Alternative Names Petworth County Bridewell, Petworth Gaol, Petworth County Gaol
Prison Type Local Prison - House of Correction/Bridewell
Jurisdiction County
Date opened 1788
Date closed 1878
Location Rosemary Lane, west of Grove Street Petworth
Map location exact or closely approximate
County Sussex
In 1845 became the County Gaol for West Sussex.
Alternative Names Petworth County Bridewell, Petworth Gaol, Petworth County Gaol
Prison Type Local Prison
Jurisdiction County
Date opened 1788
Date closed 1878
Location Rosemary Lane, west of Grove Street Petworth
Map location exact or closely approximate
Lat. 50.9846024 Long. -0.6084374
County Sussex
In 1845 became the County Gaol for West Sussex.
Year 1818
Annual Committed - 199
Daily Greatest number - 61
Year 1823
Annual Committed - 210
Daily Census - 265
Year 1828
Annual Committed - 266
Daily Census - 41
Year 1833
Annual Committed - 318
Daily Census - 53
Year 1838
Annual Confined - 395
Daily Census - 53
Year 1843
Annual Confined - 479
Daily Census - 51
Year 1848
Annual Confined - 527
Daily Daily average - 80
Year 1853
Annual Confined - 521
Daily Daily average - 81
Year 1858
Annual Committed - 426
Daily Daily average - 66
Year 1863
Annual Committed - 616
Daily Greatest number - 120
Year 1868
Annual Committed - 623
Daily Daily average - 90
Year 1873
Annual Committed - 444
Daily Daily average - 66
Year 1878
Annual Committed - 211
Daily Daily average - 0
Archive name: West Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: QAP/5/W20
Collection: Sussex Quarter Sessions (Western Division)
Description: Governor's annual report
Dates: 1852-1855
Archive name: West Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: Add Mss 13133
Collection: Petworth Prison
Description: Letters from R. D. Hilton. On behalf of John Edgington & Co of London, tent-makers, giving orders, specifications and patterns for the making up of canvas by prisoners in Petworth Prison.
Dates: 1875-1876
Archive name: West Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: GOODWOOD Mss 1477b
Collection: Goodwood Estate Archives
Description: Letters and papers relating to Horsham and Petworth Gaols
Dates: 1832
Archive name: West Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: PHA 106
Collection: Petworth House Archives
Description: Papers relating to prisons at Horsham and Petworth
Dates: 1813-1835
Archive name: West Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: QAF/3/5/W5
Collection: Sussex Quarter Sessions (Western Division)
Description: Petworth Gaol under George IV (1823). 20 mortgages (numbered 1-20) and a rough draft (1859).
Dates: 1823-1859
Archive name: West Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: QAF/3/5/W6
Collection: Sussex Quarter Sessions (Western Division)
Description: Petworth Prison chapel, under the Prison Act (1865), 2 mortgages
Dates: 1868-1869
Archive name: West Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: QAP/5/W11
Collection: Sussex Quarter Sessions (Western Division)
Description: Minutes of the Committee for converting House of Correction into Common Gaol
Dates: 1843-1852
Archive name: West Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: QAP/5/W12
Collection: Sussex Quarter Sessions (Western Division)
Description: Committee minutes and accounts
Dates: 1843-1859
Archive name: West Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: QAP/5/W13
Collection: Sussex Quarter Sessions (Western Division)
Description: Letters from Secretary of State concerning plans, rules and maintenance of prisoners etc. Also a letter from Dover Town Council and other papers.
Dates: 1846-1880
Archive name: West Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: QAP/5/W15
Collection: Sussex Quarter Sessions (Western Division)
Description: Various papers (gaol administration)
Dates: 1782-1880
Archive name: West Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: QAP/5/W16
Collection: Sussex Quarter Sessions (Western Division)
Description: Reports and returns under schedule B of 1823 Gaol Act
Dates: 1823-1857
Archive name: West Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: QAP/5/W19
Collection: Sussex Quarter Sessions (Western Division)
Description: Annual general report
Dates: 1833-1857
Archive name: West Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: QAP/5/W4
Collection: Sussex Quarter Sessions (Western Division)
Description: Papers on carrying into execution 1823 Gaol Act
Dates: 1823
Archive name: West Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: QR/W628-W1035
Collection: Sussex Quarter Sessions (Western Division)
Description: Sessions Rolls. Includes documents relating to the administration of Horsham Gaol and Petworth House of Correction (eg. bills, returns of prisoners etc)
Dates: 1800-1900
Archive name: Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre
Catalogue ref: A1/516/4
Collection: Wiltshire Quarter Sessions
Description: Printed papers concerning Gaol administration in other counties, including rules for Horsham, Lewes, and Petworth (1824). Also, hints for the improvement of prisons (1817).
Dates: 1807-1824
Archive name: West Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: QAP/5/W18
Collection: Sussex Quarter Sessions (Western Division)
Description: Reports of Visiting Justices, Chaplain, Surgeon, Keeper, and Keeper's certificates
Dates: 1832-1878
Archive name: West Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: QAP/5/W14
Collection: Sussex Quarter Sessions (Western Division)
Description: Appointment of Visiting Justices
Dates: 1862-1878
Archive name: West Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: AM 16/2/20
Collection: None
Description: Letter to Hasler Hollist from W. K. Langridge. Regarding Hasler Hollist's retirement from the position of Chairman of the Visiting Justices of Petworth Gaol.
Dates: 1871
Archive name: West Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: PHA 2319
Collection: Petworth House Archives
Description: Weekly wage accounts. W. Mills, Jun (1881-?). Seven weeks' wages for looking after Gaol.
Dates: 1873-1883
Archive name: West Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: PHA 9077
Collection: Petworth House Archives
Description: Correspondence and copy debenture, concerning money loaned for repairs and alterations to Petworth House of Correction
Dates: 1846
Archive name: West Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: QAF/2/2/W 233
Collection: Sussex Quarter Sessions (Western Division)
Description: Treasurers' statements of accounts, with vouchers. Includes statement of account and vouchers for work at Petworth House of Correction.
Dates: 1868
Archive name: West Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: QAF/2/4
Collection: Sussex Quarter Sessions (Western Division)
Description: Treasurer's payments (western division). Amounts set out in columns, headings include County Gaol
Dates: 1812-1889
Archive name: West Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: QAP/5/W10
Collection: Sussex Quarter Sessions (Western Division)
Description: Accounts for improvements
Dates: 1834-1836
Archive name: West Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: PHA 10569
Collection: Petworth House Archives
Description: Letter to Lord Egremont from Reverend John Crosthwaite, regarding the latter's wish to provide a dinner to prisoners in Petworth Bridewell.
Dates: 1821
Archive name: West Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: PHA 693
Collection: Petworth House Archives
Description: Letters chiefly of the first Lord Leconfield and Reverend T. Sockett. Includes references to water supply and prison chaplaincy at Petworth.
Dates: 1836-1842
Archive name: West Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: PHA 731
Collection: Petworth House Archives
Description: Correspondence chiefly of the first Lord Leconfield and Rev. T. Sockett including on prison chaplaincy
Dates: 1837-1847
Archive name: West Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: QAP/5/W5
Collection: Sussex Quarter Sessions (Western Division)
Description: Papers concerning Officers - applications and testimonials for post of Keeper (1824, 1857), Chaplain (1838, 1840, 1849), resignation of Chaplain (1840), and Chief Warder (1867). Application for increase of salary of Keeper (1828).
Dates: 1824-1867
Archive name: West Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: PHA 10575
Collection: Petworth House Archives
Description: Printed application by William Edwards for the position of Keeper to the House of Correction, Petworth, with copies of testimonials
Dates: 1824
Archive name: West Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: QAP/5/W3
Collection: Sussex Quarter Sessions (Western Division)
Description: Bonds of Keepers, William Starkes (1788), William Phillips (1791), John Mance (1824)
Dates: 1788-1824
Archive name: West Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: Add Mss 13134
Collection: Petworth Prison
Description: Draft bill-heading or advertisement. S. Penfold, manufacturer of sacks, ropes etc. Previously Trade Instructor at Petworth Prison, and lately appointed to Portsmouth Prison.
Dates: c.1875-1900
Archive name: West Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: Kevis 1/R31
Collection: None
Description: Photograph of Mrs Ranson, Prison, Petworth. Part of a collection of glass negatives, many of Petworth estate staff.
Dates: c.1876-1908
Archive name: West Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: QAP/5/W17
Collection: Sussex Quarter Sessions (Western Division)
Description: Statement of Increase or Diminution of Officers and Servants.
Dates: 1824-1864
Archive name: West Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: RC 11/3/3/1
Collection: Duncton, St Anthony & St GeorgeÂ
Description: Letter from Fr T. J. Capel, requesting permission to take boy to serve Mass at Petworth Prison
Dates: 1866
Archive name: West Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: RC 11/3/3/2
Collection: Duncton, St Anthony & St GeorgeÂ
Description: Letter from Fr Augustus Bethell requesting travel expenses for Prison visits
Dates: 1869
Archive name: West Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: Add Mss 49829
Collection: None
Description: Petworth Prison nominal register
Dates: 1871-1877
Archive name: West Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: PHA 10583
Collection: Petworth House Archives
Description: List of persons committed to Petworth Bridewell
Dates: 1830
Archive name: East Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: OBIT/1/37/101
Collection: None
Description: Obituaries / reports of inquests of prisoners, including at Petworth. From the Sussex Agricultural Express.
Dates: 1870s-1880s
Archive name: West Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: Add Mss 51522
Collection: None
Description: Petworth Prison nominal record
Dates: 1877-1878
Archive name: West Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: Burrell Mss Acc 5927/1/2/26
Collection: Burrell Manuscripts
Description: Letter from Burrell. Describes the behaviour in Prison of the 'four Petworth rioters' and some smugglers.
Dates: 1843
Archive name: West Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: PHA 10561
Collection: Petworth House Archives
Description: Correspondence concerning the treatment of Richard Woods (prisoner) in Petworth House of Correction
Dates: 1815
Archive name: West Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: Add Mss 6279
Collection: West Sussex Council property deeds
Description: Deeds of Petworth court house and House of Correction
Dates: 1783-1938
Archive name: West Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: MITFORD MSS 1361
Collection: Mitford Archives
Description: Vouchers for accounts paid by William Mitford or his executors. Includes bill for drawing and for copper plates of plans, elevations and sections of Petworth Gaol by William Faden (1819).
Dates: 1813-1827
Archive name: West Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: QAP/4/WE1
Collection: Sussex Quarter Sessions (Western Division)
Description: Proceedings respecting the Building of Horsham Gaol (1775), and on enlarging the same (1819)
Dates: 1775-1820
Archive name: West Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: QAP/5/W6-8
Collection: Sussex Quarter Sessions (Western Division)
Description: Gaol improvements (orders, minutes, tenders etc)
Dates: 1834-1849
Archive name: West Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: QAP/5/W9
Collection: Sussex Quarter Sessions (Western Division)
Description: Contracts for building and supplies, including drafts
Dates: 1834-1859
Archive name: West Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: PH 3368
Collection: None
Description: Petworth - from Grove Street, photograph
Dates: c.1860