Horsham County Gaol

Overview

Details

Records

Overview

Alternative Names   Horsham County Gaol and Bridewell, Sussex County Gaol

Prison Type   Local Prison -  Common Gaol

Jurisdiction   County

Date opened   1779

Date closed   1845

Location   Causey Croft, East Street (north side)   Horsham

Map location   exact or closely approximate

County   Sussex

Critical Remarks

From 1830, used only for debtors and those awaiting trial.

Prison Info

Alternative Names   Horsham County Gaol and Bridewell, Sussex County Gaol

Prison Type   Local Prison

Jurisdiction   County

Date opened   1779

Date closed   1845

Location   Causey Croft, East Street (north side)   Horsham

Map location   exact or closely approximate
Lat.   51.0614922  Long.   -0.3263674

County   Sussex

Critical Remarks

From 1830, used only for debtors and those awaiting trial.

Prisoner Statistics

 

Year 1818

Annual Committed   -   77

Daily Greatest number   -   120

 

Year 1823

Annual Committed   -   117

Daily Census   -   90

 

Year 1828

Annual Committed   -   106

Daily Census   -   47

 

Year 1833

Annual Committed   -   223

Daily Census   -   45

 

Year 1838

Annual Confined   -   112

Daily Census   -   24

 

Year 1843

Annual Confined   -   100

Daily Census   -   11

Principal Primary Sources

  • James Neild, The State of the Prisons of England, Scotland and Wales (London, 1812), p.277
  • Account of Gaols, Houses of Correction or Penitentiaries in the United Kingdom, 1818 (Parl. Papers, 1819, XVII.371), p.46
  • [Second] Report of the Committee of the Society for the Improvement of Prison Discipline and for the Reformation of Juvenile Offenders (London, 1820), p.30; 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.75; 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.62; 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.140; 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.142; 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.43
  • Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1824, XIX.359), p.220; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1825, XXIII.1), p.272; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1826, XXIV.1), p.262; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1826-27, XIX.365), p.240; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1828, XX.327), p.276; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1829, XIX.1), p.244; Reports and Schedules Pursuant To Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1830, XXIV.1), p.243; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1830-31, XII.1), p.239; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1831-32. XXXIII.197), p.239; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1833, XXVIII.1), p.262; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1834, XLVI.1), p.246; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1835, XLIV.225), p.238; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1836, XLII.1), p.159; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1837, XLV.1), p.158; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1837-8, XLIII.227), p.165; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1839, XXXVIII.17), p.161; Reports Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1840, XXXVIII.1), p.179; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1841, XVIII.1), p.190; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1842, XXXII.1), p.194; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1843, XLIII.1), p.193
  • Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Home District, Third Report, Supplement (Parl. Papers, 1837-38, XXX.367), p.86; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Home District, Fourth Report (Parl. Papers, 1839, XXI.1), p.320; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Home District, Fifth Report (Parl. Papers, 1840, XXV.1), p.362; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Home District, Sixth Report (Parl. Papers, 1841 Session 2, IV.1), p.359; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Home District, Tenth Report (Parl. Papers, 1845, XXIII.1), p.NN

Secondary Sources

  • http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/sussex/vol6/pt2/pp131-156

Management

Archive name: West Sussex Record Office

Catalogue ref: QAA/1/WE3

Collection: Sussex Quarter Sessions (Western Division)

Description: Agendas, minutes and papers dealing with matters of common interest. The minutes and papers mainly concern Horsham Gaol, the alterations to be made after a prisoner's escape (diagram), appointment of Chaplain, conveying of prisoners to Gaol, and the appointment of the javelin men.

Dates: 1823-1824, 1835-1836


Archive name: East Sussex Record Office

Catalogue ref: QAA/1/3

Collection: Sussex Quarter Sessions

Description: Joint General Adjourned Sessions minutes and papers. The bulk of the papers concern Horsham Gaol, and a Committee's reports and papers thereon (especially 1835-1837)

Dates: 1824-1837


Archive name: East Sussex Record Office

Catalogue ref: SHR 171-179

Collection: Papers of George Shiffner

Description: Includes Committee for discontinuing Horsham Gaol.

Dates: 1835


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


Archive name: West Sussex Record Office

Catalogue ref: GOODWOOD Mss 1477b

Collection: Goodwood Estate Archives

Description: Letters and papers relating to Horsham and Petworth Gaols

Dates: 1832


Archive name: West Sussex Record Office

Catalogue ref: PHA 10585

Collection: Petworth House Archives

Description: Orders of Quarter Sessions concerning the running of Horsham Gaol

Dates: 1832


Archive name: West Sussex Record Office

Catalogue ref: PHA 106

Collection: Petworth House Archives

Description: Printed report on prisoners in Horsham Gaol, papers relating to prisons at Horsham and Petworth

Dates: 1813-1835


Archive name: West Sussex Record Office

Catalogue ref: PHA 10732

Collection: Petworth House Archives

Description: Includes subscription for prisoners in Horsham Gaol.

Dates: 1821-1822


Archive name: West Sussex Record Office

Catalogue ref: QAL/2/W5

Collection: Sussex Quarter Sessions (Western Division)

Description: Committee papers to provide for pauper lunatics. They include a proposal to convert Horsham Gaol into an Asylum (1845)

Dates: 1845-1854


Archive name: West Sussex Record Office

Catalogue ref: QAP/4/WE10

Collection: Sussex Quarter Sessions (Western Division)

Description: Horsham Common Gaol - draft general report

Dates: 1828-1845


Archive name: West Sussex Record Office

Catalogue ref: QAP/4/WE8

Collection: Sussex Quarter Sessions (Western Division)

Description: Horsham Gaol. Reports and returns under 'schedule B' of 1823 Gaol Act

Dates: 1823-1844


Archive name: West Sussex Record Office

Catalogue ref: QR/W628-W1035

Collection: Sussex Quarter Sessions (Western Division)

Description: Sessions Rolls. Includes documents relating to the administration of Horsham Gaol and Petworth House of Correction (eg. bills, returns of prisoners etc)

Dates: 1800-1900


Archive name: Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre

Catalogue ref: A1/516/4

Collection: Wiltshire Quarter Sessions

Description: Printed papers concerning Gaol administration in other counties, including rules for Horsham, Lewes, and Petworth (1824). Hints for the improvement of prisons (1817).

Dates: 1807-1824


Archive name: West Sussex Record Office

Catalogue ref: QAP/4/WE11

Collection: Sussex Quarter Sessions (Western Division)

Description: Horsham Gaol. Reports of Visiting Justices, Chaplain, Surgeon and Keeper

Dates: 1833-1846


Staff

Archive name: East Sussex Record Office

Catalogue ref: ACC 11466/4/51

Collection: None

Description: Expenses of Charles Cooper, Keeper of His Majesty's Gaol at Horsham, for poor prisoners

Dates: c.1810


Archive name: West Sussex Record Office

Catalogue ref: QCV/2/W50

Collection: Sussex Quarter Sessions (Western Division)

Description: Letter concerning annuity to late Keeper of Horsham Gaol, and allowances to Turnkeys

Dates: 1807


Archive name: East Sussex Record Office

Catalogue ref: SPK 1/98

Collection: Baker Holroyd Family

Description: Letters from the Reverend Robert Bingham, Horsham (Gaol)

Dates: 1811


Archive name: West Sussex Record Office

Catalogue ref: QAP/4/WE9

Collection: Sussex Quarter Sessions (Western Division)

Description: Horsham Gaol. Statement of Increase or Diminution of Officers and Servants.

Dates: 1842-1844


Prisoners

Archive name: East Sussex Record Office

Catalogue ref: AOB 7/2/2

Collection: None

Description: Indenture. William Borrer Esquire, late Sheriff of the County of Sussex, to Sir William Ashburnham, present Sheriff of the said County, list of prisoners in custody in HM Gaol

Dates: 1802


Archive name: East Sussex Record Office

Catalogue ref: AOB 7/3/5

Collection: None

Description: List of convicts under sentence of transportation in the Gaol at Horsham

Dates: 1802


Archive name: East Sussex Record Office

Catalogue ref: ACC 10182/7/1

Collection: None

Description: Sussexiana Brightoniana - bound pamphlets. 'A True Account of the Life and Death of Swing, the Rick-Burner...together with the Confession of Thomas Goodman, now under sentence of death in Horsham Jail for Rick-Burning'.

Dates: 1830s


Archive name: East Sussex Record Office

Catalogue ref: SAS/DM 345-352

Collection: None

Description: Orders for pardons, remissions of sentence, commutations of death sentence etc. Relating to Horsham and Lewes Gaols.

Dates: 1821-1840


Land & Buildings

Archive name: East Sussex Record Office

Catalogue ref: QDP/161/2

Collection: Sussex Quarter Sessions

Description: Proposed rail route. Sheet 17 gives clear details of Horsham main town and environs, including Chedworth, Pork Barn and Horsham Gaol.

Dates: 1837


Archive name: East Sussex Record Office

Catalogue ref: SPK 1/24/58

Collection: Baker Holroyd Family

Description: Letter regarding alterations at Horsham (Gaol)

Dates: 1819


Archive name: West Sussex Record Office

Catalogue ref: QAP/4/2/WE1-6

Collection: Sussex Quarter Sessions (Western Division)

Description: Plans and specifications of Horsham Gaol

Dates: 1819-1843


Archive name: West Sussex Record Office

Catalogue ref: QAP/4/WE7

Collection: Sussex Quarter Sessions (Western Division)

Description: Draft conveyance of Horsham Gaol

Dates: 1846


Archive name: West Sussex Record Office

Catalogue ref: QCV/2/W52

Collection: Sussex Quarter Sessions (Western Division)

Description: Letter from Sheriff concerning repair of Horsham Gaol

Dates: 1809