Leicester Borough Gaol

Overview

Details

Records

Overview

Alternative Names   Leicester Town Gaol

Prison Type   Local Prison -  Common Gaol

Jurisdiction   Municipality

Date opened   1297 [1793]

Date closed   1829

Location   Highcross Street   Leicester

Map location   exact or closely approximate

County   Leicestershire

Critical Remarks

A Borough Gaol existed from 1297, its most recent rebuilding on its original Highcross Street site before the opening of the nineteenth century being in 1792-3. The Town Bridewell (ID 637) adjoining this building. In 1829, the Borough Gaol moved to new premises further up Highcross Street (see ID 108), namely those of the old County Gaol (ID 491).

Prison Info

Alternative Names   Leicester Town Gaol

Prison Type   Local Prison

Jurisdiction   Municipality

Date opened   1297 [1793]

Date closed   1829

Location   Highcross Street   Leicester

Map location   exact or closely approximate
Lat.   52.636136  Long.   -1.1399167

County   Leicestershire

Critical Remarks

A Borough Gaol existed from 1297, its most recent rebuilding on its original Highcross Street site before the opening of the nineteenth century being in 1792-3. The Town Bridewell (ID 637) adjoining this building. In 1829, the Borough Gaol moved to new premises further up Highcross Street (see ID 108), namely those of the old County Gaol (ID 491).

Prisoner Statistics

 

Year 1818

Annual Committed   -   311

Daily Greatest number   -   62

 

Year 1828

Annual Committed   -   480

Daily Census   -   43

Principal Primary Sources

  • James Neild, The State of the Prisons of England, Scotland and Wales (London, 1812), p.338
  • Account of Gaols, Houses of Correction or Penitentiaries in the United Kingdom, 1818 (Parl. Papers, 1819, XVII.371), p.28
  • 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.45; 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.49; 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.68; 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.76; 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.23
  • Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1829, XIX.1), p.324; Reports and Schedules Pursuant To Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1830, XXIV.1), p.328

Additional Primary Sources

  • William White, History, Gazetteer and Directory of Leicestershire and the small county of Rutland, together with the adjacent towns of Grantham and Stamford (Sheffield, 1846), p. 76

Management

Archive name: Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland

Catalogue ref: 8D43/2

Collection: Information regarding the escape of prisoners from the Borough Gaol and various papers relating to the Gaol

Description: Report on state and condition of the gaol and house of correction of the borough of Leicester, with number of prisoners confined therein, by W. Owston, gaoler

Dates: 1823


Staff

Archive name: Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland

Catalogue ref: 8D43/1

Collection: Information regarding the escape of prisoners from the Borough Gaol and various papers relating to the Gaol

Description: Copy of informations of Welborn Owston, Gaoler, Elizabeth Owston his wife, and John Simons, Keeper of County Gaol, regarding the escape of Walter Snow, Thomas Robinson and William Walker from the Borough Gaol 

Dates: 1809


Prisoners

Archive name: Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland

Catalogue ref: O.S. 1

Collection: None

Description: Commitment of Thomas Hill and William Lovett, prisoners, for assisting the escape of prisoners from Leicester Borough Gaol

Dates: 1809


Land & Buildings

Archive name: Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland

Catalogue ref: BR IV/2/4

Collection: Leicester Borough

Description: Bonds records for repairs to Gaol 

Dates: 1828