Lichfield City Gaol and House of Correction

Overview

Details

Records

Overview

Alternative Names   Lichfield City and County Gaol and Bridewell, Lichfield Gaol

Prison Type   Local Prison -  Common Gaol & House of Correction/Bridewell

Jurisdiction   Municipality

Date opened   16th century

Date closed   1866

Location   Guildhall, Boar Street   Lichfield

Map location   exact or closely approximate

County   Staffordshire

Critical Remarks

By the sixteenth century, the Lichfield Gaol had become part of the Guildhall site, and by 1803 the House of Correction was relocated to the site as well. By the 1850s, had become a lock up, but only officially closed as a local prison in 1866.

Prison Info

Alternative Names   Lichfield City and County Gaol and Bridewell, Lichfield Gaol

Prison Type   Local Prison

Jurisdiction   Municipality

Date opened   16th century

Date closed   1866

Location   Guildhall, Boar Street   Lichfield

Map location   exact or closely approximate
Lat.   52.6828022  Long.   -1.829962

County   Staffordshire

Critical Remarks

By the sixteenth century, the Lichfield Gaol had become part of the Guildhall site, and by 1803 the House of Correction was relocated to the site as well. By the 1850s, had become a lock up, but only officially closed as a local prison in 1866.

Prisoner Statistics

 

Year 1818

Annual Committed   -   32

Daily Greatest number   -   18

 

Year 1823

Annual Committed   -   23

Daily Census   -   10

 

Year 1832

Annual Committed   -   35

Daily Greatest number   -   16

 

Year 1838

Annual Confined   -   54

Daily Census   -   13

 

Year 1843

Annual Confined   -   43

Daily Census   -   3

 

Year 1848

Annual Confined   -   39

Daily Daily average   -   3

 

Year 1853

Annual Confined   -   4

Daily Daily average   -   0

 

Year 1858

Annual Committed   -   9

Daily Daily average   -   0

 

Year 1863

Annual Committed   -   22

Daily Greatest number   -   4

Principal Primary Sources

  • James Neild, The State of the Prisons of England, Scotland and Wales (London, 1812), p.344
  • Account of Gaols, Houses of Correction or Penitentiaries in the United Kingdom, 1818 (Parl. Papers, 1819, XVII.371), p.42
  • 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.127; 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.40
  • Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1824, XIX.359), p.274
  • Return of Places of Confinement Outside Gaol Acts in England and Wales (Parl. Papers, 1833, XXVIII.425), p.64
  • Royal Commission of Inquiry into Municipal Corporations of England and Wales, First Report, Appendices: Part 3 (Parl. Papers, 1835, XXIV.1), p.1928
  • Abstract Return of Establishment and Expenditure of Gaols and Houses of Correction in England and Wales (Parl. Papers, 1840, XXXVIII.241), p.54
  • Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain III. Southern and Western District. First Report (Parl. Papers, 1836, XXXV.269), p.64; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain III. Southern and Western District, Fourth Report (Parl. Papers, 1839, XXII.217), p.141; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain III. Southern and Western District, Sixth Report (Parl. Papers, 1841 Session 2, V.177), p.210; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain III. Southern and Western District, Ninth Report (Parl. Papers, 1844, XXIX.391), p.423; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain III. Southern and Western District, Eleventh Report (Parl. Papers, 1846, XXI.565), p.399; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain III. Southern and Western District, Twelfth Report (Parl. Papers, 1847-8, XXXV.1), p.398; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Midland and Eastern District, Thirteenth Report (Parl. Papers, 1847-8, XXXVI.1), p.119; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Midland District, Twenty-fourth Report (Parl. Papers, 1860, XXXV.1), p.113

Additional Primary Sources

  • William White, History, Gazetteer and Directory of Staffordshire (Sheffield, 1834), p. 77, William White, History, Gazetteer and Directory of Staffordshire (2nd edn, Sheffield, 1851), p. 494

Secondary Sources

  • http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/staffs/vol14/pp73-87#h3-0016

Management

Archive name: Lichfield Record Office

Catalogue ref: D25/1/1-3

Collection: Lichfield Quarter Sessions

Description: Order books. Highly likely to contain material on the administration of Lichfield City Gaol

Dates: 1758-1923