Alternative Names Lancaster Castle County Gaol and Bridewell, Lancaster Prison, HMP Lancaster
Prison Type Local Prison - Common Gaol
Jurisdiction County
Date opened 1745 [medieval]
Date closed post 1900 (1916 - but reopened 1955 until 2011)
Location Lancaster Castle Lancaster
Map location exact or closely approximate
County Lancashire
Lancaster Castle was used as a prison from medieval times. In 1745 it officially became the county gaol.
Alternative Names Lancaster Castle County Gaol and Bridewell, Lancaster Prison, HMP Lancaster
Prison Type Local Prison
Jurisdiction County
Date opened 1745 [medieval]
Date closed post 1900 (1916 - but reopened 1955 until 2011)
Location Lancaster Castle Lancaster
Map location exact or closely approximate
Lat. 54.0496694 Long. -2.8059937
County Lancashire
Lancaster Castle was used as a prison from medieval times. In 1745 it officially became the county gaol.
Year 1818
Annual Committed - 466
Daily Greatest number - 584
Year 1823
Annual Committed - 853
Daily Census - 286
Year 1828
Annual Committed - 815
Daily Census - 342
Year 1833
Annual Committed - 901
Daily Census - 428
Year 1838
Annual Confined - 1122
Daily Census - 449
Year 1843
Annual Confined - 1511
Daily Census - 495
Year 1848
Annual Confined - 1223
Daily Daily average - 316
Year 1853
Annual Confined - 1008
Daily Daily average - 153
Year 1858
Annual Committed - 968
Daily Daily average - 191
Year 1863
Annual Committed - 875
Daily Greatest number - 151
Year 1868
Annual Committed - 2383
Daily Daily average - 208
Year 1873
Annual Committed - 1935
Daily Daily average - 189
Year 1878
Annual Committed - 1582
Daily Daily average - 184
Year 1883
Annual Committed - 840
Daily Daily average - 64
Year 1888
Annual Committed - 994
Daily Daily average - 75
Year 1893
Annual Committed - 1045
Daily -
Year 1898
Annual Committed - 1810
Daily -
Archive name: Lancashire Archives
Catalogue ref: QGR/1/3, 8, 15, 21, 30
Collection: Lancashire Quarter Sessions
Description: Chaplain's reports
Dates: 1823-1830
Archive name: Devon Heritage Centre
Catalogue ref: 152M/C1812/OH70-74
Collection: Addington family, Viscounts Sidmouth
Description: Prisons, Lancaster. Includes reports and correspondence relating to the arrival of a commission in Lancaster to prepare report on the Gaol. Also, complaints about the 'tyrannical Gaoler', and petition of debtors (1812).
Dates: 1812
Archive name: Lancashire Archives
Catalogue ref: QGR/1/4, 11, 16
Collection: Lancashire Quarter Sessions
Description: Gaoler's reports
Dates: 1823-1826
Archive name: Lancashire Archives
Catalogue ref: QGR/1/5, 12, 17, 22, 25, 31, 34
Collection: Lancashire Quarter Sessions
Description: Surgeon's reports
Dates: 1823-1831
Archive name: Barrow Archive and Local Studies Centre
Catalogue ref: BDFELL/13/17
Collection: Fell family papers
Description: Correspondence including proposal to close the Prison at Lancaster Castle
Dates: 1898-1909
Archive name: Lancashire Archives
Catalogue ref: DDHU 53/59
Collection: Hulton of Hulton
Description: Letters and other papers concerning the treatment of prisoners in Lancaster Castle
Dates: 1820
Archive name: Lancashire Archives
Catalogue ref: QGR/1/1, 6, 9, 13, 18, 19, 23, 28, 32, 35, 36, 38, 40
Collection: Lancashire Quarter Sessions
Description: General Reports
Dates: 1823-1840
Archive name: Lancashire Archives
Catalogue ref: QGR/1/2, 7, 10, 14, 20, 24, 29, 33, 37, 39, 41
Collection: Lancashire Quarter Sessions
Description: Returns
Dates: 1823-1840
Archive name: Lancashire Archives
Catalogue ref: QGR/1/27
Collection: Lancashire Quarter Sessions
Description: Return of cost of medicine
Dates: 1829
Archive name: Lancashire Archives
Catalogue ref: QGR/1/42
Collection: Lancashire Quarter Sessions
Description: Report on Prison discipline and accommodation
Dates: 1852
Archive name: Lancashire Archives
Catalogue ref: QGV/1/11
Collection: Lancashire Quarter Sessions
Description: Resolution of Annual General Sessions as to the Dietary of Lancaster Castle. 20 Oct 1847
Dates: 1847
Archive name: Norfolk Record Office
Catalogue ref: GTN 5/9/21
Collection: Harbord papers
Description: Letters to and from the Honurable Edward Harbord (including draft replies), and related correspondence. Includes Thomas Starkie (Inner Temple) to Edward Bootle Wilbraham MP (later 1st Lord Skelmersdale), Portland Place, re printed circular on Lancaster Castle Prison.Â
Dates: 1819-1820
Archive name: The National Archives
Catalogue ref: PCOM2/447
Collection: Prison Commission
Description: Lancaster Gaol, Lancashire: accounts of charitable bequests
Dates: 1833-1874
Archive name: Lancashire Archives
Catalogue ref: QSP
Collection: Lancashire Quarter Sessions
Description: Series includes a vast amount of material on the administration of the county prisons, including: accounts and other financial records, Visiting Justices' reports; governors', surgeons', chaplains' and schoolmasters' reports; returns of prisoners; and staff appointments, salaries and dismissals. The catalogue contains detailed summaries at item level.
Dates: 1648-1908
Archive name: Lancashire Archives
Catalogue ref: QGV/1/2
Collection: Lancashire Quarter Sessions
Description: Resolutions of Justices visiting Lancaster Gaol
Dates: 1825
Archive name: Lancashire Archives
Catalogue ref: QGL/9
Collection: Lancashire Quarter Sessions
Description: Accounts of Prisoners' Charity Fund
Dates: 1833- 1874
Archive name: Lancashire Archives
Catalogue ref: QGR/1/43
Collection: Lancashire Quarter Sessions
Description: Estimate of the cost of one prison cell complete
Dates: 1852
Archive name: Lancashire Archives
Catalogue ref: QGV/1/1
Collection: Lancashire Quarter Sessions
Description: Bills, receipts and orders of Lancaster Gaol
Dates: 1818
Archive name: Lancashire Archives
Catalogue ref: QGL/3-6
Collection: Lancashire Quarter Sessions
Description: Governors' journals
Dates: 1815-1867
Archive name: Lancashire Archives
Catalogue ref: QGL/8
Collection: Lancashire Quarter Sessions
Description: Governor's Letter Book
Dates: 1849-1856
Archive name: The National Archives
Catalogue ref: PCOM 2/442-446
Collection: Prison Commission
Description: Governors' journals
Dates: 1815-1886
Archive name: Lancashire Archives
Catalogue ref: QGR/1/44
Collection: Lancashire Quarter Sessions
Description: Diary of Surgeon at Lancaster Castle (MICROFILM)
Dates: 1843-1849
Archive name: The National Archives
Catalogue ref: PCOM2/448
Collection: Prison Commission
Description: Lancaster Gaol, Lancashire: letter book
Dates: 1849-1856
Archive name: Lancashire Archives
Catalogue ref: QGL/2
Collection: Lancashire Quarter Sessions
Description: Register of prisoners from Assizes and Quarter Sessions
Dates: 1820-1826
Archive name: The National Archives
Catalogue ref: PCOM 2/456-7
Collection: Prison Commission
Description: Lancaster Gaol, Lancashire, register of defendants
Dates: 1884-1886, 1895-1902
Archive name: The National Archives
Catalogue ref: PCOM2/441
Collection: Prison Commission
Description: Lancaster Gaol, Lancashire: register of Crown cases
Dates: 1820-1826
Archive name: The National Archives
Catalogue ref: HO 47/53/6
Collection: None
Description: A list of male convicts under sentence of transportation in the Gaol at Lancaster for the County Palatine of Lancaster (29 April 1812)
Dates: 1812
Archive name: Barrow Archive and Local Studies Centre
Catalogue ref: ZS/405
Collection: None
Description: Lancaster Castle, sentences of crown prisoners
Dates: 1807
Archive name: Lancashire Archives
Catalogue ref: QGR/1/26
Collection: Lancashire Quarter Sessions
Description: Return of deaths
Dates: 1822-1829
Archive name: Lancashire Archives
Catalogue ref: QGV/1/5
Collection: Lancashire Quarter Sessions
Description: Petition of the prisoners in Lancaster Castle for allowance of the use of tobacco as cholera was prevalent
Dates: 1832
Archive name: Lancaster Central Library
Catalogue ref: 66
Collection: None
Description: Lancaster Castle, Gaol. Transportation orders, warrants, committals, pardons, returns, writs, orders.Â
Dates: 1780-1881
Archive name: The National Archives
Catalogue ref: PL 28/5
Collection: Palatinate of Lancaster
Description: Minute books, series 1. Includes account of persons committed to Lancaster Castle Gaol for forgery (1792-January 1812), annual returns of prisoners.
Dates: 1792-1812
Archive name: Lancashire Archives
Catalogue ref: CCGJ/3
Collection: County ArchitectsÂ’ Department
Description: Record plan of Lancaster Castle Prison, showing positions of wings
Dates: 1879
Archive name: Lancashire Archives
Catalogue ref: QGB/1/5
Collection: Lancashire Quarter Sessions
Description: Records include Prison Commissioners relating to the possession of boundaries and rights of way of Lancaster Castle, witnessed by Robert Smith, R. Sidney Mitfrie, W. Hannane, John Benson. Also, heraldic seals. Plan of Lancaster Prison attached.
Dates: 1880
Archive name: The National Archives
Catalogue ref: PCOM 7/44
Collection: Prison Commission
Description: Antiquities. Lancaster Prison: disposal of articles including ancient keys of the Castle.
Dates: 1883-1901
Archive name: Birmingham Archives & Collections
Catalogue ref: MS 1509/4/86
Collection: Albright family of Edgbaston
Description: Bundle of letters including some letters describing a visit to the Lake District and to Lancaster Castle and Gaol
Dates: 1829-1831