Lincoln Castle County Gaol

Overview

Details

Records

Overview

Alternative Names   Lincoln Castle Common Gaol for the Three Divisions, Lincoln County Gaol

Prison Type   Local Prison -  Common Gaol

Jurisdiction   County

Date opened   [1789]

Date closed   1878

Location   Lincoln Castle, south side of the Castle yard   Lincoln

Map location   exact or closely approximate

County   Lincolnshire

Critical Remarks

Although the Castle was used as a gaol from early times, the County Gaol was established in 1789.

Prison Info

Alternative Names   Lincoln Castle Common Gaol for the Three Divisions, Lincoln County Gaol

Prison Type   Local Prison

Jurisdiction   County

Date opened   [1789]

Date closed   1878

Location   Lincoln Castle, south side of the Castle yard   Lincoln

Map location   exact or closely approximate
Lat.   53.2347131  Long.   -0.5418003

County   Lincolnshire

Critical Remarks

Although the Castle was used as a gaol from early times, the County Gaol was established in 1789.

Prisoner Statistics

 

Year 1818

Annual Committed   -   150

Daily Greatest number   -   82

 

Year 1823

Annual Committed   -   161

Daily Census   -   54

 

Year 1828

Annual Committed   -   208

Daily Census   -   46

 

Year 1833

Annual Committed   -   208

Daily Census   -   36

 

Year 1838

Annual Confined   -   161

Daily Census   -   25

 

Year 1843

Annual Confined   -   237

Daily Census   -   35

 

Year 1848

Annual Confined   -   129

Daily Daily average   -   17

 

Year 1853

Annual Confined   -   192

Daily Daily average   -   23

 

Year 1858

Annual Committed   -   319

Daily Daily average   -   31

 

Year 1863

Annual Committed   -   265

Daily Greatest number   -   49

 

Year 1868

Annual Committed   -   235

Daily Daily average   -   22

 

Year 1873

Annual Committed   -   133

Daily Daily average   -   13

 

Year 1878

Annual Committed   -   3

Daily Daily average   -   0

Principal Primary Sources

  • James Neild, The State of the Prisons of England, Scotland and Wales (London, 1812), p.345
  • Account of Gaols, Houses of Correction or Penitentiaries in the United Kingdom, 1818 (Parl. Papers, 1819, XVII.371), p.28
  • Fourth Report of the Committee of the Society for the Improvement of Prison Discipline and for the Reformation of Juvenile Offenders (London, 1822), Appendix, p.34; 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.77; 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, 1824, XIX.359), p.150; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1825, XXIII.1), p.150; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1826, XXIV.1), p.148; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1826-27, XIX.365), p.139; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1828, XX.327), p.158; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1829, XIX.1), p.143; Reports and Schedules Pursuant To Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1830, XXIV.1), p.144; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1830-31, XII.1), p.135; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1831-32. XXXIII.197), p.136; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1833, XXVIII.1), p.144; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1834, XLVI.1), p.135; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1835, XLIV.225), p.134; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1836, XLII.1), p.87; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1837, XLV.1), p.89; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1837-8, XLIII.227), p.94; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1839, XXXVIII.17), p.88; Reports Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1840, XXXVIII.1), p.98; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1841, XVIII.1), p.101; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1842, XXXII.1), p.103; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1843, XLIII.1), p.106; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1844, XXXIX.403), p.106; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1845, XXXVII.417), p.129; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1846, XXXIV.187), p.117; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1847, XLVII.297), p.134; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1847-48, LII.465), p.135
  • Abstract Return of Establishment and Expenditure of Gaols and Houses of Correction in England and Wales (Parl. Papers, 1840, XXXVIII.241), p.30
  • Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern and Eastern, Third Report (Parl. Papers, 1837-38, XXXI.1), p.40; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern and Eastern District, Fifth Report (Parl. Papers, 1840, XXV.565), p.22; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern and Eastern District, Seventh Report (Parl. Papers, 1842, XXI.1), p.97; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern and Eastern District, Ninth Report (Parl. Papers, 1844, XXIX.227), p.60; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern and Eastern District, Tenth Report (Parl. Papers, 1845, XXIV.1), p.174; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Midland and Eastern District, Fourteenth Report (Parl. Papers, 1849, XXVI.1), p.23; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern and Eastern District, Fifteenth Report (Parl. Papers, 1850, XXVIII.291), p.102; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern and Eastern District, Sixteenth Report (Parl. Papers, 1851, XXVII.461), p.118; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern and Eastern District, Eighteenth Report (Parl. Papers, 1856, XXXIII.1), p.31; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern and Eastern District, Nineteenth Report (Parl. Papers, 1856, XXXIII.385), p.38; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern and Eastern District, Twentieth Report (Parl. Papers, 1857, Session 1, VII.313), p.34; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern and Eastern District, Twenty-first Report (Parl. Papers, 1857, Session 2, XXIII.1), p.30; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern and Eastern District, Twenty-second Report (Parl. Papers, 1857-58, XXIX.1), p.35; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Midland District, Twenty-third Report (Parl. Papers, 1859, Session 1, XI.1), p.58; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Midland District, Twenty-fourth Report (Parl. Papers, 1860, XXXV.1), p.53; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Midland District, Twenty-fifth Report (Parl. Papers, 1860, XXXV.229), p.53; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Midland District, Twenty-sixth Report (Parl. Papers, 1861, XXIX.45), p.54; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Midland District, Twenty-seventh Report (Parl. Papers, 1862, XXV.93), p.59; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern District, Twenty-ninth Report (Parl. Papers, 1864, XXVI.89), p.31; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern District, Thirtieth Report (Parl. Papers, 1865, XXIII.257), p.57; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern District, Thirty-first Report (Parl. Papers, 1866, XXXVII.233), p.58; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern District, Thirty-second Report (Parl. Papers, 1867-68, XXXIV.1), p.47; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern District, Thirty-fourth Report (Parl. Papers, 1871, XXIX.1), p.42; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern District, Thirty-fifth Report (Parl. Papers, 1871, XXIX.529), p.57; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern District, Thirty-sixth Report (Parl. Papers, 1872, XXXI.169), p.32; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern District, Thirty-seventh Report (Parl. Papers, 1873, XXXII.337), p.57; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern District, Thirty-eighth Report (Parl. Papers, 1874, XXIX.389), p.75; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern District, Thirty-ninth Report (Parl. Papers, 1875, XXXVII.417), p.77; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern District, Fortieth Report (Parl. Papers, 1876, XXXV.417), p.77; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern District, Forty-first Report (Parl. Papers, 1877, XLIII.421), p.77; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern District, Forty-second Report (Parl. Papers, 1878, XLI.417), p.78

Additional Primary Sources

  • William White, History, Gazetteer and Directory of Lincolnshire (Sheffield, 1856), pp. 112-5

Secondary Sources

  • https://www.lincolncastle.com/content/history

Management

Archive name: Centre for Buckinghamshire Studies

Catalogue ref: Q/AG/9/3

Collection: Buckinghamshire Quarter Sessions

Description: Correspondence on provision of a carriage for transport of convicts (with drawing), including letter from Keeper of Lincoln Castle with details of the carriage used in Lincolnshire 

Dates: 1820


Archive name: Lincolnshire Archives

Catalogue ref: CoC/4/1/1-33

Collection: Lincolnshire County Committee (Gaol Sessions)

Description: Clerks' papers. Include matters such as returns of prisoners, inventories, Gaolers' and officials' reports, applications for posts, reports on the Gaol.

Dates: 1824-1883


Archive name: Lincolnshire Archives

Catalogue ref: CoC/13

Collection: Lincolnshire County Committee (Gaol Sessions)

Description: Miscellaneous records and printed items, including schedule of Acts and records of Gaol Sessions (1787-1845), index to letter / minute book of Gaol Sessions (c.1835), report re escape of Joseph Ralph from the County Gaol (1854)

Dates: 1787-1854


Archive name: Lincolnshire Archives

Catalogue ref: CoC/14/8

Collection: Lincolnshire County Committee (Gaol Sessions)

Description: Reports concerning habitual criminals held at the County Prison

Dates: 1875-1878


Archive name: Lincolnshire Archives

Catalogue ref: CoC/2/4-8

Collection: Lincolnshire County Committee (Gaol Sessions)

Description: Minutes of the Gaol Sessions

Dates: 1842-1889


Archive name: Lincolnshire Archives

Catalogue ref: CoC/3/1-6

Collection: Lincolnshire County Committee (Gaol Sessions)

Description: Magistrates' orders, including reports relating to the governance of the Gaol

Dates: 1817-1880


Archive name: Lincolnshire Archives

Catalogue ref: CoC/4/2/2-3

Collection: Lincolnshire County Committee (Gaol Sessions)

Description: Gaol Sessions letter books

Dates: 1833-1845


Archive name: Lincolnshire Archives

Catalogue ref: CoC/4/3/1-12

Collection: Lincolnshire County Committee (Gaol Sessions)

Description: Papers relating to the closure of the County Gaol under the Prison Act (1877). Some plans and drawings (c.1813), accounts. 

Dates: 1824-1883


Archive name: Lincolnshire Archives

Catalogue ref: CoC/5/3/1-5

Collection: Lincolnshire County Committee (Gaol Sessions)

Description: Prisoner statistics, including totals of prisoners in custody

Dates: 1826-1878


Archive name: Lincolnshire Archives

Catalogue ref: CoC/5/7

Collection: Lincolnshire County Committee (Gaol Sessions)

Description: Records relating to supplies and provisions, including Officials' wages 

Dates: 1864-1877


Archive name: Lincolnshire Archives

Catalogue ref: CoC/7

Collection: Lincolnshire County Committee (Gaol Sessions)

Description: Reports ordered to be printed by the House of Commons on the regulation of prisons and the condition of prison buildings (including some plans) 

Dates: 1812, 1824-1835, 1863


Archive name: Lincolnshire Archives

Catalogue ref: JARVIS VI/A/1/93

Collection: None

Description: Letter about arrangements for taking prisoners into the Castle 

Dates: 1855


Archive name: Lincolnshire Archives

Catalogue ref: MON 7/37/4

Collection: None

Description: Letter relating to abuses in Lincoln Gaol

Dates: 1811


Archive name: North East Lincolnshire Archives

Catalogue ref: 524/D/1/2

Collection: None

Description: Assignment of Gaol (Lincoln). Nevile King to Sir Robert Sheffield.

Dates: 1817


Finance

Archive name: Lincolnshire Archives

Catalogue ref: CoC/4/4

Collection: Lincolnshire County Committee (Gaol Sessions)

Description: Accounts

Dates: 1841-1883


Archive name: Lincolnshire Archives

Catalogue ref: CoC/5/9

Collection: Lincolnshire County Committee (Gaol Sessions)

Description: Accounts (vouchers not listed in detail)

Dates: 19th century


Daily Business

Archive name: Lincolnshire Archives

Catalogue ref: CoC/5/1/20-29

Collection: Lincolnshire County Committee (Gaol Sessions)

Description: Chaplains' journals

Dates: 1823-1878


Archive name: Lincolnshire Archives

Catalogue ref: CoC/5/1/1-8

Collection: Lincolnshire County Committee (Gaol Sessions)

Description: Gaoler's, Keeper's, Governor's journals

Dates: 1834-1872


Archive name: Lincolnshire Archives

Catalogue ref: CoC/5/1/9-10

Collection: Lincolnshire County Committee (Gaol Sessions)

Description: Matrons' journals

Dates: 1848-1878


Archive name: Lincolnshire Archives

Catalogue ref: CoC/5/1/11-19

Collection: Lincolnshire County Committee (Gaol Sessions)

Description: Surgeons' journals

Dates: 1823-1878


Archive name: Lincolnshire Archives

Catalogue ref: CoC/5/5

Collection: Lincolnshire County Committee (Gaol Sessions)

Description: Gate Porters' books

Dates: 1855-1882


Staff

Archive name: Lincolnshire Archives

Catalogue ref: KQS/F/Clerks' Papers/6(1829)/5

Collection: Kesteven Quarter Sessions

Description: Mentions appointment of Matron for Lincoln gaol

Dates: 1829


Archive name: Lincolnshire Archives

Catalogue ref: JARVIS VI/A/1/98

Collection: None

Description: Letter of recommendation for a candidate for Surgeon of the Lincoln Gaol 

Dates: 1855


Archive name: Lincolnshire Archives

Catalogue ref: CoC/5/8/1-6

Collection: Lincolnshire County Committee (Gaol Sessions)

Description: Applications for situations at Lincoln Castle, with testimonials 

Dates: 1827-1854


Prisoners

Archive name: Lincolnshire Archives

Catalogue ref: CoC/14/4

Collection: Lincolnshire County Committee (Gaol Sessions)

Description: Register of convicts

Dates: 1838-1874


Archive name: The National Archives

Catalogue ref: PCOM2/308

Collection: Prison Commission

Description: Register of prisoners

Dates: 1808-1842


Archive name: The National Archives

Catalogue ref: PCOM2/309

Collection: Prison Commission

Description: Register of debtors

Dates: 1810-1822


Archive name: The National Archives

Catalogue ref: PCOM2/310

Collection: Prison Commission

Description: Register of felons

Dates: 1820-1846


Archive name: Lincolnshire Archives

Catalogue ref: CoC/14/1

Collection: Lincolnshire County Committee (Gaol Sessions)

Description: List of felons and other offenders, Lincoln County Gaol

Dates: 1791-1878


Archive name: Lincolnshire Archives

Catalogue ref: CoC/14/2

Collection: Lincolnshire County Committee (Gaol Sessions)

Description: List of debtors who have been received into the Gaol of the County of Lincoln since 1 January 1791

Dates: 1809


Archive name: Lincolnshire Archives

Catalogue ref: WG/5/2/1-2

Collection: None

Description: Shrievalty papers, including list of prisoners of the Gaol in the Castle of Lincoln

Dates: 1813, 1819


Archive name: Lincolnshire Archives

Catalogue ref: 3-LINCOLN PRISON/1

Collection: Lincoln Castle Prison and Lincoln Prison

Description: Copy of Capital Punishment Amendment Act 1868 with notes on executions at Lincoln Castle and Lincoln Prison between 1868 and 1891

Dates: 1868-1891


Archive name: Lincolnshire Archives

Catalogue ref: BROG/3/1

Collection: Clerk of the Peace, Miscellaneous records

Description: Convict returns for Lincoln Castle (County Gaol), containing detailed personal information. They relate to prisoners who were transferred to the Gaol at Lincoln Castle after their conviction at Quarter Sessions courts elsewhere in the county. 

Dates: 1855-1872


Archive name: Lincolnshire Archives

Catalogue ref: CoC/14/9

Collection: Lincolnshire County Committee (Gaol Sessions)

Description: Particulars of prisoners. Each form has a photograph of the prisoner on the back. 

Dates: 1877-1878


Archive name: Lincolnshire Archives

Catalogue ref: CoC/5/4/1

Collection: Lincolnshire County Committee (Gaol Sessions)

Description: Record of weights of named prisoners on entry and monthly during confinement

Dates: 1865-1878


Archive name: Lincolnshire Archives

Catalogue ref: LQS/A/1

Collection: Lindsey Quarter Sessions

Description: Session rolls, including various returns of prisoners in Lincoln Gaol 

Dates: 1809, 1813, 1815, 1817, 1819, 1820, 1824


Land & Buildings

Archive name: Lincolnshire Archives

Catalogue ref: CoC/1

Collection: Lincolnshire County Committee (Gaol Sessions)

Description: Title deeds for Lincoln Castle and adjacent properties 

Dates: 1657-1975


Archive name: Lincolnshire Archives

Catalogue ref: CoC/13

Collection: Lincolnshire County Committee (Gaol Sessions)

Description: Miscellaneous plans

Dates: 1830s


Archive name: Lincolnshire Archives

Catalogue ref: CoC/14/3

Collection: Lincolnshire County Committee (Gaol Sessions)

Description: Plan of Lincoln Castle, showing the location of the principal buildings on the site, and plans of the attic floor, chamber floor and ground floor of the County Gaol

Dates: 1827


Archive name: Lincolnshire Archives

Catalogue ref: CoC/3/3

Collection: Lincolnshire County Committee (Gaol Sessions)

Description: Various orders for the improvement of the sanitary state of the Prison

Dates: 1849-1860


Archive name: Lincolnshire Archives

Catalogue ref: CoC/3/5

Collection: Lincolnshire County Committee (Gaol Sessions)

Description: Copies of orders relating to structural repairs and alterations

Dates: 1823-1833


Archive name: Lincolnshire Archives

Catalogue ref: CoC/5/6

Collection: Lincolnshire County Committee (Gaol Sessions)

Description: Records relating to the building, including contents and maintenance

Dates: 1825-1877


Archive name: Lincolnshire Archives

Catalogue ref: CoC/6/1-24

Collection: Lincolnshire County Committee (Gaol Sessions)

Description: Plans, specifications and building accounts for the County Gaol, Lincoln Castle

Dates: 1824-1848


Archive name: Lincolnshire Archives

Catalogue ref: CoC/7/1

Collection: Lincolnshire County Committee (Gaol Sessions)

Description: Site and ground plans of Lincoln Castle by W. Upton

Dates: 1812


Archive name: Lincolnshire Archives

Catalogue ref: LQS/B/5

Collection: Lindsey Quarter Sessions

Description: Estimate of expenses of re-building and specifications

Dates: 1845


Archive name: Lincolnshire Archives

Catalogue ref: PADLEY/2/85

Collection: None

Description: Proposed plan of Lincoln Prison

Dates: 1846