Preston County House of Correction

Overview

Details

Records

Overview

Alternative Names   Preston House of Correction, Preston County Gaol, Preston Prison, HMP Preston

Prison Type   Local Prison -  House of Correction/Bridewell

Jurisdiction   County

Date opened   1789

Date closed   post 1900 (still open)

Location   near Church Gate Bar, east end Church Street (now Ribbleton Lane)   Preston

Map location   exact or closely approximate

County   Lancashire

Prison Info

Alternative Names   Preston House of Correction, Preston County Gaol, Preston Prison, HMP Preston

Prison Type   Local Prison

Jurisdiction   County

Date opened   1789

Date closed   post 1900 (still open)

Location   near Church Gate Bar, east end Church Street (now Ribbleton Lane)   Preston

Map location   exact or closely approximate
Lat.   53.7618  Long.   -2.6887

County   Lancashire

Prisoner Statistics

 

Year 1818

Annual Committed   -   936

Daily Greatest number   -   272

 

Year 1823

Annual Committed   -   695

Daily Census   -   130

 

Year 1828

Annual Committed   -   726

Daily Census   -   175

 

Year 1833

Annual Committed   -   1124

Daily Census   -   248

 

Year 1838

Annual Confined   -   1432

Daily Census   -   197

 

Year 1843

Annual Confined   -   2255

Daily Census   -   196

 

Year 1848

Annual Confined   -   2258

Daily Daily average   -   278

 

Year 1853

Annual Confined   -   2404

Daily Daily average   -   304

 

Year 1858

Annual Committed   -   2597

Daily Daily average   -   332

 

Year 1863

Annual Committed   -   2657

Daily Greatest number   -   437

 

Year 1868

Annual Committed   -   2968

Daily Daily average   -   345

 

Year 1873

Annual Committed   -   3257

Daily Daily average   -   377

 

Year 1878

Annual Committed   -   4168

Daily Daily average   -   422

 

Year 1883

Annual Committed   -   4384

Daily Daily average   -   418

 

Year 1888

Annual Committed   -   6194

Daily Daily average   -   409

 

Year 1893

Annual Committed   -   5343

Daily   -  

 

Year 1898

Annual Committed   -   5346

Daily   -  

Principal Primary Sources

  • James Neild, The State of the Prisons of England, Scotland and Wales (London, 1812), p.491
  • Account of Gaols, Houses of Correction or Penitentiaries in the United Kingdom, 1818 (Parl. Papers, 1819, XVII.371), p.26
  • [Second] Report of the Committee of the Society for the Improvement of Prison Discipline and for the Reformation of Juvenile Offenders (London, 1820), p.63; The Third Report of the Committee of the Society for the Improvement of Prison Discipline and for the Reformation of Juvenile Offenders (London, 1821), Appendix, p.41; Fourth Report of the Committee of the Society for the Improvement of Prison Discipline and for the Reformation of Juvenile Offenders (London, 1822), Appendix, p.32; Fifth Report of the Committee of the Society for the Improvement of Prison Discipline and for the Reformation of Juvenile Offenders (London, 1823), Appendix, p.47; Sixth Report of the Committee of the Society for the Improvement of Prison Discipline and for the Reformation of Juvenile Offenders (London, 1824), Appendix, p.57; Seventh Report of the Committee of the Society for the Improvement of Prison Discipline and for the Reformation of Juvenile Offenders (London, 1827), Appendix, p.69; Eighth Report of the Committee of the Society for the Improvement of Prison Discipline and for the Reformation of Juvenile Offenders (London, 1832), Appendix, p.21
  • Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1824, XIX.359), p.140; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1825, XXIII.1), p.131; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1826, XXIV.1), p.136; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1826-27, XIX.365), p.128; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1828, XX.327), p.138; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1829, XIX.1), p.129; Reports and Schedules Pursuant To Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1830, XXIV.1), p.129; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1830-31, XII.1), p.125; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1831-32. XXXIII.197), p.125; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1833, XXVIII.1), p.132; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1834, XLVI.1), p.121; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1835, XLIV.225), p.123; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1836, XLII.1), p.79; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1837, XLV.1), p.83; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1837-8, XLIII.227), p.89; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1839, XXXVIII.17), p.83; Reports Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1840, XXXVIII.1), p.93; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1841, XVIII.1), p.96; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1842, XXXII.1), p.97; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1843, XLIII.1), p.99; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1844, XXXIX.403), p.95; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1845, XXXVII.417), p.117; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1846, XXXIV.187), p.107; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1847, XLVII.297), p.120; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1847-48, LII.465), p.125
  • Royal Commission of Inquiry into Municipal Corporations of England and Wales, First Report, Appendices: Part 3 (Parl. Papers, 1835, XXIV.1), p.1692
  • Abstract Return of Establishment and Expenditure of Gaols and Houses of Correction in England and Wales (Parl. Papers, 1840, XXXVIII.241), p.26
  • Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern and Eastern District, Second Report (Parl. Papers, 1837, XXXII.499), p.52; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern and Eastern District, Fourth Report (Parl. Papers, 1839, XXII.1), p.44; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern and Eastern District, Sixth Report (Parl. Papers, 1841 Session 2, V.1), p.53; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern and Eastern District, Eighth Report (Parl. Papers, 1843, XXV. & XXVI.249), p.63; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern and Eastern District, Tenth Report (Parl. Papers, 1845, XXIV.1), p.47; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain IV. Northern District, Thirteenth Report (Parl. Papers, 1847-8, XXXVI.361), p.1; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern and Eastern District, Fifteenth Report (Parl. Papers, 1850, XXVIII.291), p.241; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern and Eastern District, Sixteenth Report (Parl. Papers, 1851, XXVII.461), p.16; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern and Eastern District, Seventeenth Report (Parl. Papers, 1852-53, LII.1), p.46; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern and Eastern District, Eighteenth Report (Parl. Papers, 1856, XXXIII.1), p.24; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern and Eastern District, Nineteenth Report (Parl. Papers, 1856, XXXIII.385), p.31; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern and Eastern District, Twenty-second Report (Parl. Papers, 1857-58, XXIX.1), p.28; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain III. Northern District, Twenty-third Report (Parl. Papers, 1857-58, XXIX.209), p.54; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain III. Northern District, Twenty-fourth Report (Parl. Papers, 1859, Session 1, XI.213), p.45; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain III. Northern District, Twenty-fifth Report (Parl. Papers, 1860, XXXV.381), p.35; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain III. Northern District, Twenty-eighth Report (Parl. Papers, 1863, XXIII.109), p.65; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern District, Thirtieth Report (Parl. Papers, 1865, XXIII.257), p.39; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern District, Thirty-first Report (Parl. Papers, 1866, XXXVII.233), p.41; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern District, Thirty-second Report (Parl. Papers, 1867-68, XXXIV.1), p.29; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern District, Thirty-fourth Report (Parl. Papers, 1871, XXIX.1), p.27; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern District, Thirty-fifth Report (Parl. Papers, 1871, XXIX.529), p.32; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern District, Thirty-sixth Report (Parl. Papers, 1872, XXXI.169), p.18; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern District, Thirty-seventh Report (Parl. Papers, 1873, XXXII.337), p.30; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern District, Thirty-eighth Report (Parl. Papers, 1874, XXIX.389), p.43; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern District, Thirty-ninth Report (Parl. Papers, 1875, XXXVII.417), p.44; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern District, Fortieth Report (Parl. Papers, 1876, XXXV.417), p.45; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern District, Forty-first Report (Parl. Papers, 1877, XLIII.421), p.45; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Northern District, Forty-second Report (Parl. Papers, 1878, XLI.417), p.45
  • Commissioners of Prisons, Second Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1878-79, XXXIV.1, 97), p.62; Commissioners of Prisons, Third Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1880, XXXV.1,73), p.79; Commissioners of Prisons, Fourth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1881, LI.441, 521), p.80; Commissioners of Prisons, Fifth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1882, XXXIII.443, 541), p.87; Commissioners of Prisons, Sixth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1883, XXXI.445, 579), p.89; Commissioners of Prisons, Seventh Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1884, XLII.461, 551), p.87; Commissioners of Prisons, Eighth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1884-85, XXXVII.527, 651), p.87; Commissioners of Prisons, Ninth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1886, XXXV.1, 93), p.84; Commissioners of Prisons, Tenth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1887, XLI.203, 335), p.80; Commissioners of Prisons, Eleventh Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1888, LVIII.1, 209), p.79; Commissioners of Prisons, Twelfth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1889, XLI.1, 181), p.78; Commissioners of Prisons, Thirteenth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1890, XXXVII.1, 183), p.78; Commissioners of Prisons, Fourteenth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1890-91, XLIII.1, 125), p.72; Commissioners of Prisons, Fifteenth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1892, XLII.1, 147), p.70; Commissioners of Prisons, Sixteenth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1893-94, XLVII.1, 121), p.69; Commissioners of Prisons, Seventeenth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1894, XLIV.1, 183), p.68; Commissioners of Prisons, Eighteenth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1895, LVI.727, 865), p.71
  • Report of Coms. of Prisons and Directors of Convict Prisons, 1895-96 (Parl. Papers, 1896, XLIV.235), p.177; Report of Coms. of Prisons and Directors of Convict Prisons, 1896-97 (Parl. Papers, 1897, XL.105), p.322; Report of Coms. of Prisons and Directors of Convict Prisons, 1897-98 (Parl. Papers, 1898, XLVII.23), p.363; Report of Coms. of Prisons and Directors of Convict Prisons, 1898-99 (Parl. Papers, 1899, XLIII.65), p.379; Report of Coms. of Prisons and Directors of Convict Prisons, 1899-1900 (Parl. Papers, 1900, XLI.1), p.426

Additional Primary Sources

  • Rev. Walter Lowe Clay, The prison chaplain: A memoir of the Rev. John Clay, late chaplain of the Preston Gaol (London, 1861)

Management

Archive name: Lancashire Archives

Catalogue ref: QGR/2/6, 10, 13, 17, 20, 29, 31-34, 36-42

Collection: Lancashire Quarter Sessions

Description: Chaplain's reports

Dates: 1825-1858


Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives

Catalogue ref: CLA/035/02/027

Collection: Newgate Prison

Description: Chaplain's report, Preston House of Correction

Dates: 1846


Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives

Catalogue ref: COL/CC/PCC/02/003

Collection: None

Description: Numbered papers,including printed pamphlets, Chaplain's report of the Pheston (Preston?) House of Correction (1846)

Dates: 1842-1853


Archive name: Manchester Archives & Local Studies

Catalogue ref: GB127.BR MS f310.6 M5/Volume 3 and 4

Collection: None

Description: Chaplain's reports on the Preston House of Correction

Dates: 1837-1838


Archive name: Lancashire Archives

Catalogue ref: QGR/2/2, 8, 12

Collection: Lancashire Quarter Sessions

Description: Governor's or Keeper's returns

Dates: 1823-1826


Archive name: Lancashire Archives

Catalogue ref: QGR/2/1, 3, 7, 11, 14, 15, 18, 21, 23, 24, 26, 28, 30

Collection: Lancashire Quarter Sessions

Description: General Reports

Dates: 1823-1840


Archive name: Lancashire Archives

Catalogue ref: QGR/2/16, 19, 22, 25, 27

Collection: Lancashire Quarter Sessions

Description: Returns

Dates: 1828-1838


Archive name: Lancashire Archives

Catalogue ref: QGR/2/35

Collection: Lancashire Quarter Sessions

Description: Report of prison discipline and accommodation

Dates: 1852


Archive name: Lancashire Archives

Catalogue ref: QGV/2/1

Collection: Lancashire Quarter Sessions

Description: Letter: Thomas Rawson, Liverpool to Edward Gorst, esq., with copy of a letter from Major J.Jebb, Hyde Park, concerning a meeting of magistrates at Newton and afterwards inspecting the County Prisons. 13 May 1843

Dates: 1843


Archive name: Lancashire Archives

Catalogue ref: QGV/2/10

Collection: Lancashire Quarter Sessions

Description: Minute book of Preston prison charity trustees

Dates: 1890-1946


Archive name: Lancashire Archives

Catalogue ref: QGV/2/8

Collection: Lancashire Quarter Sessions

Description: Letter from the Secretary of State to the Visiting Justices, requiring a more specific report from the Surgeon on the health of juvenile prisoners to the Inspector of Prisons

Dates: 1847


Archive name: Lancashire Archives

Catalogue ref: QSP

Collection: Lancashire Quarter Sessions

Description: Series includes a vast amount of material on the administration of the county prisons, including: accounts and other financial records, Visiting Justices' reports; governors', surgeons', chaplains' and schoolmasters' reports; returns of prisoners; and staff appointments, salaries and dismissals. The catalogue contains detailed summaries at item level.

Dates: 1648-1908


Archive name: Lancashire Archives

Catalogue ref: QGR/2/5, 9

Collection: Lancashire Quarter Sessions

Description: Reports of Visiting Justices

Dates: 1824-1825


Finance

Archive name: Lancashire Archives

Catalogue ref: QGV/2/6

Collection: Lancashire Quarter Sessions

Description: Accounts

Dates: 1827-1830


Staff

Archive name: Lancashire Archives

Catalogue ref: QGV/2/7

Collection: Lancashire Quarter Sessions

Description: Letter from the Rev. John Clay, Chaplain of the House of Correction, to S. R. Goodman and J. T. Barham, esqs., sending copies of prison reports for 1844 and 1845 concerning juvenile offenders

Dates: 1846


Archive name: Lancashire Archives

Catalogue ref: QGR/2/4

Collection: Lancashire Quarter Sessions

Description: Return of officers

Dates: 1824


Prisoners

Archive name: Lancashire Archives

Catalogue ref: JAPR/1/1-32

Collection: HM Prison Preston

Description: Nominal registers - male

Dates: 1878-1931


Archive name: Lancashire Archives

Catalogue ref: JAPR/2/1-4

Collection: HM Prison Preston

Description: Nominal registers - female

Dates: 1878-1925


Archive name: Lancashire Archives

Catalogue ref: QGP/1

Collection: Lancashire Quarter Sessions

Description: Register of male and female prisoners

Dates: 1883


Archive name: The National Archives

Catalogue ref: HO23/11

Collection: Home Office

Description: Registers of Prisoners from national prisons lodged in County Prisons, Preston

Dates: 1848-1855


Archive name: Lancashire Archives

Catalogue ref: DDX 505/7a

Collection: None

Description: Miscellaneous Correspondence. Includes Simon Brown (in gaol) at Preston to George Tailor his father, Burnley

Dates: 1840


Land & Buildings

Archive name: Lancashire Archives

Catalogue ref: MBNE 60/88

Collection: Nelson Municipal Borough

Description: Specifications for work on the extension of the municipal buildings, new Police Court, Gaol and other offices

Dates: 1891


Archive name: Lancashire Archives

Catalogue ref: QGB/2/1-27

Collection: Lancashire Quarter Sessions

Description: Mostly leases and conveyancing, of land and buildings related to the prison, but also documents relating to alterations in the 1840s (notice to builders, specifications, materials)

Dates: 1813-1847


Images

Archive name: Lancashire Archives

Catalogue ref: QGV/2/9

Collection: Lancashire Quarter Sessions

Description: Photograph of tread mill (c 1900-1910, according to Mr. Winter, but was not than in use - demonstration organised for photograph.) 

Dates: c.1900-c.1910