisoners

Dates: 1836-1867


Archive name: East Sussex Record Office

Catalogue ref: DH/B 145

Collection: Hastings Borough Council

Description: Hastings Gaol correspondence and papers

Dates: 1824-1869


Archive name: East Sussex Record Office

Catalogue ref: HAS CBD/1-67

Collection: Hastings Corporation

Description: Letters from the Secretary of State's office concerning persons tried, committed for trial and committed to Hastings Gaol. Copies of returns of prisoners.

Dates: 1816-1835


Archive name: East Sussex Record Office

Catalogue ref: HAS CBE/1-10

Collection: Hastings Corporation

Description: Printed orders from the Secretary of State's office to the Mayor of Hastings for removals from Hastings Gaol of prisoners sentenced to transportation, to the hulks at Chatham, Woolwich and Sheerness, and accompanying correspondence, including returns

Dates: c.1817-1833


Archive name: Kent History & Library Centre

Catalogue ref: U1776/O6

Collection: Additional Hussey manuscripts

Description: Justice of the Peace - mainly printed notices. Includes rules of Horsham Gaol, Sussex (1844), report of Committee of Hastings Prison (1843).

Dates: 1843-1844


Finance

Archive name: East Sussex Record Office

Catalogue ref: DH/B 134/1

Collection: Hastings Borough Council

Description: Gaol rate accounts

Dates: 1820-1836


Archive name: East Sussex Record Office

Catalogue ref: HAS CBR/2

Collection: Hastings Corporation

Description: County rate, general papers. Includes correspondence on the County rate for prisoners.

Dates: 1830s


Daily Business

Archive name: East Sussex Record Office

Catalogue ref: DH/B 134/4

Collection: Hastings Borough Council

Description: Register of daily food allowances of prisoners

Dates: 1846-1852


Archive name: East Sussex Record Office

Catalogue ref: DH/B 132/2

Collection: Hastings Borough Council

Description: Keeper's commitment book

Dates: 1842-1853


Archive name: East Sussex Record Office

Catalogue ref: DH/B 133/1

Collection: Hastings Borough Council

Description: Keepers' journal

Dates: 1842-1854


Archive name: East Sussex Record Office

Catalogue ref: DH/B 134/3

Collection: Hastings Borough Council

Description: Gaol keepers' cash account book

Dates: 1838-1856


Archive name: East Sussex Record Office

Catalogue ref: DH/B 133/2

Collection: Hastings Borough Council

Description: Surgeon's journal

Dates: 1842-1851


Archive name: East Sussex Record Office

Catalogue ref: DH/B 134/2

Collection: Hastings Borough Council

Description: Record book of maintenance of prisoners

Dates: 1838-1852


Staff

Archive name: East Sussex Record Office

Catalogue ref: DH/B 136/554

Collection: Hastings Borough Council

Description: Deposition of James Wellerd, Keeper of Hastings Gaol. William Durrant, aged 26 and 6 feet high, awaiting trial for larceny. At 8am on 31 December 1853, he escaped by climbing over the wall.

Dates: 1853


Archive name: East Sussex Record Office

Catalogue ref: DH/B 144

Collection: Hastings Borough Council

Description: Hastings Gaol applications for the post of Gaoler

Dates: 1856


Archive name: East Sussex Record Office

Catalogue ref: FRE 2658/14

Collection: None

Description: Letter written from Leicestershire by Thomas Bishopp to John Frewen about taking up his appointment to the parish of Sapcote, his wish to be appointed as Surgeon to one or both of the Gaols (probably Hastings and Lewes), and his medical work

Dates: pre-1807


Prisoners

Archive name: East Sussex Record Office

Catalogue ref: Microfilm XA/78/12

Collection: Hastings Borough Council

Description: Registers of prisoners at Hastings Gaol (1838-1853)

Dates: 1838-1853


Archive name: East Sussex Record Office

Catalogue ref: DH/B 135/1

Collection: Hastings Borough Council

Description: List of the prisoners (indexed) committed to gaol

Dates: 1832-1841


Archive name: East Sussex Record Office

Catalogue ref: HAS CBM/58

Collection: Hastings Corporation

Description: Draft list of convictions and prisoners, with offences

Dates: 1830-1832


Archive name: East Sussex Record Office

Catalogue ref: DH/B 132/1

Collection: Hastings Borough Council

Description: Gaol register, including, at back, a list of visitors to the Gaol

Dates: 1838-1842


Archive name: East Sussex Record Office

Catalogue ref: HAS CBJ/1

Collection: Hastings Corporation

Description: Committals to Gaol

Dates: 1824-1833


Archive name: East Sussex Record Office

Catalogue ref: HAS CBR/2/10

Collection: Hastings Corporation

Description: Draft numbers of prisoners tried for offences committed within Hastings

Dates: 1832-1834, 1835


Land & Buildings

Archive name: East Sussex Record Office

Catalogue ref: HAS BBD/10

Collection: Hastings Corporation

Description: William Cramp, Lewes Prison, to the Keeper of the Gaol at Hastings. With details of the size of the sitting rooms, cells and beds used by the prisoners, and hygiene measures which should be taken.

Dates: 1811


Archive name: East Sussex Record Office

Catalogue ref: DH/B 118/51

Collection: Hastings Borough Council

Description: Painting the Gaoler's room and the outside of the Gaol.

Dates: 1855


Archive name: East Sussex Record Office

Catalogue ref: ACC 5290/10

Collection: None

Description: Hastings Improvement Commissioners. Two messuages on the Bourne, together with the site of the Gaol in Hastings.

Dates: 1742-1821


Archive name: East Sussex Record Office

Catalogue ref: DH/B 136/1020-1058

Collection: Hastings Borough Council

Description: Includes correspondence regarding proposed alterations to the old gaol (currently used as a lock up), to make it fit again for reception of convicted prisoners

Dates: 1862


Archive name: East Sussex Record Office

Catalogue ref: DH/B 136/802

Collection: Hastings Borough Council

Description: Report by Inspector William (Montague) Glenister, Police Station, High Street, Hastings to the Hastings Watch Committee, proposing alterations to the gaol (lock up)

Dates: 1857


Archive name: East Sussex Record Office

Catalogue ref: HAS EC/7

Collection: Hastings Corporation

Description: Hastings Improvement Commissioners to John Tompsett, in trust for the Justices of the Peace. Part of land comprised in HAS EC/6 for use as a Gaol. Includes site plan showing the Gaol and adjoining properties.

Dates: 1821


Archive name: East Sussex Record Office

Catalogue ref: HAS ED/1-70

Collection: Hastings Corporation

Description: Correspondence concerning the re-building and extension of Hastings Gaol.

Dates: 1819-1820