Lawford’s Gate House of Correction

Overview

Details

Records

Overview

Alternative Names   Lawford's Gate, County Bridewell

Prison Type   Local Prison -  House of Correction/Bridewell

Jurisdiction   County

Date opened   1791

Date closed   [1854]

Location   out-parish of St Philip and St Jacob of City Of Bristol, at Lawford's Gate (under current Gloucester House, Bristol)   Bristol

Map location   exact or closely approximate

County   Gloucestershire

Critical Remarks

Last appears in the penal statistics for 1853.

Prison Info

Alternative Names   Lawford's Gate, County Bridewell

Prison Type   Local Prison

Jurisdiction   County

Date opened   1791

Date closed   [1854]

Location   out-parish of St Philip and St Jacob of City Of Bristol, at Lawford's Gate (under current Gloucester House, Bristol)   Bristol

Map location   exact or closely approximate
Lat.   51.4958492  Long.   -2.590455

County   Gloucestershire

Critical Remarks

Last appears in the penal statistics for 1853.

Prisoner Statistics

 

Year 1818

Annual Committed   -   316

Daily Greatest number   -   42

 

Year 1823

Annual Committed   -   177

Daily Census   -   7

 

Year 1828

Annual Committed   -   288

Daily Census   -   9

 

Year 1833

Annual Committed   -   311

Daily Census   -   25

 

Year 1838

Annual Confined   -   247

Daily Census   -   12

 

Year 1843

Annual Confined   -   250

Daily Census   -   18

 

Year 1848

Annual Confined   -   348

Daily Daily average   -   33

 

Year 1853

Annual Confined   -   190

Daily Daily average   -   14

Principal Primary Sources

  • James Neild, The State of the Prisons of England, Scotland and Wales (London, 1812), p.81
  • Account of Gaols, Houses of Correction or Penitentiaries in the United Kingdom, 1818 (Parl. Papers, 1819, XVII.371), p.16
  • 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.27; 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.38; 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.46; 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.14
  • Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1824, XIX.359), p.108; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1825, XXIII.1), p.102; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1826, XXIV.1), p.98; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1826-27, XIX.365), p.96; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1828, XX.327), p.105; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1829, XIX.1), p.98; Reports and Schedules Pursuant To Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1830, XXIV.1), p.93; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1830-31, XII.1), p.92; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1831-32. XXXIII.197), p.95; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1833, XXVIII.1), p.97; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1834, XLVI.1), p.91; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1835, XLIV.225), p.94; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1836, XLII.1), p.58; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1837, XLV.1), p.62; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1837-8, XLIII.227), p.60; Reports Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1840, XXXVIII.1), p.58; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1841, XVIII.1), p.61; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1842, XXXII.1), p.60; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1843, XLIII.1), p.67; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1844, XXXIX.403), p.61; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1845, XXXVII.417), p.71; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1846, XXXIV.187), p.70; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1847, XLVII.297), p.75; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1847-48, LII.465), p.73
  • Abstract Return of Establishment and Expenditure of Gaols and Houses of Correction in England and Wales (Parl. Papers, 1840, XXXVIII.241), p.16
  • Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain III. Southern and Western District, Third Report (Parl. Papers, 1837-38, XXXI.177), p.46; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain III. Southern and Western District, Fifth Report (Parl. Papers, 1840, XXV.721), p.97; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain III. Southern and Western District, Seventh Report (Parl. Papers, 1842, XXI.193), p.122; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain III. Southern and Western District, Ninth Report (Parl. Papers, 1844, XXIX.391), p.192; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain III. Southern and Western District, Tenth Report (Parl. Papers, 1845, XXIV.207), p.171; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain III. Southern and Western District, Eleventh Report (Parl. Papers, 1846, XXI.565), p.168; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain III. Southern and Western District, Twelfth Report (Parl. Papers, 1847-8, XXXV.1), p.178; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain III. Southern and Western District, Thirteenth Report (Parl. Papers, 1847-8, XXXVI.133), p.133; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain III. Southern and Western District, Fifteenth Report (Parl. Papers, 1850, XXVIII.579), p.111; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain III. Southern and Western District, Eighteenth Report (Parl. Papers, 1852-53, LII.113), p.90

Secondary Sources

  • http://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/archives/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=55302&p=0

Management

Archive name: Gloucestershire Archives

Catalogue ref: Q/AG/20

Collection: Gloucestershire Quarter Sessions

Description: Answers to Queries from Quarter Sessions as to schedule for hard labour, by Governor and Keepers of Prisons

Dates: 1842


Archive name: Gloucestershire Archives

Catalogue ref: Q/CR/27/48-128

Collection: Gloucestershire Quarter Sessions

Description: Houses of Correction. Original half-yearly returns (with a few drafts and copies) from Keepers to Clerk of the Peace

Dates: 1847-1860


Archive name: Gloucestershire Archives

Catalogue ref: Q/AG/11-12

Collection: Gloucestershire Quarter Sessions

Description: Copy orders of Quarter Sessions respecting the new Gaol, Penitentiary House and Houses of Correction

Dates: 1789-1823


Archive name: Gloucestershire Archives

Catalogue ref: Q/Gla/2

Collection: Gloucestershire Quarter Sessions

Description: Orders made at Quarter Sessions

Dates: 1844-1867


Archive name: Gloucestershire Archives

Catalogue ref: Q/SO/12-21

Collection: Gloucestershire Quarter Sessions

Description: Order books. Contain material on the administration of the county prisons. The catalogue describes contents of some books in substantial detail.

Dates: 1799-1868


Archive name: Gloucestershire Archives

Catalogue ref: Q/AG/19

Collection: Gloucestershire Quarter Sessions

Description: Reports of Governor of County Gaol and Keepers of the Houses of Correction to Quarter Sessions. Also, draft reports from Chairman of Quarter Sessions to the Secretary of State. With some reports of Visiting Justices

Dates: 1825-1887


Finance

Archive name: Bristol Archives

Catalogue ref: F/AC/Box/125/4

Collection: None

Description: Chamberlain's vouchers. Improvements including to Bridewell, Newgate and including expenses of Lawford Gate Prison (1813)

Dates: 1813


Daily Business

Archive name: Gloucestershire Archives

Catalogue ref: Q/Gla/1

Collection: Gloucestershire Quarter Sessions

Description: Keeper's journal

Dates: 1820-1826


Staff

Archive name: Gloucestershire Archives

Catalogue ref: Q/AG/30/32

Collection: Gloucestershire Quarter Sessions

Description: Applications for posts at Lawford's Gate House of Correction (governor)

Dates: 1845


Land & Buildings

Archive name: Bristol Archives

Catalogue ref: D/77/1

Collection: None

Description: Books of City properties, plans of Lawford's Gate Prison

Dates: 1857-1885


Archive name: Gloucestershire Archives

Catalogue ref: D2593/2/55

Collection: Fulljames and Waller of Gloucester, Architects

Description: Bristol - alterations and additions to Lawford's Gate House of Correction

Dates: 1843-1844


Archive name: Gloucestershire Archives

Catalogue ref: D2593/2/6

Collection: Fulljames and Waller of Gloucester, Architects

Description: Stapleton - rebuilding of Lawfords Gate House of Correction after destruction during Bristol Riots. Includes working drawings, plans, elevations, sections, specification, details and copies made by Fulljames of original drawings for House of Correction (c.1790)

Dates: 1831-1833


Archive name: Gloucestershire Archives

Catalogue ref: Q/AG/3

Collection: Gloucestershire Quarter Sessions

Description: Building plans, original. Lawford's Gate Petty Sessional Court in Prison, plans and proposed alterations

Dates: 1859


Archive name: Gloucestershire Archives

Catalogue ref: Q/RUm/201/2

Collection: Gloucestershire Quarter Sessions

Description: Bristol water supply improvements, plan and section (volume, printed), book of reference, W. H. Townsend and G. C. Ashmead, Bristol, Surveyors, Jason Simpson, London, Engineer. Includes new Gaol, Lawford's Gate Prison

Dates: 1845


Images

Archive name: Bristol Archives

Catalogue ref: K450

Collection: None

Description: Bristol Riots - Prisoners Escorted by Torchlight, oil on paper by James Baker Pyne

Dates: 1832


Archive name: Bristol Archives

Catalogue ref: M4115

Collection: None

Description: Bristol Riots - The Gaol Burning, oil on paper by William Walter Wheatley

Dates: 1831


Archive name: Bristol Archives

Catalogue ref: M4117

Collection: None

Description: Bristol Riots - The Burning of Lawford's Gate Prison, oil on paper by James Baker Pyne

Dates: 1831


Archive name: Bristol Archives

Catalogue ref: PicBox/5/EvPic/10

Collection: None

Description: Lawford's Gate Gaol burning, Bristol Riots

Dates: 1831


Archive name: Bristol Archives

Catalogue ref: Postcards/87/1-6

Collection: None

Description: Postcard photographs, aspects of Lawford's Gate Prison

Dates: c.1900