Alternative Names Norwich Castle County Gaol, Norwich County Gaol, Norwich Prison
Prison Type Local Prison - Common Gaol & House of Correction/Bridewell
Jurisdiction County
Date opened 14th century [11th century]
Date closed 1887
Location Norwich Castle Norwich
Map location exact or closely approximate
County Norfolk
Most likely a gaol located within the castle from its first construction in the eleventh century. The county gaol was located here from the fourteenth century onwards.
Alternative Names Norwich Castle County Gaol, Norwich County Gaol, Norwich Prison
Prison Type Local Prison
Jurisdiction County
Date opened 14th century [11th century]
Date closed 1887
Location Norwich Castle Norwich
Map location exact or closely approximate
Lat. 52.6288246 Long. 1.2956076
County Norfolk
Most likely a gaol located within the castle from its first construction in the eleventh century. The county gaol was located here from the fourteenth century onwards.
Year 1818
Annual Committed - 3
Daily Greatest number - 107
Year 1823
Annual Committed - 0
Daily Census - 20
Year 1828
Annual Committed - 358
Daily Census - 95
Year 1833
Annual Committed - 791
Daily Census - 123
Year 1838
Annual Confined - 736
Daily Census - 188
Year 1843
Annual Confined - 899
Daily Census - 114
Year 1848
Annual Confined - 848
Daily Daily average - 93
Year 1853
Annual Confined - 794
Daily Daily average - 112
Year 1858
Annual Committed - 597
Daily Daily average - 83
Year 1863
Annual Committed - 818
Daily Greatest number - 147
Year 1868
Annual Committed - 804
Daily Daily average - 91
Year 1873
Annual Committed - 483
Daily Daily average - 64
Year 1878
Annual Committed - 1627
Daily Daily average - 172
Year 1883
Annual Committed - 1699
Daily Daily average - 160
Archive name: Norfolk Record Office
Catalogue ref: C/Saa 1/15
Collection: Norfolk Quarter Sessions
Description: Accounts, correspondence and other papers (regarding building work, appointments, dietary, supplies, individual prisoners)
Dates: 1828-1835
Archive name: Norfolk Record Office
Catalogue ref: C/Saa 1/17
Collection: Norfolk Quarter Sessions
Description: Correspondence and draft returns to requests for information about the Gaol
Dates: 1832-1836
Archive name: Norfolk Record Office
Catalogue ref: C/Saa 1/19
Collection: Norfolk Quarter Sessions
Description: Accounts, correspondence and other papers (regarding individual prisoners, conveyance of prisoners, treadmill, supplies)
Dates: 1833-1837
Archive name: Norfolk Record Office
Catalogue ref: C/Saa 1/23
Collection: Norfolk Quarter Sessions
Description: Correspondence concerning the treatment of vagrants and their ailments
Dates: 1842
Archive name: Norfolk Record Office
Catalogue ref: C/Saa 1/25
Collection: Norfolk Quarter Sessions
Description: Proposed dietary for Norwich Castle
Dates: 1843
Archive name: Norfolk Record Office
Catalogue ref: C/Saa 1/35
Collection: Norfolk Quarter Sessions
Description: Maintenance of prisoners from Yarmouth Borough Gaol at Norwich County Gaol
Dates: 1864
Archive name: Norfolk Record Office
Catalogue ref: C/Saa 1/4
Collection: Norfolk Quarter Sessions
Description: Report of the Committee of Magistrates for superintending and regulating of the County Gaol of Norfolk
Dates: 1819
Archive name: Norfolk Record Office
Catalogue ref: C/Saa 1/7
Collection: Norfolk Quarter Sessions
Description: Proposed classification of prisoners at new gaol
Dates: 1825
Archive name: Norfolk Record Office
Catalogue ref: C/Saa 1/9
Collection: Norfolk Quarter Sessions
Description: Correspondence re treadmill
Dates: 1823-1827
Archive name: Norfolk Record Office
Catalogue ref: C/Saa 2/37
Collection: Norfolk Quarter Sessions
Description: Report of Prison Inspectors for Southern District
Dates: 1875
Archive name: Norfolk Record Office
Catalogue ref: C/S 5/2
Collection: Norfolk Quarter Sessions
Description: Committee for improving Castle Hill and altering County Gaol and Courts of Justice
Dates: 1807-1821
Archive name: Norfolk Record Office
Catalogue ref: GTN 5/9/46
Collection: Harbord papers
Description: Speech notes, including 'Notes respecting new County Jail' given to Prison Committee. Regarding state of Prisons.
Dates: 1820-1834
Archive name: Norfolk Record Office
Catalogue ref: HMP 12/1
Collection: Her Majesty's Prison Norwich
Description: Prison Inspector's and Director's minute books
Dates: 1881-1939
Archive name: Norfolk Record Office
Catalogue ref: HMP 33/1-2
Collection: Her Majesty's Prison Norwich
Description: Copies of Prison Commission circulars and memoranda
Dates: 1885-1889
Archive name: Norfolk Record Office
Catalogue ref: HMP 37/1
Collection: Her Majesty's Prison Norwich
Description: Books of reference: Acts of Parliament and Statutory Rules and Orders
Dates: 1884-1933
Archive name: Norfolk Record Office
Catalogue ref: MS 21473, 294X1
Collection: None
Description: Norfolk, Sheriff's office, Gaol assignment
Dates: 1825
Archive name: Norfolk Record Office
Catalogue ref: C/S 4
Collection: Norfolk Quarter Sessions
Description: Sessions minute books of administrative business, including reports of Visiting Justices, Keepers and Surgeons of County Gaol and the various Bridewells
Dates: 1799-1968
Archive name: Norfolk Record Office
Catalogue ref: C/Saa 1/26
Collection: Norfolk Quarter Sessions
Description: Notices of the appointment of Visiting Justices to the County Gaol
Dates: 1843-1853
Archive name: Norfolk Record Office
Catalogue ref: C/Saa 1/8
Collection: Norfolk Quarter Sessions
Description: Report of the Visiting Justices in respect of the new gaol
Dates: 1823-1827
Archive name: Norfolk Record Office
Catalogue ref: C/Saa 2/11
Collection: Norfolk Quarter Sessions
Description: Quarter Sessions resolutions confirming appointments of Visiting Justices to the County Gaol
Dates: 1834-1835
Archive name: Norfolk Record Office
Catalogue ref: T/TC 5/14
Collection: Thetford Borough Council
Description: Visiting Justices of Norfolk and the Corporation of Thetford. Case for opinion re expense of maintenance in the County Gaol of prisoners from Thetford Workhouse, with Counsel's opinion.
Dates: 1868
Archive name: Norfolk Record Office
Catalogue ref: C/S 5/1
Collection: Norfolk Quarter Sessions
Description: Committee Minutes, Visiting Justices of the County Gaol
Dates: 1809-1814
Archive name: Norfolk Record Office
Catalogue ref: HMP 11/1
Collection: Her Majesty's Prison Norwich
Description: Chairman of Visiting Committee's papers
Dates: 1863, 1882-1910
Archive name: Norfolk Record Office
Catalogue ref: MF 879-881
Collection: Microfilm
Description: Visiting Justices minute books
Dates: 1825-1872
Archive name: Norfolk Record Office
Catalogue ref: MS 20337, 126X3
Collection: None
Description: Letters between Reverend E. Postle, Chairman of the Visiting Justices of Norwich Castle, and the Secretary of State
Dates: 1849
Archive name: Norwich Castle Museum
Catalogue ref: NRA 42783
Collection: None
Description: Minutes, visiting book, chapel books, surgical journals, diet books, building accounts, and miscellaneous architectural papers at Norwich Castle Museum
Dates: 1735-1877
Archive name: Norfolk Record Office
Catalogue ref: GTN 5/9/21
Collection: Harbord papers
Description: Letters. Subjects include: Norwich Gaol list, Norwich Gaol building, prisoner numbers in County and City Gaols, new County Gaol, Harbord's appointment to County Gaol Committee, Committee aims, Gaol enlargement, classification' and inspection of prisoners, architects and submission of plans.
Dates: 1819-1820
Archive name: Norfolk Record Office
Catalogue ref: MF/RO 576
Collection: Microfilm
Description: Keeper's daily journal
Dates: 1822-1835
Archive name: Norfolk Record Office
Catalogue ref: MF/RO 576
Collection: Microfilm
Description: Surgeon's journals
Dates: 1843-1846, 1848-1850
Archive name: Norfolk Record Office
Catalogue ref: C/Saa 1/18
Collection: Norfolk Quarter Sessions
Description: Monthly rota of Visitors of the County Gaol
Dates: 1833-1841
Archive name: Norfolk Record Office
Catalogue ref: MF 881-882
Collection: Microfilm
Description: Gaol chapel books, gives names of prisoners and other details
Dates: 1816-1839
Archive name: Norfolk Record Office
Catalogue ref: MF/RO 576
Collection: Microfilm
Description: Diet record book
Dates: 1831-1832
Archive name: Norfolk Record Office
Catalogue ref: HMP 16/1
Collection: Her Majesty's Prison Norwich
Description: Registers of Officers
Dates: 1882-1906
Archive name: Norfolk Record Office
Catalogue ref: BOL 5/30, 742 x 6
Collection: Bolingbroke collection
Description: Correspondence on ecclesiastical matters. Includes letter from I. N. Cobb, (Chaplain to the Prisons), to the Norwich Corporation requesting increase in salary and offering his resignation.
Dates: 1835-1911
Archive name: Norfolk Record Office
Catalogue ref: C/S/5/17-18
Collection: Norfolk Quarter Sessions
Description: Volumes of accounts of salaries paid to Chaplains, Surgeons and Gaolers etc. and of bills examined and posted 'by the Committee appointed for the purpose'.
Dates: 1866-1891
Archive name: Norfolk Record Office
Catalogue ref: C/Saa 1/21
Collection: Norfolk Quarter Sessions
Description: Letters of application and recommendation for the post of superintendent of the mill at the Castle Gaol
Dates: 1834-1835
Archive name: Norfolk Record Office
Catalogue ref: HMP 1/1-7
Collection: Her Majesty's Prison Norwich
Description: Nominal registers of prisoners
Dates: 1879-1887
Archive name: Norfolk Record Office
Catalogue ref: HMP 2/1-2
Collection: Her Majesty's Prison Norwich
Description: Indexes to nominal registers of prisoners
Dates: 1879-1898
Archive name: Norfolk Record Office
Catalogue ref: MC 1462. 812X6
Collection: None
Description: List and account of prisoners in the custody of William Chambers and John Marshall, Sheriffs of Norwich, assigned to Horatio Bolinbroke, the new Sheriff
Dates: 1836
Archive name: Norfolk Record Office
Catalogue ref: C/Saa 1/7
Collection: Norfolk Quarter Sessions
Description: Letter from Whitehall about the prisoners John Stevenson and William Toll
Dates: 1826
Archive name: Norfolk Record Office
Catalogue ref: C/Saa 1/8
Collection: Norfolk Quarter Sessions
Description: Letters concerning an application to the Secretary of State on behalf of John Gooch, a prisoner, 1827
Dates: 1827
Archive name: Norfolk Record Office
Catalogue ref: ACC 2012/60
Collection: None
Description: Return of prisoners removed from Norwich Castle to other prisons before trial
Dates: 1836-1837
Archive name: Norfolk Record Office
Catalogue ref: FX 99
Collection: None
Description: Copy of a Letter from James Rush in Norwich Prison
Dates: 1849
Archive name: Norfolk Record Office
Catalogue ref: HEN
Collection: Papers of J. F. Henderson
Description: James Frederick Henderson was sentenced to four months' imprisonment in Norwich Castle following food riots in Norwich (1885)
Dates: 1885-1957
Archive name: Norfolk Record Office
Catalogue ref: MC 2089/1, 441X8
Collection: None
Description: Letter by James Blomefield Rush while in Norwich Castle Gaol, to the landlord of the Bell Hotel Norwich, with requests concerning his meals.
Dates: 1849
Archive name: Norfolk Record Office
Catalogue ref: MS 20511, 132X6
Collection: None
Description: Warrants
Dates: 1839-1840
Archive name: Norfolk Record Office
Catalogue ref: N/PO 1-2
Collection: Norwich City Council
Description: Additional records, including annual returns of prisoners conveyed to Norwich Castle
Dates: 1881-1931
Archive name: Norfolk Record Office
Catalogue ref: C/Saa 1/16
Collection: Norfolk Quarter Sessions
Description: Builder's report on pumpeases in the prison yards
Dates: 1831?
Archive name: Norfolk Record Office
Catalogue ref: C/Saa 1/24
Collection: Norfolk Quarter Sessions
Description: Report of the County Surveyor (re Castle)
Dates: 1842
Archive name: Norfolk Record Office
Catalogue ref: C/Saa 1/29-32
Collection: Norfolk Quarter Sessions
Description: Plans, correspondence etc regarding treadmills
Dates: undated
Archive name: Norfolk Record Office
Catalogue ref: C/Saa 1/5-8
Collection: Norfolk Quarter Sessions
Description: Correspondence, reports and accounts for (building) work at the Castle (Gaol)
Dates: 1822-1827
Archive name: Norfolk Record Office
Catalogue ref: C/Saa 2/11-35
Collection: Norfolk Quarter Sessions
Description: Includes papers on restoration and repair work to Norwich Castle (where the county gaol was located)
Dates: 1834-1840
Archive name: Norfolk Record Office
Catalogue ref: C/Saa 2/38
Collection: Norfolk Quarter Sessions
Description: Copy agreement for sale of Norwich Castle Prison by Prison Commissioners and others to Norwich Corporation, with plan
Dates: 1884
Archive name: Norfolk Record Office
Catalogue ref: C/Saa 2/39
Collection: Norfolk Quarter Sessions
Description: Plan (tracing) of Norwich Castle Prison by R.M. Phipson, County Surveyor
Dates: 1883
Archive name: Norfolk Record Office
Catalogue ref: C/Saa 2/40
Collection: Norfolk Quarter Sessions
Description: Reports, memoranda, letters etc (concerning the gaol buildings, sale of buildings and closure of gaol)
Dates: 1877-1888
Archive name: Norfolk Record Office
Catalogue ref: AWA 1/7
Collection: None
Description: Large scale map of Norwich showing the area bounded by the New Mills, County Gaol and Crooks Place
Dates: c.1850
Archive name: Norfolk Record Office
Catalogue ref: BR 35/7/5
Collection: None
Description: Norwich Castle, plan of Castle laid out as Gaol
Dates: undated
Archive name: Norfolk Record Office
Catalogue ref: GTN 5/9/50
Collection: Harbord papers
Description: Correspondence. Includes details pertaining to Norfolk Magistrates' meeting and resolutions passed on Castle Hill as site for new Norwich Gaol; coloured map of gardens at St Giles Gates, Norwich labelled by Suffield 'Plan of ground for new prison Norwich'
Dates: 1821-1823
Archive name: Norfolk Record Office
Catalogue ref: SO 50/4/8
Collection: None
Description: Panoramic view of the City of Norwich and surrounding country, with a perspective view of the Castle and County Gaol inscribed by W. Stevenson, J. Matchett and S. W. Stevenson for the Justices of the Peace for Norfolk
Dates: 1809
Archive name: Norfolk Record Office
Catalogue ref: MC 757/6, 793X4
Collection: None
Description: Photograph of the Prison and Cattlemarket, Norwich
Dates: 1877
Archive name: East Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: AMS6712/1/6
Collection: None
Description: Letter from William Vincent, to his wife Elizabeth, includes account of a drive round Norwich to see the Cathedral, Castle, barracks, Prison and suburbs.
Dates: 1829
Archive name: Norfolk Record Office
Catalogue ref: MC 511/10, 759x3
Collection: Letters and papers of Elizabeth Fry
Description: Letter. Amelia Opie (Norwich) to Elizabeth Fry dealing with her stay at Earlham. She tells of her experience at the Prison.
Dates: 1825