Knutsford County House of Correction

Overview

Details

Records

Overview

Alternative Names   Knutsford County Gaol, Knutsford Prison, HMP Knutsford

Prison Type   Local Prison -  House of Correction/Bridewell

Jurisdiction   County

Date opened   1818

Date closed   post 1900 (1915)

Location   London road, a little south west from the church   Knutsford

Map location   exact or closely approximate

County   Cheshire

Prison Info

Alternative Names   Knutsford County Gaol, Knutsford Prison, HMP Knutsford

Prison Type   Local Prison

Jurisdiction   County

Date opened   1818

Date closed   post 1900 (1915)

Location   London road, a little south west from the church   Knutsford

Map location   exact or closely approximate
Lat.   53.302688  Long.   -2.375093

County   Cheshire

Prisoner Statistics

 

Year 1823

Annual Committed   -   881

Daily Census   -   185

 

Year 1828

Annual Committed   -   982

Daily Census   -   228

 

Year 1833

Annual Committed   -   1163

Daily Census   -   297

 

Year 1838

Annual Confined   -   1493

Daily Census   -   265

 

Year 1843

Annual Confined   -   2154

Daily Census   -   324

 

Year 1848

Annual Confined   -   2434

Daily Daily average   -   295

 

Year 1853

Annual Confined   -   2383

Daily Daily average   -   303

 

Year 1858

Annual Committed   -   2197

Daily Daily average   -   317

 

Year 1863

Annual Committed   -   2362

Daily Greatest number   -   352

 

Year 1868

Annual Committed   -   2717

Daily Daily average   -   274

 

Year 1873

Annual Committed   -   2287

Daily Daily average   -   262

 

Year 1878

Annual Committed   -   2681

Daily Daily average   -   324

 

Year 1883

Annual Committed   -   1737

Daily Daily average   -   231

 

Year 1888

Annual Committed   -   1780

Daily Daily average   -   293

 

Year 1893

Annual Committed   -   2105

Daily   -  

 

Year 1898

Annual Committed   -   2000

Daily   -  

Principal Primary Sources

  • 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.9; 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.7; 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.11; 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.14; 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.14; 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.5
  • Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1824, XIX.359), p.46; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1825, XXIII.1), p.42; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1826, XXIV.1), p.42; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1828, XX.327), p.44; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1829, XIX.1), p.40; Reports and Schedules Pursuant To Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1830, XXIV.1), p.38; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1830-31, XII.1), p.38; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1831-32. XXXIII.197), p.38; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1833, XXVIII.1), p.40; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1834, XLVI.1), p.38; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1835, XLIV.225), p.41; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1836, XLII.1), p.26; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1837, XLV.1), p.28; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1837-8, XLIII.227), p.27; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1839, XXXVIII.17), p.25; Reports Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1840, XXXVIII.1), p.26; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1841, XVIII.1), p.28; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1842, XXXII.1), p.29; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1843, XLIII.1), p.34; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1844, XXXIX.403), p.31; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1845, XXXVII.417), p.32; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1846, XXXIV.187), p.33; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1847, XLVII.297), p.38; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1847-48, LII.465), p.38
  • Abstract Return of Establishment and Expenditure of Gaols and Houses of Correction in England and Wales (Parl. Papers, 1840, XXXVIII.241), p.6
  • Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern and Eastern District, Second Report (Parl. Papers, 1837, XXXII.499), p.24; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern and Eastern District, Fourth Report (Parl. Papers, 1839, XXII.1), p.9; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern and Eastern District, Sixth Report (Parl. Papers, 1841 Session 2, V.1), p.8; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern and Eastern District, Ninth Report (Parl. Papers, 1844, XXIX.227), p.126; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern and Eastern District, Tenth Report (Parl. Papers, 1845, XXIV.1), p.144; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain IV. Northern District, Thirteenth Report (Parl. Papers, 1847-8, XXXVI.361), p.30; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain IV. Northern District, Fourteenth Report (Parl. Papers, 1849, XXVI.167), p.71; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern and Eastern District, Sixteenth Report (Parl. Papers, 1851, XXVII.461), p.41; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern and Eastern District, Seventeenth Report (Parl. Papers, 1852-53, LII.1), p.17; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern and Eastern District, Nineteenth Report (Parl. Papers, 1856, XXXIII.385), p.16; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern and Eastern District, Twentieth Report (Parl. Papers, 1857, Session 1, VII.313), p.10; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern and Eastern District, Twenty-first Report (Parl. Papers, 1857, Session 2, XXIII.1), p.16; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Midland District, Twenty-third Report (Parl. Papers, 1859, Session 1, XI.1), p.30; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Midland District, Twenty-fourth Report (Parl. Papers, 1860, XXXV.1), p.25; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Midland District, Twenty-sixth Report (Parl. Papers, 1861, XXIX.45), p.26; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Midland District, Twenty-seventh Report (Parl. Papers, 1862, XXV.93), p.31; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern District, Twenty-ninth Report (Parl. Papers, 1864, XXVI.89), p.9; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern District, Thirtieth Report (Parl. Papers, 1865, XXIII.257), p.12; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern District, Thirty-first Report (Parl. Papers, 1866, XXXVII.233), p.14; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern District, Thirty-second Report (Parl. Papers, 1867-68, XXXIV.1), p.10; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern District, Thirty-fourth Report (Parl. Papers, 1871, XXIX.1), p.9; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern District, Thirty-fifth Report (Parl. Papers, 1871, XXIX.529), p.5; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern District, Thirty-sixth Report (Parl. Papers, 1872, XXXI.169), p.3; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern District, Thirty-seventh Report (Parl. Papers, 1873, XXXII.337), p.6; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern District, Thirty-eighth Report (Parl. Papers, 1874, XXIX.389), p.14; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern District, Thirty-ninth Report (Parl. Papers, 1875, XXXVII.417), p.14; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern District, Fortieth Report (Parl. Papers, 1876, XXXV.417), p.14; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern District, Forty-first Report (Parl. Papers, 1877, XLIII.421), p.14; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern District, Forty-second Report (Parl. Papers, 1878, XLI.417), p.14
  • Commissioners of Prisons, Second Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1878-79, XXXIV.1, 97), p.36; Commissioners of Prisons, Third Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1880, XXXV.1,73), p.46; Commissioners of Prisons, Fourth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1881, LI.441, 521), p.48; Commissioners of Prisons, Fifth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1882, XXXIII.443, 541), p.54; Commissioners of Prisons, Sixth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1883, XXXI.445, 579), p.58; Commissioners of Prisons, Seventh Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1884, XLII.461, 551), p.55; Commissioners of Prisons, Eighth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1884-85, XXXVII.527, 651), p.55; Commissioners of Prisons, Ninth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1886, XXXV.1, 93), p.49; Commissioners of Prisons, Tenth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1887, XLI.203, 335), p.45; Commissioners of Prisons, Eleventh Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1888, LVIII.1, 209), p.44; Commissioners of Prisons, Twelfth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1889, XLI.1, 181), p.44; Commissioners of Prisons, Thirteenth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1890, XXXVII.1, 183), p.44; Commissioners of Prisons, Fourteenth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1890-91, XLIII.1, 125), p.42; Commissioners of Prisons, Fifteenth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1892, XLII.1, 147), p.41; Commissioners of Prisons, Sixteenth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1893-94, XLVII.1, 121), p.40; Commissioners of Prisons, Seventeenth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1894, XLIV.1, 183), p.39; Commissioners of Prisons, Eighteenth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1895, LVI.727, 865), p.40
  • Report of Coms. of Prisons and Directors of Convict Prisons, 1895-96 (Parl. Papers, 1896, XLIV.235), p.101; Report of Coms. of Prisons and Directors of Convict Prisons, 1896-97 (Parl. Papers, 1897, XL.105), p.243; Report of Coms. of Prisons and Directors of Convict Prisons, 1897-98 (Parl. Papers, 1898, XLVII.23), p.268; Report of Coms. of Prisons and Directors of Convict Prisons, 1898-99 (Parl. Papers, 1899, XLIII.65), p.267; Report of Coms. of Prisons and Directors of Convict Prisons, 1899-1900 (Parl. Papers, 1900, XLI.1), p.307

Additional Primary Sources

  • Samuel Bagshaw, History, Gazetteer and Directory of the County Palatine of Chester (Sheffield, 1850), pp. 551-2;

Secondary Sources

  • David Woodley, Knutsford Prison: The inside story (2003)

Management

Archive name: Cheshire Archives and Local Studies

Catalogue ref: CCLe 3/1/56

Collection: Cheshire County Council

Description: Case and opinion re legality of imprisoning debtors in House of Correction at Knutsford

Dates: 1837


Archive name: Cheshire Archives and Local Studies

Catalogue ref: CCLe 3/2/37

Collection: Cheshire County Council

Description: Case and opinion re procedure for sending prisoners from Birkenhead to House of Correction at Knutsford

Dates: 1854


Archive name: Cheshire Archives and Local Studies

Catalogue ref: QAB 8/4/1

Collection: Cheshire Quarter Sessions

Description: Licence for performance of divine service in enlarged chapel

Dates: 1846


Archive name: Cheshire Archives and Local Studies

Catalogue ref: QAB 8/5/1-5

Collection: Cheshire Quarter Sessions

Description: Correspondence and papers on administrative matters (including prison charities and staffing)

Dates: 1876-1915


Archive name: Cheshire Archives and Local Studies

Catalogue ref: QAB 8/1

Collection: Cheshire Quarter Sessions

Description: Minutes of Visiting Justices.

Dates: 1826-1889


Archive name: Cheshire Archives and Local Studies

Catalogue ref: QAB 8/2

Collection: Cheshire Quarter Sessions

Description: Agenda book of Visiting Justices

Dates: 1871-1883


Finance

Archive name: Cheshire Archives and Local Studies

Catalogue ref: NPA 4669/4/56

Collection: Chester Court of Sessions

Description: Bills of costs of prosecutors and witnesses. Includes 2 receipts for prisoners handed over to Knutsford House of Correction.

Dates: 1828-1829


Daily Business

Archive name: Cheshire Archives and Local Studies

Catalogue ref: QAB 8/3/1

Collection: Cheshire Quarter Sessions

Description: Gaol visiting register

Dates: 1820-1915


Staff

Archive name: Cheshire Archives and Local Studies

Catalogue ref: EDP 164/1/2

Collection: Diocese of Chester

Description: Knutsford or Nether Knutsford, St John the Baptist. Includes chaplaincy of Knutsford House of Correction.

Dates: 1820, 1840, 1869


Prisoners

Archive name: Cheshire Archives and Local Studies

Catalogue ref: QAB 9/6

Collection: Cheshire Quarter Sessions

Description: List of persons in Knutsford Prison awaiting trial

Dates: 1883


Archive name: Cheshire Archives and Local Studies

Catalogue ref: NPA 4669/4/42

Collection: Chester Court of Sessions

Description: Recognizances. Sureties given by persons required to appear as witnesses. The files for Aug 1828 and Apr 1829 include returns of prisoners sentenced to hard labour, the latter in Knutsford House of Correction.

Dates: 1798-1829


Archive name: Cheshire Archives and Local Studies

Catalogue ref: QAB 8/5/6

Collection: Cheshire Quarter Sessions

Description: Papers of enquiry into circumstances of the death of John Graham, through imprisonment

Dates: 1898


Archive name: Cheshire Archives and Local Studies

Catalogue ref: QAB 9/5

Collection: Cheshire Quarter Sessions

Description: Report of the Inspector of Prisons, Northern District, on an inquiry into the mistreatment of Chartist prisoners and related papers concerning the illness of a prisoner, William Wright.

Dates: 1843


Land & Buildings

Archive name: Cheshire Archives and Local Studies

Catalogue ref: CCLe 6/108

Collection: Cheshire County Council

Description: Conveyance of pieces of land at Knutsford Court House

Dates: 1883


Archive name: Cheshire Archives and Local Studies

Catalogue ref: CCLe 6/37

Collection: Cheshire County Council

Description: Deeds and papers relating to Knutsford House of Correction

Dates: 1817-1966


Archive name: Cheshire Archives and Local Studies

Catalogue ref: QAB 10/1-6

Collection: Cheshire Quarter Sessions

Description: Gaol and Sessions House at Knutsford, plans.

Dates: 1840, 1877


Images

Archive name: Cheshire Image Bank

Catalogue ref: c04151

Collection: None

Description: Photograph of Knutsford Court House and Prison, Toft Road. Viewed from the tower of the parish church.

Dates: 1890-1899