Huntingdon County Gaol and House of Correction

Overview

Details

Records

Overview

Alternative Names   Great Stukeley County Gaol, Huntingdon Prison

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

Jurisdiction   County

Date opened   1829

Date closed   1885

Location   St Peter's Road, right hand side of the great north road, in parish of Great Stukeley   Huntingdon

Map location   exact or closely approximate

County   Huntingdonshire

Critical Remarks

Note, the Prison Commissioners' Reports state that this gaol closed in 1885 (other secondary sources suggest 1892).

Prison Info

Alternative Names   Great Stukeley County Gaol, Huntingdon Prison

Prison Type   Local Prison

Jurisdiction   County

Date opened   1829

Date closed   1885

Location   St Peter's Road, right hand side of the great north road, in parish of Great Stukeley   Huntingdon

Map location   exact or closely approximate
Lat.   52.340263  Long.   -0.188749

County   Huntingdonshire

Critical Remarks

Note, the Prison Commissioners' Reports state that this gaol closed in 1885 (other secondary sources suggest 1892).

Prisoner Statistics

 

Year 1833

Annual Committed   -   253

Daily Census   -   31

 

Year 1838

Annual Confined   -   262

Daily Census   -   34

 

Year 1843

Annual Confined   -   365

Daily Census   -   45

 

Year 1848

Annual Confined   -   465

Daily Daily average   -   57

 

Year 1853

Annual Confined   -   312

Daily Daily average   -   41

 

Year 1858

Annual Committed   -   303

Daily Daily average   -   44

 

Year 1863

Annual Committed   -   268

Daily Greatest number   -   59

 

Year 1868

Annual Committed   -   265

Daily Daily average   -   32

 

Year 1873

Annual Committed   -   188

Daily Daily average   -   35

 

Year 1878

Annual Committed   -   496

Daily Daily average   -   80

 

Year 1883

Annual Committed   -   334

Daily Daily average   -   43

Principal Primary Sources

  • 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.18
  • Reports and Schedules Pursuant To Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1830, XXIV.1), p.115; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1830-31, XII.1), p.111; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1831-32. XXXIII.197), p.113; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1833, XXVIII.1), p.118; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1834, XLVI.1), p.110; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1835, XLIV.225), p.112; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1836, XLII.1), p.72; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1837, XLV.1), p.75; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1837-8, XLIII.227), p.73; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1839, XXXVIII.17), p.65; Reports Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1840, XXXVIII.1), p.73; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1841, XVIII.1), p.75; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1842, XXXII.1), p.73; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1843, XLIII.1), p.81; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1844, XXXIX.403), p.77; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1845, XXXVII.417), p.91; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1846, XXXIV.187), p.83; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1847, XLVII.297), p.93; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1847-48, LII.465), p.91
  • Abstract Return of Establishment and Expenditure of Gaols and Houses of Correction in England and Wales (Parl. Papers, 1840, XXXVIII.241), p.20
  • Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern and Eastern District. First Report (Parl. Papers, 1836, XXXV.161), p.31; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern and Eastern District, Fourth Report (Parl. Papers, 1839, XXII.1), p.179; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern and Eastern District, Seventh Report (Parl. Papers, 1842, XXI.1), p.178; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern and Eastern District, Ninth Report (Parl. Papers, 1844, XXIX.227), p.14; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern and Eastern District, Eleventh Report (Parl. Papers, 1846, XXI.483), p.1; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Midland and Eastern District, Fourteenth Report (Parl. Papers, 1849, XXVI.1), p.1; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern and Eastern District, Fifteenth Report (Parl. Papers, 1850, XXVIII.291), p.94; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern and Eastern District, Sixteenth Report (Parl. Papers, 1851, XXVII.461), p.45; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern and Eastern District, Eighteenth Report (Parl. Papers, 1856, XXXIII.1), p.15; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern and Eastern District, Nineteenth Report (Parl. Papers, 1856, XXXIII.385), p.19; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern and Eastern District, Twenty-first Report (Parl. Papers, 1857, Session 2, XXIII.1), p.21; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern and Eastern District, Twenty-second Report (Parl. Papers, 1857-58, XXIX.1), p.14; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Midland District, Twenty-third Report (Parl. Papers, 1859, Session 1, XI.1), p.45; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Midland District, Twenty-fourth Report (Parl. Papers, 1860, XXXV.1), p.38; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Midland District, Twenty-fifth Report (Parl. Papers, 1860, XXXV.229), p.38; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Midland District, Twenty-sixth Report (Parl. Papers, 1861, XXIX.45), p.36; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Midland District, Twenty-seventh Report (Parl. Papers, 1862, XXV.93), p.41; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Twenty-eighth Report (Parl. Papers, 1863, XXIII.1), p.40; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Thirtieth Report (Parl. Papers, 1865, XXIII.1), p.116; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Thirty-first Report (Parl. Papers, 1866, XXXVII.1), p.103; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Thirty-second Report (Parl. Papers, 1867-68, XXXIV.203), p.141; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Thirty-third Report (Parl. Papers, 1868-69, XXIX.1), p.94; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Thirty-fourth Report (Parl. Papers, 1870, XXXVII.1), p.109; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Thirty-fifth Report (Parl. Papers, 1871, XXIX.241), p.136; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Thirty-sixth Report (Parl. Papers, 1872, XXXI.1), p.82; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Thirty-seventh Report (Parl. Papers, 1873, XXXII.1), p.158; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Thirty-eighth Report (Parl. Papers, 1874, XXIX.1), p.180; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Thirty-ninth Report (Parl. Papers, 1875, XXXVII.1), p.197; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Fortieth Report (Parl. Papers, 1876, XXXV.1), p.197; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Forty-first Report (Parl. Papers, 1877, XLIII.1), p.200; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Forty-second Report (Parl. Papers, 1878, XLI.1), p.200
  • Commissioners of Prisons, Second Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1878-79, XXXIV.1, 97), p.30; Commissioners of Prisons, Third Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1880, XXXV.1,73), p.39; Commissioners of Prisons, Fourth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1881, LI.441, 521), p.42; Commissioners of Prisons, Fifth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1882, XXXIII.443, 541), p.46; Commissioners of Prisons, Sixth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1883, XXXI.445, 579), p.51; Commissioners of Prisons, Seventh Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1884, XLII.461, 551), p.47; Commissioners of Prisons, Eighth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1884-85, XXXVII.527, 651), p.47; Commissioners of Prisons, Ninth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1886, XXXV.1, 93), p.n/a

Additional Primary Sources

  • James Hatfield, History, Gazetteer and Directory of Huntingdonshire (Huntingdon, 1854), pp. 189-192.

Secondary Sources

  • http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/directory_record/4182/prisons

Management

Archive name: Huntingdon Library and Archives

Catalogue ref: H/9/54

Collection: Huntingdon Borough

Description: Letter of recommendation for applicant for post as Governor of County Gaol (1832). Also, building work at Gaol (1832-1834).

Dates: 1832-1834


Archive name: Huntingdon Library and Archives

Catalogue ref: H/3/10

Collection: Huntingdon Borough

Description: Mixed material, including Gaol rules (1840, 1850), accounts and tenders (1849), letter of appointment of Keeper of County Gaol (1849), inspection of Gaol (1850) 

Dates: 1840-1850


Archive name: Huntingdon Library and Archives

Catalogue ref: HCP/1/17-44

Collection: Huntingdonshire Quarter Sessions

Description: Material relating to the administration and finances of the Gaol, such as returns, accounts, certificates, and correspondence with Whitehall on prison matters

Dates: 1832-1865


Archive name: Huntingdon Library and Archives

Catalogue ref: HCP/15/1908/4

Collection: Huntingdonshire Quarter Sessions

Description: Articles of agreement regarding County Gaol, Great Stukeley

Dates: 1826


Archive name: Huntingdon Library and Archives

Catalogue ref: HCP/15/1908/7-8

Collection: Huntingdonshire Quarter Sessions

Description: Releases regarding County Gaol, Great Stukeley

Dates: 1836


Archive name: Huntingdon Library and Archives

Catalogue ref: HCP/1/15-43

Collection: Huntingdonshire Quarter Sessions

Description: Material relating to the day-to-day running of the Gaol, including reports of the Surgeons, Chaplains, Keepers, Visiting Justices (1832-1863), rules and regulations (1843), references to appointment, resignation or dismissal of officers, various official returns, dietaries, Treasurers' statements. 

Dates: 1832-1865


Archive name: Huntingdon Library and Archives

Catalogue ref: H/5/11

Collection: Huntingdon Borough

Description: Chaplain's and Surgeon's reports (1850), Gaoler's certificate (1850), report of the Visiting Justices (1850), Gaol rules (1832), application, reference and testimonial for post of Gaoler (1837, 1848). 

Dates: 1832-1850


Finance

Archive name: Huntingdon Library and Archives

Catalogue ref: HCP/15/1908/5

Collection: Huntingdonshire Quarter Sessions

Description: Deed of confirmation of mortgage for County Gaol, Great Stukeley

Dates: 1828


Daily Business

Archive name: Huntingdon Library and Archives

Catalogue ref: HCP/2/320/1-2

Collection: Huntingdonshire Quarter Sessions

Description: Huntingdon County Gaol Keeper's journals

Dates: 1833-1838, 1847-1851


Archive name: Huntingdon Library and Archives

Catalogue ref: HCP/2/806/1

Collection: Huntingdonshire Quarter Sessions

Description: Huntingdon County Gaol prison record book (photocopy only)

Dates: 1829-1833


Staff

Archive name: Huntingdon Library and Archives

Catalogue ref: H/19/8

Collection: Huntingdon Borough

Description: Salaries paid - Gaol Chaplain and Keeper of House of Correction

Dates: 1731 -1850


Prisoners

Archive name: Huntingdon Library and Archives

Catalogue ref: Accession 5470

Collection: Huntingdon County Gaol

Description: Register of prisoners

Dates: 1845-1856


Archive name: Huntingdon Library and Archives

Catalogue ref: GL/1-2

Collection: Huntingdon County Gaol

Description: Nominal registers

Dates: 1881-1885


Archive name: Huntingdon Library and Archives

Catalogue ref: HCP/2/318/1

Collection: Huntingdonshire Quarter Sessions

Description: General register of prisoners

Dates: 1856-1873


Archive name: Huntingdon Library and Archives

Catalogue ref: 4440/367/89

Collection: Huntingdonshire County Constabulary

Description: Habitual criminal returns, including photographs (with modern index), 2 volumes

Dates: 1870-1878


Archive name: Huntingdon Library and Archives

Catalogue ref: 4440/387/88

Collection: Huntingdonshire County Constabulary

Description: Notices from Gaols of discharged prisoners, including photographs and details 

Dates: 1881-1892


Archive name: Huntingdon Library and Archives

Catalogue ref: WH9/1A-1K

Collection: None

Description: Photographs of prisoners

Dates: 1876-1877


Land & Buildings

Archive name: Huntingdon Library and Archives

Catalogue ref: HCP/1/12/1

Collection: Huntingdonshire Quarter Sessions

Description: Documents and correspondence relative to the construction of the new County Gaol

Dates: 1828


Archive name: Huntingdon Library and Archives

Catalogue ref: HCP/1/28/75

Collection: Huntingdonshire Quarter Sessions

Description: Copy of advertisement of the Midsummer Sessions, with special reference to measures for altering the inadequate Gaol buildings

Dates: 1844


Archive name: Huntingdon Library and Archives

Catalogue ref: HCP/1/30/90

Collection: Huntingdonshire Quarter Sessions

Description: Letter from Mr Thomas Smith about plan for alterations to County Gaol

Dates: 1848


Archive name: Huntingdon Library and Archives

Catalogue ref: HCP/15/1697/5/1

Collection: Huntingdonshire Quarter Sessions

Description: Agreements and deeds regarding County Gaol, Great Stukeley

Dates: 1866-1881


Archive name: Huntingdon Library and Archives

Catalogue ref: HCP/15/A

Collection: Huntingdonshire Quarter Sessions

Description: Bundle of documents removed from Quarter Sessions boxes, including contract for making alterations and additions to County Gaol 

Dates: 1849


Archive name: Huntingdon Library and Archives

Catalogue ref: HCP/1/25/54

Collection: Huntingdonshire Quarter Sessions

Description: Letter from architect to the Visiting Justices, the County Gaol, reporting the completion of the works at the Gaol by contractors

Dates: 1841