Alternative Names Hertford County Gaol and Bridewell, Hertford County Gaol
Prison Type Local Prison - Common Gaol
Jurisdiction County
Date opened 1777
Date closed 1878
Location south side Ware Road Hertford
Map location exact or closely approximate
County Hertfordshire
From 1834, incoporates the Hertford County House of Correction (ID 32), which was located on the same site. In c1790, also incorporated the Hertford Borough Gaol (ID 175), located in an extension/ separate ward.
Alternative Names Hertford County Gaol and Bridewell, Hertford County Gaol
Prison Type Local Prison
Jurisdiction County
Date opened 1777
Date closed 1878
Location south side Ware Road Hertford
Map location exact or closely approximate
Lat. 51.8013378 Long. -0.0576916
County Hertfordshire
From 1834, incoporates the Hertford County House of Correction (ID 32), which was located on the same site. In c1790, also incorporated the Hertford Borough Gaol (ID 175), located in an extension/ separate ward.
Year 1818
Annual Committed - 178
Daily Greatest number - 84
Year 1823
Annual Committed - 135
Daily Census - 165
Year 1828
Annual Committed - 160
Daily Census - 181
Year 1833
Annual Committed - 226
Daily Census - 269
Year 1838
Annual Confined - 831
Daily Census - 59
Year 1843
Annual Confined - 811
Daily Census - 74
Year 1848
Annual Confined - 966
Daily Daily average - 119
Year 1853
Annual Confined - 772
Daily Daily average - 114
Year 1858
Annual Committed - 694
Daily Daily average - 109
Year 1863
Annual Committed - 813
Daily Greatest number - 139
Year 1868
Annual Committed - 822
Daily Daily average - 92
Year 1873
Annual Committed - 639
Daily Daily average - 69
Year 1878
Annual Committed - 21
Daily Daily average - 0
Archive name: Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: QS/GP/6-9
Collection: Hertfordshire Quarter Sessions
Description: Quarterly returns of the County Gaol and House of Correction, with some governors' certificates
Dates: 1821-1864
Archive name: Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: QS/Misc/B/58/11
Collection: Hertfordshire Quarter Sessions
Description: Governors' reports and certificates - Hertford Gaol
Dates: 1861
Archive name: Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: QS/GC/1
Collection: Hertfordshire Quarter Sessions
Description: County Gaol Committee minutes
Dates: 1864-1878
Archive name: Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: QS/GC/2
Collection: Hertfordshire Quarter Sessions
Description: Hertford Prison Committee minutes
Dates: 1879-1888
Archive name: Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: QS/GP/10
Collection: Hertfordshire Quarter Sessions
Description: Extracts from printed Government reports relating to returns concerning gaols
Dates: 1823-1825
Archive name: Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: QS/GP/11
Collection: Hertfordshire Quarter Sessions
Description: Annual returns and reports to the Secretary of State
Dates: 1825-1845
Archive name: Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: QS/GP/13
Collection: Hertfordshire Quarter Sessions
Description: Blank form for bills for dieting of prisoners capitally convicted and for transportation
Dates: undated
Archive name: Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: QS/GP/17
Collection: Hertfordshire Quarter Sessions
Description: Home Office Reports
Dates: 1858, 1862
Archive name: Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: QS/Misc/B/109/B/16
Collection: Hertfordshire Quarter Sessions
Description: Treasury Order for payment for maintenance of prisoners
Dates: 1873
Archive name: Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: QS/Misc/B/109/B/18
Collection: Hertfordshire Quarter Sessions
Description: Order of Sessions for money to be advanced for 'Industrial Labour'.
Dates: 1874
Archive name: Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: QS/Misc/B/109/B/20
Collection: Hertfordshire Quarter Sessions
Description: Order of Sessions for sale of Hertford Prison.
Dates: 1879
Archive name: Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: QS/Misc/B/58/12
Collection: Hertfordshire Quarter Sessions
Description: Special Report on Prison Discipline. Herts Quarter Sessions
Dates: 1864
Archive name: Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: QS/Misc/B/58/14
Collection: Hertfordshire Quarter Sessions
Description: Questionnaries etc re hard labour
Dates: 1865
Archive name: Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: QS/Misc/B/58/15
Collection: Hertfordshire Quarter Sessions
Description: Home office circular re Prison returns
Dates: 1866
Archive name: Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: QS/Misc/B/58/5-6
Collection: Hertfordshire Quarter Sessions
Description: Prison Returns, Hertford (returns and questionnaire)
Dates: 1855, 1858, 1863
Archive name: Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: QS/Misc/B/114/7-9
Collection: Hertfordshire Quarter Sessions
Description: Clerk to Visiting Justices of County Gaol: fees, salary, superannuation
Dates: 1857, 1872-1873
Archive name: Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: QS/GP/14
Collection: Hertfordshire Quarter Sessions
Description: Receipted Accounts
Dates: 1742-1846
Archive name: Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: QS/GP/16
Collection: Hertfordshire Quarter Sessions
Description: Papers relating to financial claims by the County in connection with the transfer of the prison to the Crown
Dates: 1878-1879
Archive name: Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: QS/Misc/B/109/A
Collection: Hertfordshire Quarter Sessions
Description: Various accounts, schedules of payments, some undated.
Dates: 1850-1870
Archive name: Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: QS/Misc/B/57/13
Collection: Hertfordshire Quarter Sessions
Description: Prisoners Maintenance account. (Treasury order County of Hertford)
Dates: 1859-1868
Archive name: Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: QS/GJ/1-6
Collection: Hertfordshire Quarter Sessions
Description: Governor's Journals.
Dates: 1834-1878
Archive name: Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: QS/GP/12
Collection: Hertfordshire Quarter Sessions
Description: Papers relating to appointment of chaplain
Dates: 1836-1838
Archive name: Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: QS/Misc/B/109/B/7
Collection: Hertfordshire Quarter Sessions
Description: Order of Sessions for annuity of £75 to Lieut. G.P. Duins, late Governor of Gaol
Dates: 1845
Archive name: Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: QS/Misc/B/57/5
Collection: Hertfordshire Quarter Sessions
Description: Discharge of Gaoler
Dates: 1836
Archive name: Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: QS/Misc/B/109/B/11-15, 17, 19
Collection: Hertfordshire Quarter Sessions
Description: County Treasurers' papers relating to the Gaol. Order of Sessions for staff appointments and salaries (matron, governor, warders etc)
Dates: 1868-1875
Archive name: Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: QS/Misc/B/109/B/21
Collection: Hertfordshire Quarter Sessions
Description: Letter from Clerk of the Peace to Treasurer re pensions for prison officer.
Dates: 1882
Archive name: Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: QS/Misc/B/109/B/2-6
Collection: Hertfordshire Quarter Sessions
Description: List and account of convicts transport
Dates: 1838-1841
Archive name: Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: DE/Bi/2/28
Collection: Papers, volumes and views concerning the history of Berkhamsted, Mr Birtchnell's files.
Description: General notes on the history of Berkhamsted, including notes about Thomas Kempster, hanged for poaching, who wrote a lament from Gaol
Dates: 1895-1934
Archive name: Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: DE/X 877/1
Collection: None
Description: Portrait of Thomas Simmons, drawn from life at Hertford Gaol when awaiting execution
Dates: 1807
Archive name: Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: QS/Misc/B/57/14
Collection: Hertfordshire Quarter Sessions
Description: Prisoners Photographs. [ ]
Dates: 1870
Archive name: Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: SH2/2/1-2
Collection: None
Description: Assignment of County Gaol and inmates
Dates: 1798-1865
Archive name: Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: D/Z51
Collection: None
Description: Papers relating to the development of the site of the former County Gaol, Hertford. Including sale particulars of the County Gaol and Chaplain's house, garden house and land, several maps, duplicate deeds, and supporting documents.
Dates: 1879-1918
Archive name: Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: QS/Misc/B/109/B/1
Collection: Hertfordshire Quarter Sessions
Description: Chaplain's House. Sun Fire Office Insurance Policy, 1844-45. Also contractor's account
Dates: 1844-1845
Archive name: Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: QS/Misc/B/58/17
Collection: Hertfordshire Quarter Sessions
Description: Case for Counsel's opinion, with copy of reply, concerning the liability to pay rates on the Chaplain's House
Dates: 1845
Archive name: Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: QS/Misc/B/58/8
Collection: Hertfordshire Quarter Sessions
Description: Miscellaneous Sessions documents relating to prisons - purchase of land from Christ's Hospital for Gaol Chaplain's house
Dates: 1844
Archive name: Hertford Museum
Catalogue ref: DE/Hx/E242
Collection: None
Description: Sale particulars, County Gaol and Governor's house, the Chaplain's house adjoining, with plan
Dates: 1879
Archive name: Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: QS/GP/1A-B
Collection: Hertfordshire Quarter Sessions
Description: County Gaol at Hertford, documents on land and buildings
Dates: 1592-1844
Archive name: Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: QS/GP/4
Collection: Hertfordshire Quarter Sessions
Description: Report of Committee to Quarter Sessions about alterations to Gaol and House of Correction with estimates
Dates: 1819
Archive name: Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: QS/Misc/B/109/B/8
Collection: Hertfordshire Quarter Sessions
Description: County Treasurers' papers - Letter from Sun Fire Office [insurance], enclosing plan of gaol
Dates: 1863
Archive name: Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: QS/Misc/B/109/B/9
Collection: Hertfordshire Quarter Sessions
Description: County Treasurers' papers - rough sketch of Gaol
Dates: 1844-1845
Archive name: Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: QS/Misc/B/58/13
Collection: Hertfordshire Quarter Sessions
Description: Papers concerning agreement for alterations, Hertford County Gaol
Dates: 1865
Archive name: Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: QS/Misc/B/89/1
Collection: Hertfordshire Quarter Sessions
Description: Plans and correspondence re sewer for Gaol to New River Sewer.
Dates: 1859
Archive name: Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: QS/Misc/B/58/18
Collection: Hertfordshire Quarter Sessions
Description: Governor's letters about visiting justices recommendations about cells and buildings
Dates: 1841
Archive name: Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: D/EOf/3/407
Collection: None
Description: Views of 'Enterance to the County Goal' and 'Enterance to the County House of Correction'. In colour.
Dates: c.1700-1800
Archive name: Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: D/EGr/Box 39
Collection: The William Blyth Gerish collection
Description: Cuttings about Hertford Gaol
Dates: c.1898-1915