Middlesex House of Correction Cold Bath Fields

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Overview

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

Critical Remarks

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).

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Prison Info

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

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Critical Remarks

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).

Related Prisons

Prisoner Statistics

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

Principal Primary Sources

  • James Neild, The State of the Prisons of England, Scotland and Wales (London, 1812), p.142
  • Account of Gaols, Houses of Correction or Penitentiaries in the United Kingdom, 1818 (Parl. Papers, 1819, XVII.371), p.32
  • 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.50; 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.43; 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.56; 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.95; 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.100; 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.27
  • Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1825, XXIII.1), p.172; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1826, XXIV.1), p.168; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1826-27, XIX.365), p.156; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1828, XX.327), p.183; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1829, XIX.1), p.163; Reports and Schedules Pursuant To Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1830, XXIV.1), p.164; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1830-31, XII.1), p.156; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1831-32. XXXIII.197), p.156; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1833, XXVIII.1), p.168; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1834, XLVI.1), p.157; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1835, XLIV.225), p.155; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1836, XLII.1), p.100; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1837, XLV.1), p.101; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1837-8, XLIII.227), p.106; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1839, XXXVIII.17), p.102; Reports Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1840, XXXVIII.1), p.111; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1841, XVIII.1), p.114; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1842, XXXII.1), p.117; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1843, XLIII.1), p.119; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1844, XXXIX.403), p.119; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1845, XXXVII.417), p.144; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1846, XXXIV.187), p.137; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1847, XLVII.297), p.152; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1847-48, LII.465), p.150
  • Abstract Return of Establishment and Expenditure of Gaols and Houses of Correction in England and Wales (Parl. Papers, 1840, XXXVIII.241), p.34
  • Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Home District, Second Report (Parl. Papers, 1837 XXXII.1), p.73; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Home District, Third Report, Supplement (Parl. Papers, 1837-38, XXX.367), p.44; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Home District, Fourth Report (Parl. Papers, 1839, XXI.1), p.296; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Home District, Fifth Report (Parl. Papers, 1840, XXV.1), p.214; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Home District, Sixth Report (Parl. Papers, 1841 Session 2, IV.1), p.250; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Home District, Seventh Report (Parl. Papers, 1842, XX.1), p.157; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Home District, Tenth Report (Parl. Papers, 1845, XXIII.1), p.407; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Home District, Fourteenth Report (Parl. Papers, 1850, XXVIII.1), p.14; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Twenty-third Report (Parl. Papers, 1857-58, XXIX.69), p.57; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Twenty-fifth Report (Parl. Papers, 1860, XXXV.153), p.31; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Twenty-seventh Report (Parl. Papers, 1862, XXV.5), p.45; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Twenty-ninth Report (Parl. Papers, 1864, XXVI.1), p.40; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Thirtieth Report (Parl. Papers, 1865, XXIII.1), p.137; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Thirty-first Report (Parl. Papers, 1866, XXXVII.1), p.122; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Thirty-second Report (Parl. Papers, 1867-68, XXXIV.203), p.167; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Thirty-third Report (Parl. Papers, 1868-69, XXIX.1), p.114; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Thirty-fourth Report (Parl. Papers, 1870, XXXVII.1), p.126; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Thirty-fifth Report (Parl. Papers, 1871, XXIX.241), p.162; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Thirty-sixth Report (Parl. Papers, 1872, XXXI.1), p.94; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Thirty-seventh Report (Parl. Papers, 1873, XXXII.1), p.189; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Thirty-eighth Report (Parl. Papers, 1874, XXIX.1), p.217; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Thirty-ninth Report (Parl. Papers, 1875, XXXVII.1), p.234; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Fortieth Report (Parl. Papers, 1876, XXXV.1), p.234; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Forty-first Report (Parl. Papers, 1877, XLIII.1), p.238; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Forty-second Report (Parl. Papers, 1878, XLI.1), p.239
  • Commissioners of Prisons, Second Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1878-79, XXXIV.1, 97), p.18; Commissioners of Prisons, Third Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1880, XXXV.1,73), p.22; Commissioners of Prisons, Fourth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1881, LI.441, 521), p.25; Commissioners of Prisons, Fifth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1882, XXXIII.443, 541), p.28; Commissioners of Prisons, Sixth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1883, XXXI.445, 579), p.31; Commissioners of Prisons, Seventh Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1884, XLII.461, 551), p.29; Commissioners of Prisons, Eighth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1884-85, XXXVII.527, 651), p.28; Commissioners of Prisons, Ninth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1886, XXXV.1, 93), p.n/a

Additional Primary Sources

  • Walter Thornbury, 'Coldbath Fields and Spa Fields', in Old and New London: Volume 2 (London, 1878), pp. 298-306. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/old-new-london/vol2/pp298-306; Henry Mayhew and John Binny, The Criminal Prisons of London and Scenes of Prison Life (London, 1862), pp. 277-352; George Laval Chesterton, Revelations of prison life: with an enquiry into prison discipline and secondary punishments (2 vols, 2nd edn, London, 1856)

Secondary Sources

  • https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/things-to-do/london-metropolitan-archives/visitor-information/Documents/59-prison-records.pdf

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Management

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, London 

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

Finance

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

Staff

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. 

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

Prisoners

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 Jones 

Dates: 1811

Land & Buildings

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' 

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 Plans 

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

Images

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. 

Dates: 1818

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