Alternative Names Lewes House of Correction
Prison Type Local Prison - House of Correction/Bridewell
Jurisdiction County
Date opened 1793
Date closed 1854
Location North Street (corner of North Street and Lancaster Street) Lewes
Map location exact or closely approximate
County Sussex
In 1845 became the County Gaol for East Sussex. In 1854, when the new local prison was opened at Brighton Road, this prison was acquired by the Navy for use as a Naval Prison. From 1857 to 1859, it was temporarily used as a convict prison (ID 1009).
Alternative Names Lewes House of Correction
Prison Type Local Prison
Jurisdiction County
Date opened 1793
Date closed 1854
Location North Street (corner of North Street and Lancaster Street) Lewes
Map location exact or closely approximate
Lat. 50.875645 Long. 0.011726
County Sussex
In 1845 became the County Gaol for East Sussex. In 1854, when the new local prison was opened at Brighton Road, this prison was acquired by the Navy for use as a Naval Prison. From 1857 to 1859, it was temporarily used as a convict prison (ID 1009).
Year 1818
Annual Committed - 542
Daily Greatest number - 132
Year 1823
Annual Committed - 688
Daily Census - 121
Year 1828
Annual Committed - 721
Daily Census - 79
Year 1833
Annual Committed - 1085
Daily Census - 145
Year 1838
Annual Confined - 1199
Daily Census - 127
Year 1843
Annual Confined - 1078
Daily Census - 89
Year 1848
Annual Confined - 1290
Daily Daily average - 161
Year 1853
Annual Confined - 1172
Daily Daily average - 168
Archive name: East Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: QAF/3/1/1
Collection: Sussex Quarter Sessions
Description: Minute Book. Includes Chaplain's annual reports on the Lewes Gaol and House of Correction.
Dates: 1849-1854, 1836-1845
Archive name: East Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: SHR 171-179
Collection: Papers of George Shiffner
Description: Includes Chaplain's report on Lewes House of Correction.
Dates: 1838-1839
Archive name: East Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: ACC 2300/6/5/2/2
Collection: None
Description: Commission of Gaol delivery at Lewes
Dates: 1829
Archive name: East Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: PEV 253
Collection: Pevensey Corporation
Description: Copy contract between the County Justices and the Justices for Pevensey for receiving prisoners from Pevensey into the County Gaol and House of Correction at Lewes
Dates: 1825
Archive name: East Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: QAP/2/14
Collection: Sussex Quarter Sessions
Description: Papers concerning tread mill.
Dates: 1822-1836
Archive name: East Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: QAP/2/16a
Collection: Sussex Quarter Sessions
Description: Records of the committee, minutes, reports and orders authorising payments of accounts
Dates: 1832-1839
Archive name: East Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: QAP/2/16b
Collection: Sussex Quarter Sessions
Description: Minutes of Improvement Committee
Dates: 1832-1833
Archive name: East Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: QAP/2/17
Collection: Sussex Quarter Sessions
Description: Committee reports and papers (minutes, reports, estimates)
Dates: 1832-1834
Archive name: East Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: QAP/2/2
Collection: Sussex Quarter Sessions
Description: Weekly mess return
Dates: 1815-1817
Archive name: East Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: QAP/2/3
Collection: Sussex Quarter Sessions
Description: Papers on carrying into execution 1823 Gaol Act
Dates: 1823-1824
Archive name: East Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: QAP/2/4/1-7
Collection: Sussex Quarter Sessions
Description: Reports and returns
Dates: 1823-1859
Archive name: East Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: QAP/2/5/1-5
Collection: Sussex Quarter Sessions
Description: Contracts for supplies and maintenance
Dates: 1824-1856
Archive name: East Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: QCA/7/2/1
Collection: Sussex Quarter Sessions
Description: Reversed - accounts, including Quarter Sessions for the mill in Lewes House of Correction
Dates: 1823
Archive name: East Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: R/L 25/3 folio 69v
Collection: East Sussex County Council
Description: Agreement to a water-tank being placed in the market to allow water to be pumped up to that level of the town by prisoners in the (Lewes) House of Correction
Dates: 1829
Archive name: East Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: RYE 88/1-7
Collection: Archive of Rye Corporation
Description: Papers regarding maintenance of borough prisoners in county prisons
Dates: 1821-1845
Archive name: East Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: SEA 128-129
Collection: Seaford Corporation
Description: Quarterly account of prisoners committed to the House of Correction at Lewes
Dates: 1847
Archive name: Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre
Catalogue ref: A1/516/4
Collection: Wiltshire Quarter Sessions
Description: Printed papers concerning Gaol administration in other Counties. Including rules for Horsham, Lewes, and Petworth (1824). Hints for the improvement of Prisons (1817).
Dates: 1807-1824
Archive name: East Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: QAP/2/10/1-2
Collection: Sussex Quarter Sessions
Description: Miscellaneous papers. Including medical matters, correspondence, newspaper cuttings, visitors, plans of the prison, etc
Dates: 1815-1887
Archive name: East Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: ACC 3609
Collection: None
Description: Lewes Prison, Visiting Justices' minute books
Dates: 1847-1854
Archive name: East Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: ACC 5244/2/10
Collection: None
Description: Report of the Visiting Justices of the House of Correction in Lewes, with covering correspondence
Dates: 1837-1838
Archive name: East Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: HAS CBM/59
Collection: Hastings Corporation
Description: Letter from George Hoper, Lewes, to the Hastings Treasurer, with account of disbursements for prisoners in the County Gaols
Dates: 1830
Archive name: East Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: P 304/59/2
Collection: Parish Records
Description: Warrant of George Ashby, high constable to the churchwardens and overseers of Friston, to levy a rate for improvements to the house of correction, Lewes
Dates: 1838
Archive name: East Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: QAF/2/1/13
Collection: Sussex Quarter Sessions
Description: County stock account book. Includes House of Correction building account.
Dates: 1833-1839, 1838-1839
Archive name: East Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: QAP/2/18
Collection: Sussex Quarter Sessions
Description: Tenders for loans and works
Dates: 1832-1835
Archive name: East Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: QAP/2/19-24
Collection: Sussex Quarter Sessions
Description: Building and extentions: financial documents (mortgages, accounts, contracts, bonds)
Dates: 1833-1839
Archive name: East Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: WIN 1654-1660
Collection: Winchelsea Corporation
Description: Letters from County Treasurers, acknowledging payments in respect of Winchelsea prisoners in the County Gaols at Lewes and Battle
Dates: 1839-1849
Archive name: East Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: WIN 1661-1687
Collection: Winchelsea Corporation
Description: Quarterly accounts and receipts for sums paid for the maintenance of Winchelsea prisoners in the County Gaols at Lewes and Battle
Dates: 1823-1866
Archive name: East Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: P 284/24/
Collection: Parish Records
Description: Contains letters from Messrs Kell and Son, Lewes, Clerks to the Visiting Justices of the House of Correction, to the Overseers of Burwash seeking maintenance payments for the children of prisoners
Dates: c.1830s
Archive name: East Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: AMS 6998/2/1
Collection: None
Description: List of bills for county works. Including House of Correction
Dates: 1845
Archive name: East Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: ACC 3656
Collection: None
Description: Prison Chaplain's notebook. (The prison is not identified, but likely Lewes House of Correction.)
Dates: 1842-1843
Archive name: West Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: Ep/I/76/3
Collection: Diocese of Chicester records
Description: Copy licence to Anthony Nott as Chaplain to Lewes House of Correction
Dates: 1825
Archive name: East Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: QAP/2/7
Collection: Sussex Quarter Sessions
Description: Appointment of Keeper and Chaplain. Applications with testimonials, and bond entered into by John Sanders as Keeper.
Dates: 1825-1839
Archive name: East Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: FRE 2658/14
Collection: None
Description: Letter written from Leicestershire by Thomas Bishopp to John Frewen about taking up his appointment to the parish of Sapcote, his wish to be appointed as Surgeon to one or both of the Gaols (probably Hastings and Lewes), and his medical workÂ
Dates: pre-1807
Archive name: East Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: HOOK 22/4-7
Collection: Archive of Poole Family
Description: A Clandestine Communication by a Smasher (an Utterer of Counterfeit Coin). Written on brown paper, with blood, copied from the (Lewes House of Correction). Governor's journal (15 February 1844), together with verses and 2 letters written by prisoners.
Dates: 1844
Archive name: East Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: GIL 4/259 and CX 37 (copy)
Collection: None
Description: Plan and elevation of the House of Correction at Lewes
Dates: 1816
Archive name: East Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: HOOK 22/11/1
Collection: Archive of Poole Family
Description: Notes on Timothy Burrell's diary, with copy letters (1843-1849) to and from Lewes Gaol prisoners in the back
Dates: 1843-1849Â
Archive name: East Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: PAR 414/35/1/224
Collection: None
Description: Letter from James Novis, House of Correction, Lewes to Edwin Neal, Lewes. Asks for his family to be supported while he is confined.
Dates: 1827
Archive name: East Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: PAR 511/35/1/229
Collection: None
Description: Letter from Samuel Easton, House of Correction, Lewes to (Charles) Arnett, Winchelsea, (Assistant) Overseer, requested mitigation of his punishment
Dates: 1826
Archive name: East Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: QAP/2/8
Collection: Sussex Quarter Sessions
Description: Weekly state of prisoners giving employment of prisoners classified by offences
Dates: 1846-1847
Archive name: East Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: SAS/DM 345-52
Collection: None
Description: Orders for pardons, remissions of sentence, commutations of death sentence etc relating to Horsham and Lewes Gaols
Dates: 1821-1840
Archive name: East Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: SPK 1/24/55
Collection: Baker Holroyd Family
Description: Letter regarding escape of three prisoners from the House of Correction at Lewes
Dates: 1819
Archive name: East Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: ABE/38T
Collection: None
Description: Sale of pasturage rights over the site of the present Lewes Prison
Dates: 1849
Archive name: East Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: BRN
Collection: C. F. Bridgman (formerly C. Parsons), Masons, Lewes
Description: Includes papers relating to work done on the Gaol and the House of Correction for the County Magistrates
Dates: undated
Archive name: East Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: C/R 4/11
Collection: East Sussex County Council
Description: Surveyors' department. Includes estimate of of the costs of alterations to the House of Correction at Lewes
Dates: 1844
Archive name: East Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: HF/1/1-28
Collection: None
Description: Deeds and papers relating to 8 North Street, Lewes (site of the former House of Correction), including its sale
Dates: 1673-1964.
Archive name: East Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: QAP/2/1/1-2
Collection: Sussex Quarter Sessions
Description: Prison inventory, Lewes Common Gaol and House of Correction
Dates: 1814
Archive name: East Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: QAP/2/13
Collection: Sussex Quarter Sessions
Description: Papers concerning extension.
Dates: 1817-1818
Archive name: East Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: QAP/2/15a-b
Collection: Sussex Quarter Sessions
Description: Sessions Orders concerning alterations and extensions to the building
Dates: 1832-1834
Archive name: East Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: QAP/2/25/1-4
Collection: Sussex Quarter Sessions
Description: Reports, plans and papers: proposed extensions
Dates: 1841-1847
Archive name: East Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: QAP/2/26
Collection: Sussex Quarter Sessions
Description: Draft conveyance of old Prison to Admiralty - with correspondence
Dates: 1854
Archive name: East Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: QAP/2/5/6
Collection: Sussex Quarter Sessions
Description: Tenders for supplies and work on county buildings (Lewes Gaol)
Dates: 1843
Archive name: East Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: QDP/102/1
Collection: Sussex Quarter Sessions
Description: Plan of a proposed line of road from the western side of the Malling to Witch Cross Turnpike Road near the Mile Post. Lewes Gaol, the Cliff and Upper Stoneham are marked.
Dates: 1827
Archive name: East Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: QDP/57/1
Collection: Sussex Quarter Sessions
Description: Plan of Lewes House of Correction as altered in 1816. By J. Cowper. No scale. Front elevation and plan showing extension of cells.
Dates: 1816
Archive name: East Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: R/A 2/516/12-18
Collection: East Sussex County Council
Description: Plans, Lewes House of Correction. Treadmill, proposed alterations etc
Dates: 1828-1844
Archive name: East Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: ACC 10814/1
Collection: None
Description: Sketchbook of Sussex views. Including drawing of Lewes Prison.
Dates: 1851
Archive name: Hampshire Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: COPY/745/2
Collection: Crosthwaite-Eyre documents
Description: Copy of letter from George Eyre to John Briscoe giving an account of a visit to Lewes Gaol and his impressions of the 'silent system' being tested there.
Dates: 1835
