Alternative Names Oxford Castle County Gaol and Bridewell, Oxford Castle Gaol, Oxford County Gaol, Oxford Prison, HMP Oxford
Prison Type Local Prison - Common Gaol & House of Correction/Bridewell
Jurisdiction County
Date opened [1776]
Date closed post 1900 (1996)
Location Oxford Castle Oxford
Map location exact or closely approximate
County Oxfordshire
Although the Castle was originally built in 1071, it is not known when it was first used as a prison. The most recent rebuilding of the county gaol prior to the nineteenth century was in 1776.
Alternative Names Oxford Castle County Gaol and Bridewell, Oxford Castle Gaol, Oxford County Gaol, Oxford Prison, HMP Oxford
Prison Type Local Prison
Jurisdiction County
Date opened [1776]
Date closed post 1900 (1996)
Location Oxford Castle Oxford
Map location exact or closely approximate
Lat. 51.7517 Long. -1.2632
County Oxfordshire
Although the Castle was originally built in 1071, it is not known when it was first used as a prison. The most recent rebuilding of the county gaol prior to the nineteenth century was in 1776.
Year 1818
Annual Committed - 464
Daily Greatest number - 163
Year 1823
Annual Committed - 291
Daily Census - 56
Year 1828
Annual Committed - 466
Daily Census - 70
Year 1833
Annual Committed - 731
Daily Census - 139
Year 1838
Annual Confined - 841
Daily Census - 137
Year 1843
Annual Confined - 1009
Daily Census - 129
Year 1848
Annual Confined - 1066
Daily Daily average - 127
Year 1853
Annual Confined - 942
Daily Daily average - 143
Year 1858
Annual Committed - 725
Daily Daily average - 109
Year 1863
Annual Committed - 814
Daily Greatest number - 149
Year 1868
Annual Committed - 1032
Daily Daily average - 105
Year 1873
Annual Committed - 667
Daily Daily average - 65
Year 1878
Annual Committed - 935
Daily Daily average - 95
Year 1883
Annual Committed - 779
Daily Daily average - 99
Year 1888
Annual Committed - 691
Daily Daily average - 88
Year 1893
Annual Committed - 715
Daily -
Year 1898
Annual Committed - 736
Daily -
Archive name: Oxfordshire History Centre
Catalogue ref: Mor.LXXX/2
Collection: None
Description: Charity Commission order re Oxford, including city Gaol
Dates: 1884
Archive name: Oxfordshire History Centre
Catalogue ref: O101/A1/1
Collection: Oxfordshire Prisoners' Aid Society Records
Description: Printed volume of benefactions
Dates: 1872
Archive name: Oxfordshire History Centre
Catalogue ref: O29/A4/1
Collection: Oxford Prison
Description: Commissioners and Inspectors' minute book
Dates: 1890-1935
Archive name: Oxfordshire History Centre
Catalogue ref: QSD/C/82, 84-97
Collection: Oxfordshire Quarter Sessions
Description: Papers concerning various charities relating to Oxford Prison
Dates: 1814-1922
Archive name: Oxfordshire History Centre
Catalogue ref: QSE/20/18
Collection: Oxfordshire Quarter Sessions
Description: Letter about place for storing coal
Dates: 1843
Archive name: The National Archives
Catalogue ref: PCOM2/351
Collection: Prison Commission
Description: Commissioners and Inspectors' minute book
Dates: 1859-1890
Archive name: Oxfordshire History Centre
Catalogue ref: O29/A3/1
Collection: Oxford Prison
Description: Minute book of the Visiting Committee
Dates: 1878-1922
Archive name: Oxfordshire History Centre
Catalogue ref: QS1800-QS1878
Collection: Oxfordshire Quarter Sessions
Description: Annual Collections. These Include a mass of detailed material relating to the administration and finance of the County Gaol and House of Correction, including: reports of officials and visiting magistrates; returns and certificates as to state of gaol; bills for supplies and maintenance work; accounts; rules; circulars; prison staff (appointments, salaries, dismissals); prisoners' work and dietaries covering the period 1800-1878; those for 1831-1852 have been catalogued in great detail. The material up to 1830 has been extensively calendared.
Dates: 1800-1878
Archive name: Oxfordshire History Centre
Catalogue ref: QSC/VI/1-3
Collection: Oxfordshire Quarter Sessions
Description: Minute books of the Prison Visiting Justices Committee
Dates: 1854-1855, 1857, 1873-1878
Archive name: Oxfordshire History Centre
Catalogue ref: OPAS I/1
Collection: None
Description: Account book of Oxford Prison Benefaction Fund
Dates: 1877-1941
Archive name: Oxfordshire History Centre
Catalogue ref: P10/F1/1
Collection: None
Description: Printed accounts of Oxford Prison, as presented to the Quarter Sessions
Dates: 1859-1875
Archive name: The National Archives
Catalogue ref: PCOM2/349
Collection: Prison Commission
Description: Gaoler's journal
Dates: 1823-1827
Archive name: Oxfordshire History Centre
Catalogue ref: O29/PL/1
Collection: Oxford Prison
Description: Register of Prison Officers
Dates: 1881-1926
Archive name: Oxfordshire History Centre
Catalogue ref: QS1837/2/A11/9
Collection: Oxfordshire Quarter Sessions
Description: Notice of reprimand to be issued to Governor of Gaol concerning an escaped prisoner
Dates: 1837
Archive name: Oxfordshire History Centre
Catalogue ref: QS1837/3/A13/18
Collection: Oxfordshire Quarter Sessions
Description: Request by Governor of Oxford Gaol for a gratuity on leaving post through ill health
Dates: 1837
Archive name: Oxfordshire History Centre
Catalogue ref: QS1852/3/A9/
Collection: Oxfordshire Quarter Sessions
Description: Draft appointment of Governor of the County prison
Dates: 1852
Archive name: Oxfordshire History Centre
Catalogue ref: QS1852/3/A9/46
Collection: Oxfordshire Quarter Sessions
Description: Report of the Committee appointed to examine the testimonials of the candidates for the office of Governor of the Gaol and House of Correction
Dates: 1852
Archive name: Oxfordshire History Centre
Catalogue ref: QS1837/3/A13/13
Collection: Oxfordshire Quarter Sessions
Description: Testimonials for candidate for the post of Governor of Oxford Prison and Assistant Keeper, Devon Bridewell
Dates: 1837
Archive name: Oxfordshire History Centre
Catalogue ref: QS1846/1/A9/18
Collection: Oxfordshire Quarter Sessions
Description: Recommendation that Henry Hughes be confirmed in his office of second-class Turnkey
Dates: 1846
Archive name: Oxfordshire History Centre
Catalogue ref: QS1848/4/A8/10
Collection: Oxfordshire Quarter Sessions
Description: Oxford Castle County Prison establishment, sub-officers etc
Dates: 1848
Archive name: Oxfordshire History Centre
Catalogue ref: QS1850/4/A7/6
Collection: Oxfordshire Quarter Sessions
Description: Salaries of the Turnkeys etc of the Prison
Dates: 1850
Archive name: Oxfordshire History Centre
Catalogue ref: O29/R/1
Collection: Oxford Prison
Description: Register of baptisms and burials in Oxford Prison
Dates: 1799-1952
Archive name: Oxfordshire History Centre
Catalogue ref: O29/R/2
Collection: Oxford Prison
Description: Register of executions in Oxford Prison
Dates: 1892-1952
Archive name: The National Archives
Catalogue ref: PCOM2/350
Collection: Prison Commission
Description: Register of prisoners
Dates: 1845-1851
Archive name: Oxfordshire History Centre
Catalogue ref: Gil/X/xiv/2
Collection: Gillett family
Description: Letter from Emma Bull whilst in Oxford Prison, apologising for causing trouble and for stealing
Dates: 1878
Archive name: Oxfordshire History Centre
Catalogue ref: Mor.XXXIX/xi/1
Collection: None
Description: Report on two Oxford prisoners
Dates: 1869
Archive name: Oxfordshire History Centre
Catalogue ref: O29/A1/1-4
Collection: Oxford Prison
Description: Nominal roll books of prisoners
Dates: 1840-1844, 1882-1885, 1895-1898, 1898-1901
Archive name: Oxfordshire History Centre
Catalogue ref: O29/A2/1-2
Collection: Oxford Prison
Description: Index book of prisoners' names
Dates: 1855-1867, 1881-1894
Archive name: Oxfordshire History Centre
Catalogue ref: P352/MS/1
Collection: None
Description: Manuscript verses, supposedly written by Richard Webb before his execution at Oxford for stealing a horse
Dates: 1827
Archive name: Oxfordshire History Centre
Catalogue ref: QS1837/3/A13/19
Collection: Oxfordshire Quarter Sessions
Description: Letter enquiring about conduct of Henry Willetts while in gaol
Dates: 1837
Archive name: The National Archives
Catalogue ref: PCOM2/352
Collection: Prison Commission
Description: Photographs of prisoners
Dates: 1870-1881
Archive name: Warwickshire County Record Office
Catalogue ref: CR 1998/CD/Folder 54/4
Collection: None
Description: Letter from David Ross, prisoner in Oxford Castle, to Sir John Throckmorton, applying for the appointment as a Hermit, as advertised two years before
Dates: 1815
Archive name: Oxfordshire History Centre
Catalogue ref: QSE/12
Collection: Oxfordshire Quarter Sessions
Description: Plans of Governor's house
Dates: 1848
Archive name: Oxfordshire History Centre
Catalogue ref: O29/Y1/1-2
Collection: Oxford Prison
Description: Plans of Prison
Dates: 1858-c.1989
Archive name: Oxfordshire History Centre
Catalogue ref: O29/Y2/1
Collection: Oxford Prison
Description: Photocopied plan of graves in Oxford Prison burial ground
Dates: c.1900-2000
Archive name: Oxfordshire History Centre
Catalogue ref: QS1852/2/A6/27
Collection: Oxfordshire Quarter Sessions
Description: Draft resolution as to new buildings in the Prison
Dates: 1852
Archive name: Oxfordshire History Centre
Catalogue ref: QSE/19
Collection: Oxfordshire Quarter Sessions
Description: Specifications for supplying of water to water closets from Pontifex and Mallory, plans for construction of new wing, plans for provision of heating and ventilation throughout the 19th century
Dates: 1848, 1852
Archive name: Oxfordshire History Centre
Catalogue ref: QSE/20/1
Collection: Oxfordshire Quarter Sessions
Description: Draft plan of proposed site of new County Hall and Courts of Justice, showing boundary walls of prison and area outside, with MS notes of occupiers
Dates: 1837
Archive name: Oxfordshire History Centre
Catalogue ref: QSE/20/10
Collection: Oxfordshire Quarter Sessions
Description: Plan, probably of boiler room and warm air vents
Dates: 1842?
Archive name: Oxfordshire History Centre
Catalogue ref: QSE/20/12
Collection: Oxfordshire Quarter Sessions
Description: Proposal for two dayrooms, cells and treadwheel near Porter lodge
Dates: 1823
Archive name: Oxfordshire History Centre
Catalogue ref: QSE/20/2
Collection: Oxfordshire Quarter Sessions
Description: Detailed plans by R. Abraham & Son, Architects London, for Oxford Castle proposed improvements
Dates: 1842
Archive name: Oxfordshire History Centre
Catalogue ref: QSE/20/4
Collection: Oxfordshire Quarter Sessions
Description: Plan of county land in front of Castle
Dates: 1836
Archive name: Oxfordshire History Centre
Catalogue ref: QSE/20/8
Collection: Oxfordshire Quarter Sessions
Description: Plan of proposed 'Dinner Cells' for 60 Convicts
Dates: 1830
Archive name: Oxfordshire History Centre
Catalogue ref: QSE/20/9
Collection: Oxfordshire Quarter Sessions
Description: Plan of proposed alterations to provide accommodation for 145 (MS notes and letter)
Dates: 1820
Archive name: Oxfordshire History Centre
Catalogue ref: P226/2/P/10
Collection: J.H. Minn Collection
Description: Photograph of Castle grounds and Prison front from the north
Dates: c.1920
Archive name: Oxfordshire History Centre
Catalogue ref: POX00066327
Collection: None
Description: Slide of a Minn drawing of Oxford Prison
Dates: 1827
Archive name: Oxfordshire History Centre
Catalogue ref: POX0102626
Collection: None
Description: Photograph of the entrance to Oxford Prison
Dates: 1883