Parkhurst Prison

Overview

Details

Records

Overview

Prison Type   Convict Prison

Date opened   1838

Date closed   post 1900 (still open)

Location   Clissold Road   Newport (Isle of Wight)

Map location   exact or closely approximate

County   Hampshire

Critical Remarks

Opened in December 1838 as a prison for young male offenders, ideally aged 16 and under (though some also aged in their late teens), to provide them with a course of moral, religious and industrial training, together with corrective discipline, to prepare them for emigration (both as free emigrants and convicts). By the mid 1850s, the Parkhurst boys were no longer exiled but liberated in the UK, and the function of the prison was broadened to include all boys sentenced to terms exceeding one year imprisonment. With the rise of reformatory and industrial schools the scale of Parkhurst was reduced and its function questioned. Between 1863 and 1864, the boys were removed from the prison and it was converted into a temporary female convict establishment. In 1869 the women were removed to the new Woking Female Prison (ID 1015) and Parkhurst became a prison for male convicts (at first invalids, but soon broadening to several categories of convicts).

Prison Info

Prison Type   Convict Prison

Date opened   1838

Date closed   post 1900 (still open)

Location   Clissold Road   Newport (Isle of Wight)

Map location   exact or closely approximate
Lat.   50.715278  Long.   -1.308333

County   Hampshire

Critical Remarks

Opened in December 1838 as a prison for young male offenders, ideally aged 16 and under (though some also aged in their late teens), to provide them with a course of moral, religious and industrial training, together with corrective discipline, to prepare them for emigration (both as free emigrants and convicts). By the mid 1850s, the Parkhurst boys were no longer exiled but liberated in the UK, and the function of the prison was broadened to include all boys sentenced to terms exceeding one year imprisonment. With the rise of reformatory and industrial schools the scale of Parkhurst was reduced and its function questioned. Between 1863 and 1864, the boys were removed from the prison and it was converted into a temporary female convict establishment. In 1869 the women were removed to the new Woking Female Prison (ID 1015) and Parkhurst became a prison for male convicts (at first invalids, but soon broadening to several categories of convicts).

Prisoner Statistics

 

Year 1843

Annual Confined   -   423

Daily Census   -   284

 

Year 1848

Annual Confined   -   785

Daily Census   -   622

 

Year 1853

Annual Confined   -   644

Daily Census   -   616

 

Year 1858

Annual Confined   -   617

Daily Census   -   402

 

Year 1863

Annual Confined   -   816

Daily Census   -   575

 

Year 1868

Annual Confined   -   376

Daily Census   -   319

 

Year 1873

Annual Confined   -   687

Daily Census   -   559

 

Year 1878

Annual Confined   -   791

Daily Census   -   657

 

Year 1883

Annual Confined   -   901

Daily Census   -   676

 

Year 1888

Annual Confined   -   714

Daily Census   -   540

 

Year 1893

Annual Confined   -   846

Daily Census   -   648

 

Year 1898

Annual   -  

Daily Daily average   -   685

Principal Primary Sources

  • Report of Coms. of Prisons and Directors of Convict Prisons, 1895-96 (Parl. Papers, 1896, XLIV.235), p.280; Report of Coms. of Prisons and Directors of Convict Prisons, 1896-97 (Parl. Papers, 1897, XL.105), p.419; Report of Coms. of Prisons and Directors of Convict Prisons, 1897-98 (Parl. Papers, 1898, XLVII.23), p.469; Report of Coms. of Prisons and Directors of Convict Prisons, 1898-99 (Parl. Papers, 1899, XLIII.65), p.499; Report of Coms. of Prisons and Directors of Convict Prisons, 1899-1900 (Parl. Papers, 1900, XLI.1), p.554
  • Reports relating to Parkhurst Prison, 1839 (Parl. Papers, 1839, XXII.645); Reports relating to Parkhurst Prison, 1840 (Parl. Papers, 1840, XXXVIII.637); Reports relating to Parkhurst Prison, 1841 (Parl. Papers, 1841 Session 1, XVIII.701); Reports relating to Parkhurst Prison, 1842 (Parl. Papers, 1842, XXXII.571); Reports relating to Parkhurst Prison, 1843 (Parl. Papers, 1843, XLIII.447); Reports relating to Parkhurst Prison, 1844 (Parl. Papers, 1844, XXVIII.17); Reports relating to Parkhurst Prison, 1845 (Parl. Papers, 1845, XXV.29); Reports relating to Parkhurst Prison, 1846 (Parl. Papers, 1846, XX.69); Reports relating to Parkhurst Prison, 1847 (Parl. Papers, 1847, XXX.457); Reports relating to Parkhurst Prison, 1848 (Parl. Papers, 1847-48, XXXIV.33); Reports relating to Parkhurst Prison, 1849 (Parl. Papers, 1849, XXVI.327); Reports relating to Parkhurst Prison, 1850 (Parl. Papers, 1850, XXIX.95)
  • "Report on Parkhurst", Directors of Convict Prisons: Reports on Discipline and Management of Pentonville, Parkhurst, Millbank and Portland Prisons, and Hulks, 1850 (Parl. Papers, 1851, XXVIII.1); Directors of Convict Prisons: Reports on Discipline and Management of Pentonville, Parkhurst, Millbank, Portland, Portsmouth and Dartmoor Prisons, and Hulks, 1851 (Parl. Papers, 1852, XXIV.197), p.47; Directors of Convict Prisons: Reports on Discipline and Management of Pentonville, Parkhurst, Millbank, Portland, Portsmouth, Dartmoor, and Brixton Prisons, and Hulks, 1853 (Parl. Papers, 1854, XXXIII.181), p.39; Directors of Convict Prisons: Reports on Discipline and Management of Pentonville, Parkhurst, Millbank, Portland, Portsmouth, Dartmoor, and Brixton Prisons, and Hulks, 1854 (Parl. Papers, 1854-55, XXV.33), p.49; Directors of Convict Prisons: Reports on Discipline and Management of Pentonville, Parkhurst, Millbank, Portland, Portsmouth, Dartmoor, and Brixton Prisons, and Hulks, 1855 (Parl. Papers, 1856, XXXV.1), p.39; Directors of Convict Prisons: Reports on Discipline and Management of Pentonville, Parkhurst, Millbank, Portland, Portsmouth, Dartmoor, and Brixton Prisons, and Hulks, 1856 (Parl. Papers, 1857 Session 2, XXIII.65), p.87; Directors of Convict Prisons: Reports on Discipline and Management of Pentonville, Parkhurst, Millbank, Portland, Portsmouth, Dartmoor, and Brixton Prisons, 1857 (Parl. Papers, 1857-58, XXIX.483), p.89; Directors of Convict Prisons: Reports on Discipline and Management of Pentonville, Parkhurst, Millbank, Portland, Portsmouth, Dartmoor, and Brixton Prisons, 1858 (Parl. Papers, 1859 Session 2, XIII P.1.191), p.109; Directors of Convict Prisons: Reports on Discipline and Management of Pentonville, Parkhurst, Millbank, Portland, Portsmouth, Dartmoor, and Brixton Prisons, 1859 (Parl. Papers, 1860, XXXV.429), p.87; Directors of Convict Prisons: Reports on Discipline and Management of Pentonville, Parkhurst, Millbank, Portland, Portsmouth, Dartmoor, and Brixton Prisons, 1860 (Parl. Papers, 1861, XXX.237), p.89; Directors of Convict Prisons: Reports on Discipline and Management of Pentonville, Parkhurst, Millbank, Portland, Portsmouth, Dartmoor, and Brixton Prisons, 1861 (Parl. Papers, 1862, XXV.331), p.98; Directors of Convict Prisons: Reports on Discipline and Management of Pentonville, Parkhurst, Millbank, Portland, Portsmouth, Dartmoor, and Brixton Prisons, 1862 (Parl. Papers, 1863, XXIV.1), p.96; Directors of Convict Prisons: Reports on Discipline and Management of Pentonville, Parkhurst, Millbank, Portland, Portsmouth, Dartmoor, and Brixton Prisons, 1863 (Parl. Papers, 1864, XXVI.209), p.85; Directors of Convict Prisons: Reports on Discipline and Management of Pentonville, Parkhurst, Millbank, Portland, Portsmouth, Dartmoor, and Brixton Prisons, and Criminal Lunatic Asylum at Broadmoor, 1864 (Parl. Papers, 1865, XXV.1), p.265; Directors of Convict Prisons: Reports on Discipline and Management of Pentonville, Parkhurst, Millbank, Portland, Portsmouth, Dartmoor, and Brixton Prisons, and Criminal Lunatic Asylum at Broadmoor, 1865 (Parl. Papers, 1866, XXXVIII.1), p.242; Directors of Convict Prisons: Reports on Discipline and Management of Pentonville, Parkhurst, Millbank, Portland, Portsmouth, Dartmoor, and Brixton Prisons, and Criminal Lunatic Asylum at Broadmoor, 1866 (Parl. Papers, 1867, XXXVI.1), p.240; Directors of Convict Prisons: Reports on Discipline and Management of Pentonville, Parkhurst, Millbank, Portland, Portsmouth, Dartmoor, and Brixton Prisons, and Criminal Lunatic Asylum at Broadmoor, 1867 (Parl. Papers, 1867-68, XXXIV.519), p.309; Directors of Convict Prisons: Reports on Discipline and Management of Pentonville, Parkhurst, Millbank, Portland, Portsmouth, Dartmoor, and Brixton Prisons, and Criminal Lunatic Asylum at Broadmoor, 1868 (Parl. Papers, 1868-69, XXX.1), p.332; Directors of Convict Prisons: Reports on Discipline and Management of Pentonville, Parkhurst, Millbank, Portland, Portsmouth, Dartmoor, and Brixton Prisons, and Convict Establishments at Gibraltar, W. Australia and Tasmania, 1869 (Parl. Papers, 1870, XXXVIII.1), p.334; Directors of Convict Prisons: Reports on Discipline and Management of Pentonville, Parkhurst, Millbank, Portland, Portsmouth, Dartmoor, and Brixton Prisons, and Convict Establishments at Gibraltar, W. Australia and Tasmania, 1870 (Parl. Papers, 1871, XXXI.1), p.341; Directors of Convict Prisons: Reports on Discipline and Management of Pentonville, Parkhurst, Millbank, Portland, Portsmouth, Dartmoor, and Brixton Prisons, and Convict Establishments at Gibraltar, W. Australia and Tasmania, 1871 (Parl. Papers, 1872, XXXI.385), p.319; Directors of Convict Prisons: Reports on Discipline and Management of Pentonville, Parkhurst, Millbank, Portland, Portsmouth, Dartmoor, and Brixton Prisons, and Convict Establishments at Gibraltar, W. Australia and Tasmania, 1872 (Parl. Papers, 1873, XXXIV.1), p.343; Directors of Convict Prisons: Reports on Discipline and Management of Pentonville, Parkhurst, Millbank, Portland, Portsmouth, Dartmoor, and Brixton Prisons, and Convict Establishments at Gibraltar, W. Australia and Tasmania, 1873 (Parl. Papers, 1874, XXX.55), p.326; Directors of Convict Prisons: Reports on Discipline and Management of Pentonville, Parkhurst, Millbank, Portland, Portsmouth, Dartmoor, and Brixton Prisons, and Convict Establishments at Gibraltar, W. Australia and Tasmania, 1874 (Parl. Papers, 1875, XXXIX.1), p.240; Directors of Convict Prisons: Reports on Discipline and Management of Pentonville, Parkhurst, Millbank, Portland, Portsmouth, Dartmoor, and Brixton Prisons, and Convict Establishments at Gibraltar, W. Australia and Tasmania, 1875 (Parl. Papers, 1876, XXXVII.1), p.268; Directors of Convict Prisons: Reports on Discipline and Management of Pentonville, Parkhurst, Millbank, Portland, Portsmouth, Dartmoor, and Brixton Prisons, and Convict Establishments at Gibraltar, W. Australia and Tasmania, 1876 (Parl. Papers, 1877, XLV.1), p.283; Directors of Convict Prisons: Reports on Discipline and Management of Pentonville, Parkhurst, Millbank, Portland, Portsmouth, Dartmoor, and Brixton Prisons, and Convict Establishments at Gibraltar, W. Australia and Tasmania, 1877 (Parl. Papers, 1878, XLIII.1), p.265; Directors of Convict Prisons: Reports on Discipline and Management of Pentonville, Parkhurst, Millbank, Portland, Portsmouth, Dartmoor, and Brixton Prisons, and Convict Establishments at Gibraltar, W. Australia and Tasmania, 1878 (Parl. Papers, 1878-79, XXXV.1), p.266; Directors of Convict Prisons: Reports on Discipline and Management of Pentonville, Parkhurst, Millbank, Portland, Portsmouth, Dartmoor, and Brixton Prisons, and Convict Establishments at Gibraltar, W. Australia and Tasmania, 1879-80 (Parl. Papers, 1880, XXXVI.1), p.408; Directors of Convict Prisons: Reports on Discipline and Management of Pentonville, Parkhurst, Millbank, Portland, Portsmouth, Dartmoor, and Brixton Prisons, and Convict Establishments at Gibraltar, W. Australia and Tasmania, 1880-81 (Parl. Papers, 1881, LI.1, 51), p.238; Directors of Convict Prisons: Reports on Discipline and Management of Pentonville, Parkhurst, Millbank, Portland, Portsmouth, Dartmoor, and Brixton Prisons, and Convict Establishments at Gibraltar, W. Australia and Tasmania, 1881-82 (Parl. Papers, 1882, XXXIV.1), p.243; Directors of Convict Prisons: Reports on Discipline and Management of Millbank, Pentonville, Borstal, Brixton, Chatham, Dartmoor, Parkhurst, Portland, Portsmouth, Wormwood Scrubs, Fulham and Woking Prisons and Convict Establishments in W. Australia, 1882-83 (Parl. Papers, 1883, XXXIII.1, 43), p.206; Directors of Convict Prisons: Reports on Discipline and Management of Millbank, Pentonville, Borstal, Brixton, Chatham, Dartmoor, Parkhurst, Portland, Portsmouth, Wormwood Scrubs, Fulham and Woking Prisons and Convict Establishments in W. Australia, 1883-84 (Parl. Papers, 1884, XLIII.1, 41), p.90; Directors of Convict Prisons: Reports on Discipline and Management of Millbank, Pentonville, Borstal, Brixton, Chatham, Dartmoor, Parkhurst, Portland, Portsmouth, Wormwood Scrubs, Fulham and Woking Prisons and Convict Establishments in W. Australia, 1884-85 (Parl. Papers, 1884-85, XXXIX.1, 49), p.82; Directors of Convict Prisons: Reports on Discipline and Management of Millbank, Pentonville, Borstal, Brixton, Chatham, Dartmoor, Parkhurst, Portland, Portsmouth, Wormwood Scrubs, Fulham and Woking Prisons and Convict Establishments in W. Australia, 1885-86 (Parl. Papers, 1886, XXXV.457, 505), p.94; Directors of Convict Prisons: Reports on Discipline and Management of Millbank, Pentonville, Borstal, Brixton, Chatham, Dartmoor, Parkhurst, Portland, Portsmouth, Wormwood Scrubs, Fulham and Woking Prisons and Convict Establishments in W. Australia, 1886-87 (Parl. Papers, 1887, XLI.725, 773), p.45; Directors of Convict Prisons: Reports on Discipline and Management of Millbank, Pentonville, Borstal, Brixton, Chatham, Dartmoor, Parkhurst, Portland, Portsmouth, Wormwood Scrubs, Fulham and Woking Prisons and Convict Establishments in W. Australia, 1887-88 (Parl. Papers, 1888, LVIII.615, 651), p.39; Directors of Convict Prisons: Reports on Discipline and Management of Millbank, Pentonville, Borstal, Brixton, Chatham, Dartmoor, Parkhurst, Portland, Portsmouth, Wormwood Scrubs, Fulham and Woking Prisons and Convict Establishments in W. Australia, 1888-89 (Parl. Papers, 1889, XLI.657, 711), p.34; Directors of Convict Prisons. Reports, 1889-90 (Parl. Papers, 1890, XXXVII.515, 565), p.30; Directors of Convict Prisons, Reports, 1890-91 (Parl. Papers, 1890-91, XLIII.449, 497), p.37; Directors of Convict Prisons, Reports, 1891-92 (Parl. Papers, 1892, XLII.467, 539), p.39; Directors of Convict Prisons, Reports, 1892-93 (Parl. Papers, 1893-94, XLVII.427, 473), p.35; Directors of Convict Prisons, Reports, 1893-94 (Parl. Papers, 1894, XLIV.491, 541), p.31; Directors of Convict Prisons, Reports, 1894-95 (Parl. Papers, 1895, LVI.1177, 1227), p.38

Management

Archive name: The National Archives

Catalogue ref: HO 21/2

Collection: Home Office

Description: Prisons entry books, series I, Parkhurst

Dates: 1838-1843


Archive name: The National Archives

Catalogue ref: HO 21/3

Collection: Home Office

Description: Prisons entry books, series I, Parkhurst

Dates: 1843-1849


Archive name: The National Archives

Catalogue ref: HO 45/1193

Collection: Home Office

Description: Correspondence, Prison Inspectors, request that practice of sending very young boys to Parkhurst ceases

Dates: 1845


Archive name: The National Archives

Catalogue ref: HO 45/1401

Collection: Home Office

Description: Parkhurst report (1845)

Dates: 1845


Archive name: The National Archives

Catalogue ref: HO 45/1649

Collection: Home Office

Description: Discharge of boys to philanthropic institutions

Dates: 1846, 1848


Archive name: The National Archives

Catalogue ref: HO 45/1838

Collection: Home Office

Description: Emigration of boys from Parkhurst to work in WA

Dates: 1847-1848


Archive name: The National Archives

Catalogue ref: HO 45/239

Collection: Home Office

Description: Emigration of boys as apprentices

Dates: 1841-1846


Archive name: The National Archives

Catalogue ref: HO 45/2931

Collection: Home Office

Description: Exile of boys from Parkhurst to WA

Dates: 1848-1849


Archive name: The National Archives

Catalogue ref: HO 45/2952

Collection: Home Office

Description: Parkhurst, educational arrangements

Dates: 1849


Archive name: The National Archives

Catalogue ref: HO 45/335

Collection: Home Office

Description: Treatment of prisoners

Dates: 1843-1844


Archive name: The National Archives

Catalogue ref: HO 45/619

Collection: Home Office

Description: Papers on transportation of juveniles from Parkhurst, with reports on state of prisoners while at Parkhurst

Dates: 1844-1846


Archive name: The National Archives

Catalogue ref: HO 45/963

Collection: Home Office

Description: Parkhurst, admission of boys

Dates: 1839-1845


Archive name: The National Archives

Catalogue ref: PCOM 7/221

Collection: Prison Commission

Description: Parkhurst, as a Prison for young offenders

Dates: 1838


Archive name: The National Archives

Catalogue ref: PCOM 7/224

Collection: Prison Commission

Description: Warrants constituting and appointing Convict Prisons etc. Parkhurst Convict Prison

Dates: 1856-1885


Archive name: The National Archives

Catalogue ref: PCOM 7/558

Collection: Prison Commission

Description: Parkhurst, as a reformatory for boys

Dates: 1837-1865


Archive name: The National Archives

Catalogue ref: HO 45/621

Collection: Home Office

Description: Report on health of boys and change of duties of Chaplain

Dates: 1844


Archive name: The National Archives

Catalogue ref: HO 45/966

Collection: Home Office

Description: Report of Governor and Chaplain

Dates: 1845


Archive name: The National Archives

Catalogue ref: HO 45/2138

Collection: Home Office

Description: Letters from visitors of Parkhurst about punishments

Dates: 1848


Staff

Archive name: Hampshire Archives and Local Studies

Catalogue ref: 5M62/22 page 144

Collection: Winchester Probate District regsiters

Description: Registered copy will of Richard Bassett of Parkhurst, Isle of Wight, Prison Warder, formerly Ship's Corporal in the Royal Navy

Dates: 1884


Archive name: Hampshire Archives and Local Studies

Catalogue ref: 5M62/27 page 304

Collection: Winchester Probate District regsiters

Description: Registered copy will of William Bird Everton, HM Prison, Parkhurst, Isle of Wight, Warder

Dates: 1894


Archive name: Hampshire Archives and Local Studies

Catalogue ref: 5M62/29 page 253

Collection: Winchester Probate District regsiters

Description: Registered copy will of Robert Thomas Howes of Her Majesty's Ship, Devastation (late of Parkhurst, Prison Warder)

Dates: 1898


Archive name: Hampshire Archives and Local Studies

Catalogue ref: 5M62/29 page 296

Collection: Winchester Probate District regsiters

Description: Registered copy will of Thomas Gunning of Parkhurst, Isle of Wight, Chief Warder of Parkhurst Prison

Dates: 1898


Archive name: Hampshire Archives and Local Studies

Catalogue ref: 5M62/3 page 233

Collection: Winchester Probate District regsiters

Description: Registered copy will of Robert Bell of Elm Grove, Isle of Wight, Principal Warder of Parkhurst Prison

Dates: 1860


Archive name: Hampshire Archives and Local Studies

Catalogue ref: 5M62/10 page 221

Collection: Winchester Probate District regsiters

Description: Registered copy will of George Shirlaw, Deputy Governor of Parkhurst Prison, late of Newport Prison

Dates: 1869


Archive name: Hampshire Archives and Local Studies

Catalogue ref: 5M62/26 page 153

Collection: Winchester Probate District regsiters

Description: Registered copy will of John Young, of 55 Church Road, Landport, Portsmout. Retired Schoolmaster at Parkhurst Prison.

Dates: 1892


Prisoners

Archive name: Centre for Buckinghamshire Studies

Catalogue ref: HMP/A/Box 1

Collection: Aylesbury Gaol

Description: Register of deaths in females Prisons, Parkhurst

Dates: 1863-1913


Archive name: The National Archives

Catalogue ref: HO 24/15

Collection: Home Office

Description: Parkhurst Prison registers, volume 1

Dates: 1838-1863


Archive name: The National Archives

Catalogue ref: PCOM 2/59

Collection: Prison Commission

Description: Parkhurst Prison, Isle of Wight, register of prisoners

Dates: 1851-1863


Archive name: The National Archives

Catalogue ref: HO 45/618

Collection: Home Office

Description: Report on Parkhurst immigrants who arrived on ship Mandarin

Dates: 1844


Archive name: The National Archives

Catalogue ref: HO 8/156

Collection: Home Office

Description: Quarterly returns of prisoners in Convict Prisons and Criminal Lunatic Asylums, Parkhurst Prison, Isle of Wight, female prisoners

Dates: 1863


Archive name: The National Archives

Catalogue ref: HO 8/162-206

Collection: Home Office

Description: Quarterly returns of prisoners in Convict Prisons and Criminal Lunatic asylums, Parkhurst Prison, Isle of Wight (excluding HO 8/202)

Dates: 1864-1875


Land & Buildings

Archive name: Hampshire Archives and Local Studies

Catalogue ref: 4M92/N23/21

Collection: None

Description: Papers relating to trespass in Parkhurst Woods, including plan of the forest indicating the Prison

Dates: 1880


Archive name: Isle of Wight Record Office

Catalogue ref: NBC/1/945, 1196, 1220

Collection: Newport Borough Corporation

Description: Agreements between the Mayor etc of Newport and the Directors of Convict Prisons, for supply of water to Parkhurst Prisons

Dates: 1881-1899


Archive name: The National Archives

Catalogue ref: PCOM 7/351

Collection: Prison Commission

Description: Parkhurst Prison graveyard, and burial in outside cemeteries

Dates: 1886-1887