Leicester County Gaol

Overview

Details

Records

Overview

Prison Type   Local Prison -  Common Gaol

Jurisdiction   County

Date opened   [1792]

Date closed   1828

Location   east side of High Cross Street near Causeway Lane   Leicester

Map location   exact or closely approximate

County   Leicestershire

Critical Remarks

County Gaol was rebuilt on this site in 1790-2. The original foundation date is unknown. When the County Gaol was moved to premises in Welford Road in 1828 (ID 40), the Borough Gaol (ID 108) took over this site.

Prison Info

Prison Type   Local Prison

Jurisdiction   County

Date opened   [1792]

Date closed   1828

Location   east side of High Cross Street near Causeway Lane   Leicester

Map location   exact or closely approximate
Lat.   52.6374024  Long.   -1.138475

County   Leicestershire

Critical Remarks

County Gaol was rebuilt on this site in 1790-2. The original foundation date is unknown. When the County Gaol was moved to premises in Welford Road in 1828 (ID 40), the Borough Gaol (ID 108) took over this site.

Prisoner Statistics

 

Year 1818

Annual Committed   -   136

Daily Greatest number   -   91

 

Year 1823

Annual Committed   -   101

Daily Census   -   51

 

Year 1828

Annual Committed   -   226

Daily Census   -   30

Principal Primary Sources

  • James Neild, The State of the Prisons of England, Scotland and Wales (London, 1812), p.333
  • Account of Gaols, Houses of Correction or Penitentiaries in the United Kingdom, 1818 (Parl. Papers, 1819, XVII.371), p.26
  • 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.44; 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.48; 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.66; 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.75
  • Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1824, XIX.359), p.146; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1825, XXIII.1), p.142; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1826, XXIV.1), p.144; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1826-27, XIX.365), p.135; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1828, XX.327), p.145; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1829, XIX.1), p.138

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: QS32/2/7

Collection: Leicestershire Quarter Sessions

Description: Quarterly reports by the Gaoler (of Old Gaol) and the Keeper of House of Correction, and report on the progress of building work at the new Gaol by County Surveyor

Dates: 1828


Archive name: Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland

Catalogue ref: QS102/1

Collection: Leicestershire Quarter Sessions

Description: Case about the powers of the Leicester Borough Justices to imprison in the County Gaol and House of Correction for offences committed in the Liberties 

Dates: 1821


Archive name: Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland

Catalogue ref: QS102/2

Collection: Leicestershire Quarter Sessions

Description: Bundle of papers concerning right by Borough to commit prisoners to the County Gaol and to claim from County Treasurer for payment of its costs for prosecutions

Dates: 1824-1826


Archive name: Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland

Catalogue ref: QS32/3/15/1

Collection: Leicestershire Quarter Sessions

Description: Draft minutes and papers of Gaol Committee

Dates: 1824


Finance

Archive name: Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland

Catalogue ref: QS32/2/8

Collection: Leicestershire Quarter Sessions

Description: Order of Quarter Sessions as to expenses of conveying prisoners to Gaol

Dates: 1828


Staff

Archive name: Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland

Catalogue ref: QS32/2/4

Collection: Leicestershire Quarter Sessions

Description: Draft indictment against Christopher Musson, Keeper of County Gaol, for refusing to obey the order of the Borough Court for the delivery of a prisoner committed for trial to the Borough Sessions

Dates: 1825


Prisoners

Archive name: Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland

Catalogue ref: QS14/2/(i), (vi)

Collection: Leicestershire Quarter Sessions

Description: Lists of debtors in Leicester Prison, by John Simmons, Gaoler

Dates: 1804, 1806


Archive name: Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland

Catalogue ref: QS14/2/(i), QS14/2/(vi)

Collection: Leicestershire Quarter Sessions

Description: Lists of debtors in Leicester Prison by J. Simon, Gaoler 

Dates: 1804, 1806


Archive name: Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland

Catalogue ref: 1577/1885

Collection: None

Description: Duplicate certificate, with receipt, of Leicester prisoners sent to the hulks

Dates: 1818


Archive name: Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland

Catalogue ref: 16D35/5

Collection: None

Description: Assignment of prisoners to the County Gaol

Dates: 1815