Alternative Names Cold Bath Fields County House of Correction, Cold Bath Fields Prison, Cold Bath Fields County Gaol
Prison Type Local Prison - House of Correction/Bridewell
Jurisdiction County
Date opened [1794]
Date closed 1885
Location Mount Pleasant, Clerkenwell London, Clerkenwell
Map location exact or closely approximate
County Middlesex
A House of Correction on this site from the early seventeenth century. But the Middlesex House of Correction built between 1788 and 1794. From c1850, only accepted male prisoners aged 17 and over (juvenile males and females sent to Tothill Fields, ID 632).
Alternative Names Cold Bath Fields County House of Correction, Cold Bath Fields Prison, Cold Bath Fields County Gaol
Prison Type Local Prison
Jurisdiction County
Date opened [1794]
Date closed 1885
Location Mount Pleasant, Clerkenwell London, Clerkenwell
Map location exact or closely approximate
Lat. 51.525278 Long. -0.112778
County Middlesex
Image Attribution 'Bird's-eye view of Cold Bath Fields' in Mayhew and Binny, Criminal Prisons of London (1862), facing p. 234
A House of Correction on this site from the early seventeenth century. But the Middlesex House of Correction built between 1788 and 1794. From c1850, only accepted male prisoners aged 17 and over (juvenile males and females sent to Tothill Fields, ID 632).
Year 1818
Annual Committed - 3902
Daily Greatest number - 472
Year 1824
Annual Committed - 3831
Daily Census - 472
Year 1828
Annual Committed - 5884
Daily Census - 860
Year 1833
Annual Committed - 10456
Daily Census - 965
Year 1838
Annual Confined - 9259
Daily Census - 1164
Year 1843
Annual Confined - 11000
Daily Census - 1105
Year 1848
Annual Confined - 10338
Daily Daily average - 1112
Year 1853
Annual Confined - 9665
Daily Daily average - 1211
Year 1858
Annual Committed - 7494
Daily Daily average - 1380
Year 1863
Annual Committed - 7637
Daily Greatest number - 1760
Year 1868
Annual Committed - 8898
Daily Daily average - 1587
Year 1873
Annual Committed - 11400
Daily Daily average - 1816
Year 1878
Annual Committed - 11687
Daily Daily average - 1830
Year 1883
Annual Committed - 6051
Daily Daily average - 1326
Archive name: Cambridge University Library: Department of Manuscripts and University Archives
Catalogue ref: 109/127-128
Collection: The Buxton Papers, catalogue of letters
Description: Lord Hawkesbury to Robert J. Buxton, concerning a commission to investigate alleged abuses at the Prison in Cold Bath Fields
Dates: 1808
Archive name: Cambridge University Library: Department of Manuscripts and University Archives
Catalogue ref: 112/51
Collection: The Buxton Papers, catalogue of letters
Description: The Duke of Portland to Robert J. Buxton, appointing him Commissioner to investigate the state and management of the Prison at Cold Bath Fields, LondonÂ
Dates: 1800
Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives
Catalogue ref: ACC/872
Collection: None
Description: Letter reporting on the state of the Prison in Cold Bath Fields and requesting that further examinations and presentments be made
Dates: 1800
Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives
Catalogue ref: MA/D/G/055-058
Collection: Middlesex Sessions of the Peace: Deeds and Contracts, Prisons
Description: Contracts for the supply of goods and provisions at the three Middlesex Prisons
Dates: 1836-1864
Archive name: Norfolk Record Office
Catalogue ref: GTN 5/9/51/15-31
Collection: Harbord papers
Description: Letters, circulars and statistical accounts on various subjects, including prescriptions against cholera, and mode of treatment followed at the Middlesex House of Correction
Dates: 1832
Archive name: The National Archives
Catalogue ref: HO 42/217
Collection: Home Office
Description: Report from the Commissioners to enquire into the state and management of the House of Correction in Cold Bath Fields
Dates: 1808
Archive name: The National Archives
Catalogue ref: HO 42/51/16
Collection: Home Office
Description: Letter from Sir Christopher Willoughby of Baldon House (Oxfordshire) accepting appointment to a Commission to examine the state and management of the Prison in Cold Bath Fields
Dates: 1800
Archive name: The National Archives
Catalogue ref: HO 42/51/47
Collection: Home Office
Description: Letter from Robert John Buxton of Shadwell Lodge (Rushford, Norfolk) confirming his attendance at the enquiry into the state of Cold Bath Fields Prison
Dates: 1800
Archive name: The National Archives
Catalogue ref: HO 44/35/64
Collection: Home Office
Description: Memorial of Reverend Thomas Griffiths, Catholic Bishop, concerning the admission of Catholic Clergy to administer to prisoners in the Cold Bath Fields House of Correction.
Dates: 1840
Archive name: The National Archives
Catalogue ref: HO 42/95
Collection: Home Office
Description: Contains a copy of the report to Parliament from Commissioners enquiring into the Cold Bath Fields Prison, Clerkenwell, Middlesex (1 August 1808)
Dates: 1808
Archive name: The National Archives
Catalogue ref: HO 44/14/28
Collection: Home Office
Description: Reports by visiting Magistrates and Surgeon on the health of prisoners working the tread mill, Cold Bath Fields House of Correction, Clerkenwell.
Dates: 1824
Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives
Catalogue ref: MJ/SP
Collection: Middlesex Sessions of the Peace: Court in Session
Description: Sessions papers. Documents on the administration of the Middlesex prisons. Include reports from Visiting Justices, governors, chaplains, surgeons; special reports on prison conditions and prison (re) construction or alterations; prisoner numbers and statistics; prison dietaries.
Dates: 1550-1903
Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives
Catalogue ref: H11/HLL/A/05/014
Collection: Hanwell Asylum
Description: Annual reports of Committees of Visiting Justices on Middlesex House of Correction, Cold Bath Fields
Dates: 1859
Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives
Catalogue ref: MA/G/GEN/598
Collection: Middlesex Sessions of the Peace: Prison Administration
Description: The duty and power of the Visiting Justices and proposed rules and regulations for the House of Correction. Cold Bath Fields.
Dates: c.1830
Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives
Catalogue ref: MA/RS/01/252-410
Collection: Middlesex Sessions of the Peace: County Administration
Description: Visiting Justices reports and annual returns. Also include other papers, such as engineers' reports (on treadmill), statistics on prisoners, religious matters
Dates: 1851-1878
Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives
Catalogue ref: MA/G/CBF/001-029
Collection: House of Correction, Cold Bath Fields
Description: Minute books, reports (internal on prisoners, external by committees or commissioners), letter book of the Clerk to the visiting Justices, and the visiting Justices' order book
Dates: 1784-1874
Archive name: East Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: GWY/1/1/4/11
Collection: None
Description: Miscellaneous printed papers sent to Magistrates. Lists of bills, salaries and demands, reports of Visiting Justices of Houses of Correction at Westminster, Clerkenwell and Cold Bath Fields. Also, returns for the Houses of Detention at Clerkenwell and Cold Bath Fields.
Dates: 1869
Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives
Catalogue ref: MA/D/G/059-066
Collection: Middlesex Sessions of the Peace: Deeds and Contracts, Prisons
Description: Mortgages on the county rates for building and enlarging Cold Bath Fields
Dates: 1865-1877
Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives
Catalogue ref: MF/321-323
Collection: Middlesex Sessions of the Peace: County Treasurer
Description: Borrowed monies - income and repayments, interest and principal. Entries for House of Correction, Cold Bath Fields
Dates: 1828-1889
Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives
Catalogue ref: MF/330
Collection: Middlesex Sessions of the Peace: County Treasurer
Description: House of Correction, Cold Bath Fields. Enlarging expenditure ledger. Indexed.
Dates: 1862-1873
Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives
Catalogue ref: MF/486
Collection: Middlesex Sessions of the Peace: County Treasurer
Description: County staff, superannuation. List of Officers, House of Correction, Cold Bath Fields. Names, particulars of service and personal particulars from date of entry into service until October 1877
Dates: 1877
Archive name: Centre for Buckinghamshire Studies
Catalogue ref: D-LE/H/12/2/20
Collection: Lee Family of Hartwell
Description: Dr John Lee. Quarter Sessions papers. Cutting from The Times about gratuity granted to Chaplain of House of Correction at Coldbath-fields, Middlesex.
Dates: 1833
Archive name: East Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: GWY/1/1/4/2
Collection: None
Description: Letters from Captain Sutton Kirkpatrick, late Prince of Wales' Dragoons Guards, to J. E. A. Gwynne. With printed copies of testimonials offering himself as a candidate for the appointment of Deputy Governor of Coldbath Fields House of Correction.Â
Dates: 1869
Archive name: Norfolk Record Office
Catalogue ref: UPC 234, 643 x 1
Collection: Upcher of Sheringham
Description: Paper entitled 'The Case of David Deacon' by Governor of House of Correction, Cold Bath Fields
Dates: 1833-1836
Archive name: The National Archives
Catalogue ref: T 1/13298
Collection: Treasury
Description: Pensions - Colonel H Colvill, late governor of Coldbath Field's prison
Dates: 1882
Archive name: Surrey History Centre
Catalogue ref: Z/142/8+2:40
Collection: None
Description: Printed pamphlet of testimonials to Augustus Constable Maybury of Cedar Lodge, Frimley. Member of the Royal College of Surgeons, candidate for vacancy of Surgeon to Middlesex House of Correction.
Dates: 1867
Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives
Catalogue ref: MA/G/CLE/6201
Collection: New Prison Clerkenwell
Description: Petition from prison officers asking for a wage increase.
Dates: c.1845
Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives
Catalogue ref: MF/485
Collection: Middlesex Sessions of the Peace: County Treasurer
Description: Register of annuities, and deaths, recording name of annuitant, address, date of grant, amount, date of death. Covering staff of House of Correction, Cold Bath Fields
Dates: 1875-1889
Archive name: The National Archives
Catalogue ref: ASSI 39/7
Collection: Assizes
Description: Includes a printed statement (1883) from the Chaplain of the House of Correction at Cold Bath Fields in Middlesex, together with a list of persons rescued from 'continual imprisonment' (1700-1887).
Dates: 1883
Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives
Catalogue ref: MA/G/CBF/417
Collection: House of Correction, Cold Bath Fields
Description: Register of births, baptisms and deaths in the House of Correction
Dates: 1795-1829
Archive name: Manchester Archives & Local Studies
Catalogue ref: GB127.Tracts/P.428.2
Collection: None
Description: The abuse of prisons or an account of the House of Correction in Coldbath Fields, and the treatment of Gale JonesÂ
Dates: 1811
Archive name: British Postal Museum and Archive: The Royal Mail Archive
Catalogue ref: POST 114/80
Collection: Post Office Sites Acts
Description: Includes 'An Act to authorise the transfer of the site of the Coldbath Fields Prison, in the county of Middlesex, to Her Majesty's Postmaster General, and for other purposes'Â
Dates: 1889
Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives
Catalogue ref: MA/D/G/001-023
Collection: Middlesex Sessions of the Peace: Deeds and Contracts, Prisons
Description: building contracts relating mainly to alterations between 1821 and 1868 at Cold Bath Fields
Dates: 1821-1868
Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives
Catalogue ref: MA/DCP/G/001-014
Collection: Middlesex Sessions of the Peace: Plans of County Prisons
Description: Plans of County property - Prisons. House of Correction, Cold Bath Fields. Comprehensive collections of plans for new buildings and extensions.
Dates: 1858-1869
Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives
Catalogue ref: MA/G/CBF/332-416
Collection: House of Correction, Cold Bath Fields
Description: Papers on extension of the House of Correction
Dates: 1865-1866
Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives
Catalogue ref: MA/G/CBF/418-455
Collection: House of Correction, Cold Bath Fields
Description: Papers concerning the water supply to Cold Bath Fields by the New River Company, including a contract and engineers' reports
Dates: 1867-1877
Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives
Catalogue ref: MA/G/GEN/522-556
Collection: Middlesex Sessions of the Peace: Prison Administration
Description: Prison Committee. Papers relating to the building of a boundary wall behind the House of Correction, Cold Bath Fields, ie tenders, letters, account
Dates: 1824-1825
Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives
Catalogue ref: MA/G/GEN/831
Collection: Middlesex Sessions of the Peace: Prison Administration
Description: Certification of plans for proposed alterations at the Middlesex House of Correction, Cold Bath Fields.
Dates: 1871
Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives
Catalogue ref: MA/G/GEN/837-838
Collection: Middlesex Sessions of the Peace: Prison Administration
Description: Ground plan, Middlesex House of Correction, Cold Bath Fields. F. H. Pownall, Architect. Printed. Coloured. 2 copies.
Dates: 1869
Archive name: The National Archives
Catalogue ref: HL/PO/PB/1/1889/52& 53V1n291
Collection: None
Description: An Act to authorise the transfer of the site of the Coldbath Fields Prison in the County of Middlesex, to Her Majesty's Postmaster-General, and for other purposes.
Dates: 1889
Archive name: The National Archives
Catalogue ref: MPA 1/96
Collection: Maps and PlansÂ
Description: Finsbury and St Pancras. Plan of the House of Correction, Cold Bath Fields, Mount Pleasant and neighbourhood.
Dates: 1838
Archive name: The National Archives
Catalogue ref: WORK 30/5978-5979
Collection: Office of Works
Description: Coldbath Fields Prison (former Middlesex House of Correction). Plans
Dates: 1884-1887
Archive name: Royal London Hospital Archives and Museum
Catalogue ref: MC/PM/6/1
Collection: Records of the Pathological Museum of the London Hospital Medical College
Description: Miscellaneous items. Includes mezzotint prints of London institutions. Newgate House of Correction, Cold Bath Field, and White Cross Street Compter.Â
Dates: 1818