Alternative Names Shepton Mallet Bridewell, Shepton Mallet County Gaol, Shepton Mallet Prison, HMP Shepton Mallet
Prison Type Local Prison - House of Correction/Bridewell
Jurisdiction County
Date opened 1610
Date closed post 1900 (2013; closed 1930 but reopened for military prisoners 1939, and civilian use from 1966-2013)
Location Cornhill Shepton Mallet
Map location exact or closely approximate
County Somersetshire
Alternative Names Shepton Mallet Bridewell, Shepton Mallet County Gaol, Shepton Mallet Prison, HMP Shepton Mallet
Prison Type Local Prison
Jurisdiction County
Date opened 1610
Date closed post 1900 (2013; closed 1930 but reopened for military prisoners 1939, and civilian use from 1966-2013)
Location Cornhill Shepton Mallet
Map location exact or closely approximate
Lat. 51.190611 Long. -2.543228
County Somersetshire
Year 1818
Annual Committed - 501
Daily Greatest number - 125
Year 1823
Annual Committed - 323
Daily Census - 209
Year 1828
Annual Committed - 1027
Daily Census - 192
Year 1833
Annual Committed - 1334
Daily Census - 205
Year 1838
Annual Confined - 1339
Daily Census - 221
Year 1843
Annual Confined - 1134
Daily Census - 190
Year 1848
Annual Confined - 1289
Daily Daily average - 177
Year 1853
Annual Confined - 723
Daily Daily average - 114
Year 1858
Annual Committed - 703
Daily Daily average - 91
Year 1863
Annual Committed - 811
Daily Greatest number - 137
Year 1868
Annual Committed - 843
Daily Daily average - 105
Year 1873
Annual Committed - 674
Daily Daily average - 103
Year 1878
Annual Committed - 808
Daily Daily average - 144
Year 1883
Annual Committed - 766
Daily Daily average - 123
Year 1888
Annual Committed - 578
Daily Daily average - 86
Year 1893
Annual Committed - 546
Daily -
Year 1898
Annual Committed - 569
Daily -
Archive name: Somerset Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: A/DQI/1
Collection: None
Description: Treatise of HMP Shepton Mallet compiled by F. J. Disney, BEM ISM. Includes correspondence regarding research carried out by F. Disney, photographs, copies of newspaper cuttings, newspaper cuttings, and printed ephemera.
Dates: 1610-1894
Archive name: Somerset Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: DD/SF/3762
Collection: Sanford Family of Nynehead
Description: Bundle of miscellaneous letters, bills, and papers etc. These include correspondence and papers relating to letter re Shepton Gaol.
Dates: c1851-1892
Archive name: Somerset Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: DD/SF/3766
Collection: Sanford Family of Nynehead
Description: Bundle of miscellaneous papers and correspondence etc. Including papers on Shepton Mallet Gaol (c.1864).
Dates: c1842-1892
Archive name: Somerset Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: DD/SF/7/6
Collection: Sanford Family of Nynehead
Description: Family correspondence. Includes correspondence and other papers relating to Shepton Mallet Gaol, including labour accounts.
Dates: 1831-1860s
Archive name: Somerset Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: Q/AGS/12/1-2
Collection: Somerset Quarter Sessions
Description: Miscellaneous papers and correspondence
Dates: 1814-1824
Archive name: Somerset Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: Q/AGS/9/1-5
Collection: Somerset Quarter Sessions
Description: Reports, commissions of enquiry, etc
Dates: 1819-1835
Archive name: Somerset Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: Q/AGZ/1/1
Collection: Somerset Quarter Sessions
Description: Drafts of deed of arrangement and associated papers relating to transfer of Wilton and Shepton Mallet Prisons to the Home Office, under the terms of the Prison Act (1877)
Dates: 1878
Archive name: Somerset Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: Q/AGZ/10/11-12
Collection: Somerset Quarter Sessions
Description: Printed dietaries, and associated papers, Wilton and Shepton Mallet.
Dates: 1850-1872
Archive name: Somerset Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: Q/AGZ/12/2
Collection: Somerset Quarter Sessions
Description: Draft order of court that Ilchester be maintained only as a common Gaol, and that Wilton and Shepton Mallet remain Houses of Correction
Dates: 1823
Archive name: Somerset Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: Q/AGZ/12/3
Collection: Somerset Quarter Sessions
Description: Contracts, correspondence etc relating to maintenance of prisoners from Bath at Ilchester and Shepton Mallet. Copy of grant of separate Court of Quarter Sessions to the Borough of Bath (1837).
Dates: 1836-1840
Archive name: Somerset Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: Q/SR/368-797
Collection: Somerset Quarter Sessions
Description: Sessions Rolls. Contain material relating to the administration of the county prisons, in particular regular Visiting Justices' reports, and governor, chaplain and surgeons' reports, but also special reports on the condition of the prisons, and orders.
Dates: 1800-1900
Archive name: Somerset Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: DD/SAS/H/281/5
Collection: Somerset Archaeological and Natural History Society
Description: Shepton Mallet House of Correction. Visiting Magistrates journal.
Dates: 1824-1866
Archive name: Somerset Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: DD/SAS/H/281/6
Collection: Somerset Archaeological and Natural History Society
Description: Shepton Mallet House of Correction. Visiting Justices minute book.
Dates: 1867-1878
Archive name: Somerset Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: DD/SAS/H/281/7
Collection: Somerset Archaeological and Natural History Society
Description: Shepton Mallet House of Correction, Visiting Justices reports (copies)
Dates: 1850-1878
Archive name: Somerset Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: DD/DN/4/4/128
Collection: Dickinson Family
Description: Correspondence. Includes a meeting to deal with the Gaol accounts (Shepton Mallet Gaol) (24 June 1857)
Dates: 1856-1858
Archive name: Somerset Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: DD/SAS/H/281/8/2
Collection: Somerset Archaeological and Natural History Society
Description: Shepton Mallet Prison quarterly and yearly abstracts of expenses
Dates: 1872-1877
Archive name: Somerset Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: DD/SF/15/2/95
Collection: Sanford Family of Nynehead
Description: Return showing cost of conveying prisoners to Shepton Mallet Gaol from each Petty Sessional division
Dates: 1866-1867
Archive name: Somerset Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: Q/AGS/6/1
Collection: Somerset Quarter Sessions
Description: Miscellaneous vouchers
Dates: 1836
Archive name: Somerset Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: Q/AGZ/5/2
Collection: Somerset Quarter Sessions
Description: Draft return of expenses of repairs to Shepton Mallet, Ilchester and Wilton Gaols sent to Secretary of State (1810-1831)
Dates: 1831
Archive name: Somerset Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: Q/AGS/7/2
Collection: Somerset Quarter Sessions
Description: Governor's journal
Dates: 1876-1878
Archive name: Somerset Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: Q/AGS/7/1
Collection: Somerset Quarter Sessions
Description: Visitors' minute book
Dates: 1824-1927
Archive name: Somerset Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: DD/DN/4/4/141
Collection: Dickinson Family
Description: Correspondence. Includes papers on the appointment of chaplain at Shepton Mallet House of Correction (Apr-May 1859)
Dates: 1858-1859
Archive name: Somerset Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: DD/DN/4/4/144
Collection: Dickinson Family
Description: Correspondence. Includes applications amd testimonials for the position of Chaplain to Shepton Mallet Gaol
Dates: 1859
Archive name: Somerset Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: DD/EV/67
Collection: Chichester of Northover and Stoke St Michael
Description: Wills, including of Jason West, Governor of House of Correction at Shepton Mallet (1863, proved 1864)
Dates: 1702-1864
Archive name: Somerset Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: Q/AGZ/8/1
Collection: Somerset Quarter Sessions
Description: Statements of governors' enoluments, Wilton and Shepton Mallet
Dates: 1817-1819
Archive name: Somerset Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: Q/AGS/8/1-8
Collection: Somerset Quarter Sessions
Description: Papers relating to appointment of prison officers, salaries etc
Dates: 1824-1854
Archive name: Somerset Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: Q/AGZ/8/3
Collection: Somerset Quarter Sessions
Description: Printed statement of salaries in the county prisons
Dates: 1843
Archive name: Somerset Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: A/BRI/1/1-3
Collection: None
Description: Shepton Mallet Gaol registers. Male and female.
Dates: 1883-1930
Archive name: Somerset Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: Q/AGS/14/1-5
Collection: Somerset Quarter Sessions
Description: Registers of prisoners.
Dates: 1856-1879
Archive name: Somerset Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: Q/AGS/14/6
Collection: Somerset Quarter Sessions
Description: Register of prisoners before and after trial (Bath only)
Dates: 1842-1871
Archive name: Somerset Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: Q/AGS/14/7
Collection: Somerset Quarter Sessions
Description: Register of prisoners after trial
Dates: 1871-1878
Archive name: Somerset Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: Q/AGS/14/8
Collection: Somerset Quarter Sessions
Description: Register of summary convictions
Dates: 1860-1878
Archive name: Somerset Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: Q/AGS/17/1
Collection: Somerset Quarter Sessions
Description: Register of debtors
Dates: 1842-1878
Archive name: The National Archives
Catalogue ref: HO23/13
Collection: Home Office
Description: Registers of Prisoners from national prisons lodged in County Prisons, Somerset
Dates: 1864-1865
Archive name: Somerset Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: DD/DN/4/4/135
Collection: Dickinson Family
Description: Papers received by Francis Henry Dickinson. Includes a return of prisoners, numbers of prisoners, nature of crime, and later notes (1827-1856).
Dates: 1827-1857
Archive name: Somerset Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: Q/AGS/12/3
Collection: Somerset Quarter Sessions
Description: Turnkey's certificates of receipt of prisoners.
Dates: 1833, 1848
Archive name: Somerset Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: Q/AGS/13/1-2
Collection: Somerset Quarter Sessions
Description: Gaol returns
Dates: 1809-1820
Archive name: Somerset Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: Q/AGS/14/10
Collection: Somerset Quarter Sessions
Description: Trial prisoners
Dates: 1868-1879
Archive name: Somerset Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: Q/AGS/16/1-2
Collection: Somerset Quarter Sessions
Description: Index to description book
Dates: 1855-1878
Archive name: Somerset Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: DD/DN/4/4/119
Collection: Dickinson Family
Description: Correspondence. Includes R. Gordon at Lewiston, concerning stabling attached to (Shepton Mallet?) Gaol (3 July 1856).
Dates: 1855-1857
Archive name: Somerset Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: DD/DN/4/4/38
Collection: Dickinson Family
Description: Correspondence. Including Quarter Session order that a Committee lately elected shall communicate with the Secretary of State relative to proposed alterations to Shepton Mallet House of Correction (28 March 1848).
Dates: 1845-1849
Archive name: Somerset Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: DD/DN/4/4/49
Collection: Dickinson Family
Description: Correspondence. Includes Quarter Session order approving plans for Shepton Mallet prison (19 October 1847).
Dates: 1847
Archive name: Somerset Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: Q/AGS/1/1-6
Collection: Somerset Quarter Sessions
Description: Deeds, abstracts of title and associated legal papers
Dates: 1748-1879
Archive name: Somerset Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: Q/AGS/2/1-10
Collection: Somerset Quarter Sessions
Description: Contracts, specifications, etc, relating to building work
Dates: 1814-1851
Archive name: Somerset Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: Q/AGS/3/1-7
Collection: Somerset Quarter Sessions
Description: Plans and elevations
Dates: 1817-1848
Archive name: Somerset Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: Q/AGS/4/1-2
Collection: Somerset Quarter Sessions
Description: Inventories, prison fixtures and equipment
Dates: 1819, 1848
Archive name: Somerset Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: Q/AGS/5/1-3
Collection: Somerset Quarter Sessions
Description: Accounts and correspondence relating to building work
Dates: 1830-1843
Archive name: Somerset Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: DD/DN/4/4/31
Collection: Dickinson Family
Description: Correspondence. Including Richard Clerk concerning renovations to Shepton Mallet Gaol.
Dates: 1844-1850