Alternative Names Reading County Gaol, Reading Prison, HMP Reading
Prison Type Local Prison - Common Gaol & House of Correction/Bridewell
Jurisdiction County
Date opened 1786
Date closed post 1900 (2013)
Location Forbury Hill (Forbury Road) Reading
Map location exact or closely approximate
County Berkshire
Although Reading County House of Correction was listed separately in the 1818 Return, it was also located on Forbury Hill and in other documents considered part of the County Gaol for administrative purposes.
Alternative Names Reading County Gaol, Reading Prison, HMP Reading
Prison Type Local Prison
Jurisdiction County
Date opened 1786
Date closed post 1900 (2013)
Location Forbury Hill (Forbury Road) Reading
Map location exact or closely approximate
Lat. 51.456389 Long. -0.964167
County Berkshire
Although Reading County House of Correction was listed separately in the 1818 Return, it was also located on Forbury Hill and in other documents considered part of the County Gaol for administrative purposes.
Year 1818
Annual Committed - 359
Daily Greatest number - 117
Year 1823
Annual Committed - 429
Daily Census - 78
Year 1828
Annual Committed - 527
Daily Census - 105
Year 1833
Annual Committed - 585
Daily Census - 112
Year 1838
Annual Confined - 798
Daily Census - 127
Year 1843
Annual Confined - 377
Daily Census - 19
Year 1848
Annual Confined - 1041
Daily Daily average - 190
Year 1853
Annual Confined - 989
Daily Daily average - 185
Year 1858
Annual Committed - 802
Daily Daily average - 132
Year 1863
Annual Committed - 867
Daily Greatest number - 150
Year 1868
Annual Committed - 1039
Daily Daily average - 132
Year 1873
Annual Committed - 925
Daily Daily average - 107
Year 1878
Annual Committed - 1120
Daily Daily average - 154
Year 1883
Annual Committed - 1070
Daily Daily average - 117
Year 1888
Annual Committed - 1279
Daily Daily average - 140
Year 1893
Annual Committed - 1448
Daily -
Year 1898
Annual Committed - 1091
Daily -
Archive name: Berkshire Record Office
Catalogue ref: D/EX2184/2/1-3
Collection: Miscellaneous printed papers relating to Berkshire Assizes and Quarter Sessions
Description: Berkshire Quarter Sessions, Epiphany (1855), includes quarterly returns for the County Gaol, Reading, and the House of Correction, Abingdon
Dates: 1855
Archive name: Berkshire Record Office
Catalogue ref: D/EX523/14
Collection: Papers of John Roberts, solicitor and Under-Sheriff of Berkshire
Description: Request from Robert Peel (as Home Secretary) for returns of persons committed to prison for contempt
Dates: 1826
Archive name: Berkshire Record Office
Catalogue ref: N/JQ 17/4
Collection: Newbury Borough
Description: Newbury Quarter Sessions Papers relating to the maintenance of prisoners of Reading Gaol, including details of the arrangements made in 1824 and 1836, 1848
Dates: 1824-1848
Archive name: Berkshire Record Office
Catalogue ref: P/RP1/8/1/1
Collection: Reading Prison
Description: Home Office records - Inspectors' minutes (July 1887-August 1919)
Dates: 1887-1919
Archive name: Berkshire Record Office
Catalogue ref: Q/AG1/4
Collection: Berkshire Quarter Sessions
Description: Counterpart of grant of Reading Prison to the Prison Commissioners
Dates: 1879
Archive name: Centre for Buckinghamshire Studies
Catalogue ref: Q/AG/15/20-21
Collection: Buckinghamshire Quarter Sessions
Description: Includes material on number of cells and state of the establishment at Reading Gaol
Dates: 1844
Archive name: The National Archives
Catalogue ref: PCOM2/395
Collection: Prison Commission
Description: Judges' orders at Reading Assize
Dates: 1847-1883
Archive name: Berkshire Record Office
Catalogue ref: Q/SO/8-37
Collection: Berkshire Quarter Sessions
Description: The Quarter Sessions Order Books, which contain reports of the governor, chaplain, visiting justices, and various gaol committees at Reading (and Abingdon)
Dates: 1800-1906
Archive name: Berkshire Record Office
Catalogue ref: D/EX1452
Collection: None
Description: Reading Gaol, reports of visiting justices. References are made to the Bridewell from 1792.
Dates: 1787-1801
Archive name: Berkshire Record Office
Catalogue ref: D/EX1847/1
Collection: None
Description: Visiting Justices' reports on visits to Reading Prison (October 1860-April 1878). Includes, at front, printed statistical returns of numbers of prisoners and costs of imprisonment (1839-1871).
Dates: 1839-1878
Archive name: Berkshire Record Office
Catalogue ref: P/RP1/6/1
Collection: Reading Prison
Description: Minutes of the visiting committee in April and May 1878, reports of weekly visits to the prison (May 1878-June 1878)
Dates: 1878
Archive name: The National Archives
Catalogue ref: PCOM2/394
Collection: Prison Commission
Description: Order book of Visiting Justices
Dates: 1841-1863
Archive name: Berkshire Record Office
Catalogue ref: D/EX343/1-3, 5
Collection: None
Description: Papers relating to financing the buildings
Dates: 1842-1870
Archive name: Berkshire Record Office
Catalogue ref: D/P 96/16/1/175-242
Collection: Reading St Giles parish
Description: Receipts for conveying discharged prisoners (1832-1833, 1836)
Dates: 1832-1836
Archive name: Berkshire Record Office
Catalogue ref: Q/AG1/2/1-2
Collection: Berkshire Quarter Sessions
Description: Agreement between the Chairman of Quarter Sessions, two other justices, and Admiral Dundas for securing additional loans for Reading Gaol
Dates: 1843-1844
Archive name: Berkshire Record Office
Catalogue ref: Q/FG3
Collection: Berkshire Quarter Sessions
Description: Abstract of expenditure for the County Gaol at Reading
Dates: 1848
Archive name: Berkshire Record Office
Catalogue ref: R/FZ2/55/1-31
Collection: Reading Borough
Description: Miscellaneous bills, vouchers and receipts. Includes bills for subsistence of named prisoners in the House of Correction.
Dates: 1829
Archive name: Berkshire Record Office
Catalogue ref: R/FZ2/56/1-47
Collection: Reading Borough
Description: Miscellaneous bills, vouchers and receipts. Includes bills for 12 pairs of handcuffs, and subsistence of named prisoners in the House of Correction.
Dates: 1830
Archive name: Berkshire Record Office
Catalogue ref: P/RP1/11/1/1
Collection: Reading Prison
Description: Chaplain's journal (April-June 1878)
Dates: 1878
Archive name: Berkshire Record Office
Catalogue ref: P/RP1/11/2/1
Collection: Reading Prison
Description: Chaplain's records, including Chaplain's letter book (April 1878-September 1884)
Dates: 1878-1884
Archive name: Plymouth and West Devon Record Office
Catalogue ref: 3040/12
Collection: None
Description: Register of Plymouth prison officers. Includes male and female officers and refers to their employment at various prisons, including Reading
Dates: late 19th century
Archive name: Centre for Buckinghamshire Studies
Catalogue ref: Q/AG/14/220
Collection: Buckinghamshire Quarter Sessions
Description: Includes letters [from] J. Field, chaplain of Reading Gaol seeking subscriptions for his book (February 19 1848).
Dates: 1848
Archive name: Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre
Catalogue ref: D/1/8/3/17
Collection: Diocese of Salisbury, Bishop of Salisbury, administrative records
Description: Curates' nominations, including Crate Williams, Thomas E., Chaplaincy of Reading Gaol
Dates: 1811
Archive name: Berkshire Record Office
Catalogue ref: PS/FT25/6
Collection: None
Description: Letter from Deputy Governor of Reading gaol relating to the reception of a child
Dates: 1879
Archive name: Centre for Buckinghamshire Studies
Catalogue ref: Q/AG/14/221-221b
Collection: Buckinghamshire Quarter Sessions
Description: Includes letters to/from Governor, Reading Gaol, regarding weighing prisoners
Dates: 1848
Archive name: Hampshire Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: 44M69/F10/55/5
Collection: None
Description: Letters to George Purefoy Jervoise. Correspondents include Mr Ernest Eaststaff, Gaoler at Reading Gaol
Dates: 1821
Archive name: Berkshire Record Office
Catalogue ref: P/RP1/1/1-3
Collection: Reading Prison
Description: Records of Admission - nominal registers
Dates: 1889-1894
Archive name: Berkshire Record Office
Catalogue ref: P/RP1/14/1
Collection: Reading Prison
Description: Register of executions carried out
Dates: 1893-1913
Archive name: Berkshire Record Office
Catalogue ref: P/RP1/15/1
Collection: Reading Prison
Description: Burial records - register of graves of executed men
Dates: 1922-1923
Archive name: Berkshire Record Office
Catalogue ref: T/A119
Collection: None
Description: Photocopy of execution register
Dates: 1742-1877
Archive name: The National Archives
Catalogue ref: HO23/12
Collection: Home Office
Description: Registers of prisoners from national prisons lodged in county prisons. Reading Gaol
Dates: 1847-1855
Archive name: Berkshire Record Office
Catalogue ref: D/EX523/13/1, 2
Collection: Papers of John Roberts, solicitor and Under-Sheriff of Berkshire
Description: Orders for transfer of a prisoner to the Justitia hulk on the river Thames, and another to the General Penitentiary
Dates: 1826
Archive name: Berkshire Record Office
Catalogue ref: D/EX523/8
Collection: Papers of John Roberts, solicitor and Under-Sheriff of Berkshire
Description: Order from Lord Sidmouth (as Home Secretary) for removal of 10 named convicts from Reading Gaol to the hulks at Portsmouth
Dates: 1820
Archive name: Berkshire Record Office
Catalogue ref: P/RP1/18/1
Collection: Reading Prison
Description: Colour print of a sketch of Charles White, executed at Reading on 26 March 1814
Dates: undated
Archive name: Berkshire Record Office
Catalogue ref: P/RP1/5/2
Collection: Reading Prison
Description: Photograph albums of prisoners at Reading Prison, both men and women; the photograph albums do not include all prisoners at Reading Prison.
Dates: 1883-1902
Archive name: The National Archives
Catalogue ref: PCOM2/392-393
Collection: Prison Commission
Description: Entry books of pardons of prisoners
Dates: 1818-1896
Archive name: Berkshire Record Office
Catalogue ref: R/JB5/2/1-2
Collection: None
Description: Letter to the Town Clerk. Includes list of persons imprisoned in Reading Gaol for small debts (1821-1826). Compiled by the Keeper of the Gaol
Dates: 1821-1826
Archive name: Berkshire Record Office
Catalogue ref: D/EX343
Collection: None
Description: Papers relating to the building of Reading Gaol
Dates: 1823-1870
Archive name: Berkshire Record Office
Catalogue ref: D/EX485/1
Collection: Reading Gaol (Plans)
Description: Ground plan of County Gaol and House of Correction, 1786, showing improvements up to 1827.
Dates: 1786-1827
Archive name: Berkshire Record Office
Catalogue ref: D/EX485/2/1-4
Collection: Reading Gaol (Plans)
Description: Plans [for new] Reading Gaol: basement, ground, first and second floors
Dates: 1841-1842
Archive name: Berkshire Record Office
Catalogue ref: P/RP1/16/3
Collection: Reading Prison
Description: Photocopies of floor plans of Reading Gaol soon after it had opened (c.1840s-1850s)
Dates: 1840-1860
Archive name: Berkshire Record Office
Catalogue ref: P/RP1/16/4
Collection: Reading Prison
Description: Elevation and plan of proposed partition for the front of the school room (23 July 1890)
Dates: 1890
Archive name: Berkshire Record Office
Catalogue ref: P/RP1/16/5
Collection: Reading Prison
Description: Colour elevation showing the view towards the prison of the extension of the gateway (17 September 1895)
Dates: 1895
Archive name: Berkshire Record Office
Catalogue ref: P/RP1/16/6/1-3
Collection: Reading Prison
Description: Plans of alterations and additions to chapel
Dates: late 19th century
Archive name: Berkshire Record Office
Catalogue ref: Q/AG1/3/1-8
Collection: Berkshire Quarter Sessions
Description: Schedules of contract for works for the New Gaol, Reading
Dates: 1842
Archive name: Berkshire Record Office
Catalogue ref: Q/AG1/5/1-4
Collection: Berkshire Quarter Sessions
Description: Draft contracts, specifications, bills, correspondence and Building Committee minutes
Dates: 1842-1844
Archive name: Berkshire Record Office
Catalogue ref: Q/AG1/1
Collection: Berkshire Quarter Sessions
Description: Contract between the Clerk of the Peace and Messrs. Baker for the erection of the gaol following the bankruptcy of John Jay, original contractor
Dates: 1842
Archive name: Reading Central Library, Local Studies
Catalogue ref: R/EX
Collection: None
Description: Photograph of the governor's residence, Reading Gaol
Dates: 1880
Archive name: Reading Central Library, Local Studies
Catalogue ref: R/IX
Collection: None
Description: Aerial view of the factory of Huntley and Palmers, biscuit manufacturers, Reading. Reading Gaol, the railway, and Caversham Church appear in the background
Dates: 1849
Archive name: Berkshire Record Office
Catalogue ref: D/ESv/M/F91
Collection: Papers of the Stevens family of Bradfield
Description: Diary of Henry Stevens. Includes mention of visits to the County Gaol with C. Dundas (1811)
Dates: 1808 - 1812
Archive name: Berkshire Record Office
Catalogue ref: D/EX1444
Collection: None
Description: Papers of Peter Southerton, collected in course of writing 'The Story of a Prison' (Reading 1975) (1857-late 20th century)
Dates: c.1857 - 1999
Archive name: Berkshire Record Office
Catalogue ref: D/EX523/17/1, 2
Collection: Papers of John Roberts, solicitor and Under-Sheriff of Berkshire
Description: Letters to John Roberts from Thomas Duffield, when Sheriff, on a Christmas gift to the prisoners, and on the expenses of his Shrievalty and the assistance of the Under Sheriff
Dates: c.1827