Northampton Borough Gaol

Overview

Details

Records

Overview

Alternative Names   Northampton Borough Gaol and House of Correction, Northampton (Upper) Prison, Northampton Prison, HMP Northampton

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

Jurisdiction   Municipality

Date opened   1846

Date closed   post 1900 (1922)

Location   the Mounts   Northampton

Map location   exact or closely approximate

County   Northamptonshire

Critical Remarks

After the 1877 Prisons Act, both the County Gaol (ID 54) and Borough Gaol in Northampton were retained as local prisons, the former called the Lower Prison, and the latter the Upper Prison. The Lower Prison (ID 54) officially closed on 31 December 1879, and from the start of 1880 all prisoners were confined in the Upper Prison, or HMP Northampton.

Prison Info

Alternative Names   Northampton Borough Gaol and House of Correction, Northampton (Upper) Prison, Northampton Prison, HMP Northampton

Prison Type   Local Prison

Jurisdiction   Municipality

Date opened   1846

Date closed   post 1900 (1922)

Location   the Mounts   Northampton

Map location   exact or closely approximate
Lat.   52.2398817  Long.   -0.8910764

County   Northamptonshire

Critical Remarks

After the 1877 Prisons Act, both the County Gaol (ID 54) and Borough Gaol in Northampton were retained as local prisons, the former called the Lower Prison, and the latter the Upper Prison. The Lower Prison (ID 54) officially closed on 31 December 1879, and from the start of 1880 all prisoners were confined in the Upper Prison, or HMP Northampton.

Prisoner Statistics

 

Year 1848

Annual Confined   -   280

Daily Daily average   -   56

 

Year 1853

Annual Confined   -   378

Daily Daily average   -   94

 

Year 1858

Annual Committed   -   288

Daily Daily average   -   84

 

Year 1863

Annual Committed   -   378

Daily Greatest number   -   143

 

Year 1868

Annual Committed   -   383

Daily Daily average   -   77

 

Year 1873

Annual Committed   -   399

Daily Daily average   -   72

 

Year 1878

Annual Committed   -   409

Daily Daily average   -   69

 

Year 1883

Annual Committed   -   1148

Daily Daily average   -   148

 

Year 1888

Annual Committed   -   1504

Daily Daily average   -   130

 

Year 1893

Annual Committed   -   1362

Daily   -  

 

Year 1898

Annual Committed   -   1279

Daily   -  

Principal Primary Sources

  • Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1847, XLVII.297), p.299; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1847-48, LII.465), p.303
  • Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain III. Southern and Western District, Twelfth Report (Parl. Papers, 1847-8, XXXV.1), p.297; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Midland and Eastern District, Thirteenth Report (Parl. Papers, 1847-8, XXXVI.1), p.92; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain III. Southern and Western District, Seventeenth Report (Parl. Papers, 1852, XXIV.1), p.119; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain III. Southern and Western District, Nineteenth Report (Parl. Papers, 1854, XXXIV.1), p.80; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain III. Southern and Western District, Twenty-first Report (Parl. Papers, 1856, XXXIII.485), p.51; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Midland District, Twenty-third Report (Parl. Papers, 1859, Session 1, XI.1), p.96; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Midland District, Twenty-fourth Report (Parl. Papers, 1860, XXXV.1), p.90; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Midland District, Twenty-fifth Report (Parl. Papers, 1860, XXXV.229), p.86; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Midland District, Twenty-sixth Report (Parl. Papers, 1861, XXIX.45), p.88; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Midland District, Twenty-seventh Report (Parl. Papers, 1862, XXV.93), p.85; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain III. Northern District, Twenty-eighth Report (Parl. Papers, 1863, XXIII.109), p.74; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern District, Twenty-ninth Report (Parl. Papers, 1864, XXVI.89), p.40; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern District, Thirtieth Report (Parl. Papers, 1865, XXIII.257), p.68; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern District, Thirty-first Report (Parl. Papers, 1866, XXXVII.233), p.74; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern District, Thirty-second Report (Parl. Papers, 1867-68, XXXIV.1), p.64; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern District, Thirty-fourth Report (Parl. Papers, 1871, XXIX.1), p.65; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern District, Thirty-fifth Report (Parl. Papers, 1871, XXIX.529), p.98; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern District, Thirty-sixth Report (Parl. Papers, 1872, XXXI.169), p.51; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern District, Thirty-seventh Report (Parl. Papers, 1873, XXXII.337), p.97; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern District, Thirty-eighth Report (Parl. Papers, 1874, XXIX.389), p.122; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern District, Thirty-ninth Report (Parl. Papers, 1875, XXXVII.417), p.126; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern District, Fortieth Report (Parl. Papers, 1876, XXXV.417), p.126; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern District, Forty-first Report (Parl. Papers, 1877, XLIII.421), p.126; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern District, Forty-second Report (Parl. Papers, 1878, XLI.417), p.122
  • Commissioners of Prisons, Second Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1878-79, XXXIV.1, 97), p.54; Commissioners of Prisons, Third Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1880, XXXV.1,73), p.68; Commissioners of Prisons, Fourth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1881, LI.441, 521), p.71; Commissioners of Prisons, Fifth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1882, XXXIII.443, 541), p.77; Commissioners of Prisons, Sixth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1883, XXXI.445, 579), p.78; Commissioners of Prisons, Seventh Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1884, XLII.461, 551), p.75; Commissioners of Prisons, Eighth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1884-85, XXXVII.527, 651), p.75; Commissioners of Prisons, Ninth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1886, XXXV.1, 93), p.70; Commissioners of Prisons, Tenth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1887, XLI.203, 335), p.67; Commissioners of Prisons, Eleventh Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1888, LVIII.1, 209), p.66; Commissioners of Prisons, Twelfth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1889, XLI.1, 181), p.65; Commissioners of Prisons, Thirteenth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1890, XXXVII.1, 183), p.64; Commissioners of Prisons, Fourteenth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1890-91, XLIII.1, 125), p.60; Commissioners of Prisons, Fifteenth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1892, XLII.1, 147), p.58; Commissioners of Prisons, Sixteenth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1893-94, XLVII.1, 121), p.57; Commissioners of Prisons, Seventeenth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1894, XLIV.1, 183), p.56; Commissioners of Prisons, Eighteenth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1895, LVI.727, 865), p.58
  • Report of Coms. of Prisons and Directors of Convict Prisons, 1895-96 (Parl. Papers, 1896, XLIV.235), p.147; Report of Coms. of Prisons and Directors of Convict Prisons, 1896-97 (Parl. Papers, 1897, XL.105), p.291; Report of Coms. of Prisons and Directors of Convict Prisons, 1897-98 (Parl. Papers, 1898, XLVII.23), p.327; Report of Coms. of Prisons and Directors of Convict Prisons, 1898-99 (Parl. Papers, 1899, XLIII.65), p.337; Report of Coms. of Prisons and Directors of Convict Prisons, 1899-1900 (Parl. Papers, 1900, XLI.1), p.381

Secondary Sources

  • http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/northants/vol3/pp30-40

Management

Archive name: Northamptonshire Archives

Catalogue ref: QS/CC/260/409

Collection: Northamptonshire Quarter Sessions

Description: Circular as to ensuring accuracy of sentences on prisoners, giving of accurate information to Governors of Prisons

Dates: 1888


Archive name: Northamptonshire Archives

Catalogue ref: QS/CC/260/410

Collection: Northamptonshire Quarter Sessions

Description: Circular as to revising Gaoler's calendar after receipt of orders of court

Dates: 1888


Archive name: Northamptonshire Archives

Catalogue ref: NP/3/4/1

Collection: Northampton Prison

Description: Form of service to be used at and after executions, and at the burial of the prisoner

Dates: 1897


Archive name: Northamptonshire Archives

Catalogue ref: QS/CC/260/460

Collection: Northamptonshire Quarter Sessions

Description: Papers relating to accommodation of prisoners awaiting trial, various reports, letters etc regarding improvements

Dates: 1886-1887


Finance

Archive name: Northamptonshire Archives

Catalogue ref: QS/CC/260/518 & 558

Collection: Northamptonshire Quarter Sessions

Description: Costs of conveyance of prisoners

Dates: 1891-1892


Daily Business

Archive name: Northamptonshire Archives

Catalogue ref: NP/1/10/1

Collection: Northampton Prison

Description: Governor's record book with returns of prisoners

Dates: 1854-1878


Archive name: Northamptonshire Archives

Catalogue ref: NP/1/10/2

Collection: Northampton Prison

Description: Warder's report book / Governor's letter book

Dates: 1876-1880


Archive name: Northamptonshire Archives

Catalogue ref: NP/1/12

Collection: Northampton Prison

Description: Prisoners' employment book

Dates: 1878-1879


Archive name: Northamptonshire Archives

Catalogue ref: NP/1/11

Collection: Northampton Prison

Description: Surgeon's visiting book

Dates: 1870-1878


Staff

Archive name: Northamptonshire Archives

Catalogue ref: NP/1/7

Collection: Northampton Prison

Description: Includes circular and petition from officers of Hertford Prison about prison reform and letters regarding custody of prisoners, petitions for reprieve etc

Dates: 1876


Prisoners

Archive name: Northamptonshire Archives

Catalogue ref: NP/3/1/1-8

Collection: Northampton Prison

Description: Nominal registers, male

Dates: 1884-1901


Archive name: Northamptonshire Archives

Catalogue ref: NP/3/2/1

Collection: Northampton Prison

Description: Nominal registers, female

Dates: 1893-1905


Archive name: Northamptonshire Archives

Catalogue ref: NP/1/5

Collection: Northampton Prison

Description: Reprieves

Dates: 1829-1855


Archive name: Northamptonshire Archives

Catalogue ref: NP/1/8

Collection: Northampton Prison

Description: Folder of remissions etc with royal signatures

Dates: 1815-1878