Leicester County House of Correction

Overview

Details

Records

Overview

Prison Type   Local Prison -  House of Correction/Bridewell

Jurisdiction   County

Date opened   1820

Date closed   1847

Location   Infirmary Square   Leicester

Map location   exact or closely approximate

County   Leicestershire

Critical Remarks

From 1829, all female prisoners sent to the Female House of Correction included in the County Gaol (ID 40). In 1847, the prison was closed and all prisoners relocated to the new House of Correction at the County Gaol.

Prison Info

Prison Type   Local Prison

Jurisdiction   County

Date opened   1820

Date closed   1847

Location   Infirmary Square   Leicester

Map location   exact or closely approximate
Lat.   52.6285514  Long.   -1.1353497

County   Leicestershire

Critical Remarks

From 1829, all female prisoners sent to the Female House of Correction included in the County Gaol (ID 40). In 1847, the prison was closed and all prisoners relocated to the new House of Correction at the County Gaol.

Prisoner Statistics

 

Year 1823

Annual Committed   -   353

Daily Census   -   53

 

Year 1828

Annual Committed   -   505

Daily Census   -   113

 

Year 1833

Annual Committed   -   518

Daily Census   -   63

 

Year 1838

Annual Confined   -   615

Daily Census   -   104

 

Year 1843

Annual Confined   -   799

Daily Census   -   113

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.44
  • Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1824, XIX.359), p.148; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1825, XXIII.1), p.144; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1826, XXIV.1), p.146; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1826-27, XIX.365), p.137; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1828, XX.327), p.147; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1829, XIX.1), p.139; Reports and Schedules Pursuant To Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1830, XXIV.1), p.135; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1830-31, XII.1), p.131; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1831-32. XXXIII.197), p.132; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1833, XXVIII.1), p.139; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1834, XLVI.1), p.128; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1835, XLIV.225), p.130; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1836, XLII.1), p.83; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1837, XLV.1), p.87; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1837-8, XLIII.227), p.92; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1839, XXXVIII.17), p.86; Reports Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1840, XXXVIII.1), p.96; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1841, XVIII.1), p.99; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1842, XXXII.1), p.101; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1843, XLIII.1), p.103; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1844, XXXIX.403), p.102; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1845, XXXVII.417), p.125; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1846, XXXIV.187), p.113
  • Abstract Return of Establishment and Expenditure of Gaols and Houses of Correction in England and Wales (Parl. Papers, 1840, XXXVIII.241), p.28
  • Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain III. Southern and Western District. First Report (Parl. Papers, 1836, XXXV.269), p.36; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain III. Southern and Western District, Fourth Report (Parl. Papers, 1839, XXII.217), p.214; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain III. Southern and Western District, Sixth Report (Parl. Papers, 1841 Session 2, V.177), p.202; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain III. Southern and Western District, Seventh Report (Parl. Papers, 1842, XXI.193), p.171; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain III. Southern and Western District, Ninth Report (Parl. Papers, 1844, XXIX.391), p.268; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain III. Southern and Western District, Eleventh Report (Parl. Papers, 1846, XXI.565), p.245; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain III. Southern and Western District, Twelfth Report (Parl. Papers, 1847-8, XXXV.1), p.250

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. 77

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: QS32/2/11

Collection: Leicestershire Quarter Sessions

Description: Report, and other papers, of the Justices' Committee of inquiry into the crowded state and inadequacy of the House of Correction

Dates: 1842


Finance

Archive name: Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland

Catalogue ref: 71'29/1

Collection: None

Description: Account of money spent on building the House of Correction for the County of Leicester. Includes purchase of lands, legal expenses, Surveyors' fees and building expenses, year by year 

Dates: 1814-1820


Archive name: Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland

Catalogue ref: QS112/198, 203, 208, 213, 219

Collection: Leicestershire Quarter Sessions

Description: New House of Correction rebuilding account 

Dates: 1815-1820


Archive name: Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland

Catalogue ref: QS112/295, 308, 317

Collection: Leicestershire Quarter Sessions

Description: Abstracts of fines and penalties due from Petty Sessional Courts, Gaol and House of Correction 

Dates: 1837-1838, 1840-1843


Staff

Archive name: Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland

Catalogue ref: QS32/4/2

Collection: Leicestershire Quarter Sessions

Description: Bundle of applications for post of Governor of House of Correction

Dates: 1823


Archive name: Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland

Catalogue ref: QS32/4/3

Collection: Leicestershire Quarter Sessions

Description: Bundle of depositions about the drunkenness of Mrs Allen, Matron at the House of Correction

Dates: 1827


Land & Buildings

Archive name: Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland

Catalogue ref: QS32/3/12/1

Collection: Leicestershire Quarter Sessions

Description: Agreement (with specifications attached) and bond for building a new House of Correction in the Parish of St Mary's

Dates: 1815


Archive name: Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland

Catalogue ref: QS32/3/12/1-6

Collection: Leicestershire Quarter Sessions

Description: Papers relating to building the New House of Correction

Dates: 1814-1815


Archive name: Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland

Catalogue ref: QS32/3/12/4

Collection: Leicestershire Quarter Sessions

Description: Letter giving measurements of land purchased from Henry Wood for a new House of Correction

Dates: 1815


Archive name: Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland

Catalogue ref: QS32/3/12/6

Collection: Leicestershire Quarter Sessions

Description: File of tenders for building House of Correction

Dates: 1814


Archive name: Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland

Catalogue ref: QS32/3/13

Collection: Leicestershire Quarter Sessions

Description: Agreement (with sketch plan) for erection of a building at the House of Correction, to contain the prisoners' cart, pillory, hanging apparatus etc

Dates: 1822