Shrewsbury County Gaol and House of Correction

Overview

Details

Records

Overview

Alternative Names   Shrewsbury County Gaol, Shrewsbury Gaol, Shrewsbury Prison, HMP Shrewsbury, 'The Dana Prison'

Prison Type   Local Prison -  Common Gaol & House of Correction/Bridewell

Jurisdiction   County

Date opened   1793

Date closed   post 1900 (2013)

Location   Howard Street   Shrewsbury

Map location   exact or closely approximate

County   Shropshire

Prison Info

Alternative Names   Shrewsbury County Gaol, Shrewsbury Gaol, Shrewsbury Prison, HMP Shrewsbury, 'The Dana Prison'

Prison Type   Local Prison

Jurisdiction   County

Date opened   1793

Date closed   post 1900 (2013)

Location   Howard Street   Shrewsbury

Map location   exact or closely approximate
Lat.   52.712139  Long.   -2.747581

County   Shropshire

Prisoner Statistics

 

Year 1818

Annual Committed   -   175

Daily Greatest number   -   142

 

Year 1824

Annual Committed   -   565

Daily Census   -   104

 

Year 1828

Annual Committed   -   772

Daily Census   -   111

 

Year 1833

Annual Committed   -   795

Daily Census   -   169

 

Year 1838

Annual Confined   -   630

Daily Census   -   105

 

Year 1843

Annual Confined   -   1472

Daily Census   -   176

 

Year 1848

Annual Confined   -   1147

Daily Daily average   -   127

 

Year 1853

Annual Confined   -   1022

Daily Daily average   -   132

 

Year 1858

Annual Committed   -   1241

Daily Daily average   -   149

 

Year 1863

Annual Committed   -   1737

Daily Greatest number   -   214

 

Year 1868

Annual Committed   -   1826

Daily Daily average   -   156

 

Year 1873

Annual Committed   -   1076

Daily Daily average   -   115

 

Year 1878

Annual Committed   -   1472

Daily Daily average   -   153

 

Year 1883

Annual Committed   -   1738

Daily Daily average   -   141

 

Year 1888

Annual Committed   -   1527

Daily Daily average   -   117

 

Year 1893

Annual Committed   -   1519

Daily   -  

 

Year 1898

Annual Committed   -   1563

Daily   -  

Principal Primary Sources

  • James Neild, The State of the Prisons of England, Scotland and Wales (London, 1812), p.528
  • Account of Gaols, Houses of Correction or Penitentiaries in the United Kingdom, 1818 (Parl. Papers, 1819, XVII.371), p.40
  • 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.63; 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.56; 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.94; 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.117; 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.124; 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.37
  • Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1825, XXIII.1), p.220; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1826, XXIV.1), p.218; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1826-27, XIX.365), p.199; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1828, XX.327), p.231; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1829, XIX.1), p.205; Reports and Schedules Pursuant To Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1830, XXIV.1), p.204; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1830-31, XII.1), p.200; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1831-32. XXXIII.197), p.199; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1833, XXVIII.1), p.214; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1834, XLVI.1), p.201; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1835, XLIV.225), p.194; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1836, XLII.1), p.128; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1837, XLV.1), p.129; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1837-8, XLIII.227), p.134; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1839, XXXVIII.17), p.131; Reports Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1840, XXXVIII.1), p.138; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1841, XVIII.1), p.146; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1842, XXXII.1), p.147; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1843, XLIII.1), p.147; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1844, XXXIX.403), p.150; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1845, XXXVII.417), p.177; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1846, XXXIV.187), p.172; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1847, XLVII.297), p.187; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1847-48, LII.465), p.188
  • Royal Commission of Inquiry into Municipal Corporations of England and Wales, First Report, Appendices: Part 3 (Parl. Papers, 1835, XXIV.1), p.2018
  • Abstract Return of Establishment and Expenditure of Gaols and Houses of Correction in England and Wales (Parl. Papers, 1840, XXXVIII.241), p.50
  • Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain III. Southern and Western District. First Report (Parl. Papers, 1836, XXXV.269), p.56; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain III. Southern and Western District, Fourth Report (Parl. Papers, 1839, XXII.217), p.202; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain III. Southern and Western District, Sixth Report (Parl. Papers, 1841 Session 2, V.177), p.222; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain III. Southern and Western District, Ninth Report (Parl. Papers, 1844, XXIX.391), p.369; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain III. Southern and Western District, Tenth Report (Parl. Papers, 1845, XXIV.207), p.1; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain III. Southern and Western District, Eleventh Report (Parl. Papers, 1846, XXI.565), p.343; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain III. Southern and Western District, Twelfth Report (Parl. Papers, 1847-8, XXXV.1), p.342; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Midland and Eastern District, Fourteenth Report (Parl. Papers, 1849, XXVI.1), p.53; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain III. Southern and Western District, Seventeenth Report (Parl. Papers, 1852, XXIV.1), p.46; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain III. Southern and Western District, Nineteenth Report (Parl. Papers, 1854, XXXIV.1), p.89; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain III. Southern and Western District, Twenty-first Report (Parl. Papers, 1856, XXXIII.485), p.58; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Midland District, Twenty-third Report (Parl. Papers, 1859, Session 1, XI.1), p.112; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Midland District, Twenty-fourth Report (Parl. Papers, 1860, XXXV.1), p.106; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Midland District, Twenty-fifth Report (Parl. Papers, 1860, XXXV.229), p.104; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Midland District, Twenty-sixth Report (Parl. Papers, 1861, XXIX.45), p.102; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Midland District, Twenty-seventh Report (Parl. Papers, 1862, XXV.93), p.99; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Twenty-eighth Report (Parl. Papers, 1863, XXIII.1), p.67; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Thirtieth Report (Parl. Papers, 1865, XXIII.1), p.189; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Thirty-first Report (Parl. Papers, 1866, XXXVII.1), p.169; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Thirty-second Report (Parl. Papers, 1867-68, XXXIV.203), p.230; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Thirty-third Report (Parl. Papers, 1868-69, XXIX.1), p.161; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Thirty-fourth Report (Parl. Papers, 1870, XXXVII.1), p.172; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Thirty-fifth Report (Parl. Papers, 1871, XXIX.241), p.219; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Thirty-sixth Report (Parl. Papers, 1872, XXXI.1), p.126; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Thirty-seventh Report (Parl. Papers, 1873, XXXII.1), p.255; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Thirty-eighth Report (Parl. Papers, 1874, XXIX.1), p.293; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Thirty-ninth Report (Parl. Papers, 1875, XXXVII.1), p.315; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Fortieth Report (Parl. Papers, 1876, XXXV.1), p.312; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Forty-first Report (Parl. Papers, 1877, XLIII.1), p.315; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Forty-second Report (Parl. Papers, 1878, XLI.1), p.314
  • Commissioners of Prisons, Second Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1878-79, XXXIV.1, 97), p.67; Commissioners of Prisons, Third Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1880, XXXV.1,73), p.87; Commissioners of Prisons, Fourth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1881, LI.441, 521), p.88; Commissioners of Prisons, Fifth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1882, XXXIII.443, 541), p.96; Commissioners of Prisons, Sixth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1883, XXXI.445, 579), p.99; Commissioners of Prisons, Seventh Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1884, XLII.461, 551), p.96; Commissioners of Prisons, Eighth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1884-85, XXXVII.527, 651), p.96; Commissioners of Prisons, Ninth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1886, XXXV.1, 93), p.93; Commissioners of Prisons, Tenth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1887, XLI.203, 335), p.89; Commissioners of Prisons, Eleventh Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1888, LVIII.1, 209), p.88; Commissioners of Prisons, Twelfth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1889, XLI.1, 181), p.88; Commissioners of Prisons, Thirteenth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1890, XXXVII.1, 183), p.88; Commissioners of Prisons, Fourteenth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1890-91, XLIII.1, 125), p.81; Commissioners of Prisons, Fifteenth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1892, XLII.1, 147), p.78; Commissioners of Prisons, Sixteenth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1893-94, XLVII.1, 121), p.77; Commissioners of Prisons, Seventeenth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1894, XLIV.1, 183), p.76; Commissioners of Prisons, Eighteenth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1895, LVI.727, 865), p.80
  • Report of Coms. of Prisons and Directors of Convict Prisons, 1895-96 (Parl. Papers, 1896, XLIV.235), p.197; Report of Coms. of Prisons and Directors of Convict Prisons, 1896-97 (Parl. Papers, 1897, XL.105), p.344; Report of Coms. of Prisons and Directors of Convict Prisons, 1897-98 (Parl. Papers, 1898, XLVII.23), p.387; Report of Coms. of Prisons and Directors of Convict Prisons, 1898-99 (Parl. Papers, 1899, XLIII.65), p.409; Report of Coms. of Prisons and Directors of Convict Prisons, 1899-1900 (Parl. Papers, 1900, XLI.1), p.455

Additional Primary Sources

  • Samuel Bagshaw, History, Gazetteer and Directory of Shropshire (Sheffield, 1851), p. 63

Management

Archive name: Shropshire Archives

Catalogue ref: Acc 6405

Collection: HM Prison Shrewsbury records

Description: Prisoners' Charity Trustees Minute book

Dates: 1892-1905


Archive name: Shropshire Archives

Catalogue ref: Q/A/11/1/10

Collection: Shropshire Quarter Sessions

Description: Acts relating to the building of a new Gaol and House of Correction, and regulation of prisoners

Dates: 1786-1844


Archive name: Shropshire Archives

Catalogue ref: Q/A/11/1/10

Collection: Shropshire Quarter Sessions

Description: Acts relating to the building of a new Gaol and House of Correction, and regulation of prisoners

Dates: 1786-1844


Archive name: Shropshire Archives

Catalogue ref: Q/A/2/12/1-51

Collection: Shropshire Quarter Sessions

Description: Treatment of prisoners

Dates: 1836-1879


Archive name: Shropshire Archives

Catalogue ref: Q/A/2/12/24

Collection: Shropshire Quarter Sessions

Description: Gaol annual return schedule (12 November 1862)

Dates: 1862


Archive name: Shropshire Archives

Catalogue ref: Q/A/2/3/1-3

Collection: Shropshire Quarter Sessions

Description: Gaol, draft minutes

Dates: 1870-1877


Archive name: Shropshire Archives

Catalogue ref: Q/A/2/5

Collection: Shropshire Quarter Sessions

Description: Printed Prison reports

Dates: 1836-1877


Archive name: Shropshire Archives

Catalogue ref: Q/A/2/8/9/2

Collection: Shropshire Quarter Sessions

Description: Additional pages to history re the Act for building a new Gaol

Dates: 1880


Archive name: Shropshire Archives

Catalogue ref: 146/11-12

Collection: Edwards family of Ness Strange

Description: Appointment of Visiting Justices for the Gaol and House of Correction

Dates: 1816


Archive name: Shropshire Archives

Catalogue ref: Acc 6405

Collection: HM Prison Shrewsbury records

Description: Visiting Justices books (not continuous series)

Dates: 1841-1932


Archive name: Shropshire Archives

Catalogue ref: EDW/146/75/R324069-R324070

Collection: Edwards Collection

Description: Appointment of Visiting Justices for the Gaol and House of Correction

Dates: 1816


Archive name: Shropshire Archives

Catalogue ref: Q/A/2/1/1-5

Collection: Shropshire Quarter Sessions

Description: Gaol Visiting Justices report books

Dates: 1823-1878


Archive name: Shropshire Archives

Catalogue ref: Q/A/2/2/1-3

Collection: Shropshire Quarter Sessions

Description: Gaol Visiting Justices draft report books

Dates: 1839-1878


Archive name: Shropshire Archives

Catalogue ref: Q/A/2/3/4

Collection: Shropshire Quarter Sessions

Description: Draft Gaol minutes and draft visiting Committee minutes (June onwards)

Dates: 1878


Archive name: Shropshire Archives

Catalogue ref: Q/A/2/3/5-6

Collection: Shropshire Quarter Sessions

Description: Draft visiting committee minutes

Dates: 1879


Archive name: Shropshire Archives

Catalogue ref: Q/E/7/1/565A

Collection: Shropshire Quarter Sessions

Description: Appointment of Visiting Justices for the Gaol and House of Correction/Salop County Gaol, Shrewsbury

Dates: 1816-1867


Archive name: Shropshire Archives

Catalogue ref: DA2/1049/3

Collection: Bridgnorth Borough

Description: Bundle of papers re the maintenance of prisoners, correspondence re payments by the Borough for upkeep of the County Gaol. These include a table showing prisoners committed for trial (1840 and 1849). Also, Quarter Sessions returns for the Borough, correspondence re Borough Justices, lists of Magistrates for various years, additional Gaol rules (1839), accounts showing costs of prosecutions at Borough Sessions and covering letters (1839-1850).

Dates: 1835-1945


Finance

Archive name: Shropshire Archives

Catalogue ref: 170/2-3

Collection: Records presented by Richard Sandford

Description: An account of the receipts and expenditure of the public stock (1846), by Joshua John Peele, Treasurer. Reference to bridges, roads, House of Correction and Gaol.

Dates: 1846, 1852


Archive name: Shropshire Archives

Catalogue ref: P257/F/6/1-2

Collection: None

Description: Certificate of redemption of tithe rent charge, Castle Ward within and Castle Foregate, by The Prison Commissioners, and covering letter

Dates: 1882-1883


Archive name: Shropshire Archives

Catalogue ref: Q/A/2/8/1-10

Collection: Shropshire Quarter Sessions

Description: Shrewsbury Gaol, Finance

Dates: 1836-1879


Archive name: Shropshire Archives

Catalogue ref: Q/F/3

Collection: Shropshire Quarter Sessions

Description: Gaol accounts

Dates: 1790-1869


Archive name: Shropshire Archives

Catalogue ref: DA2/297/1/1

Collection: Bridgnorth Borough

Description: Bundle of Town Clerk's papers. Includes returns of amount of expenses paid by the Borough from the rate for the maintenance of prisoners sentenced at Assizes, with associated correspondence. Also, letter re provision of new cells at Salop Gaol, and contribution to expenses expected from Bridgnorth (1864)

Dates: 1830-1864


Staff

Archive name: Shropshire Archives

Catalogue ref: Acc 6405

Collection: HM Prison Shrewsbury records

Description: Register of Officers

Dates: 1890-1958


Archive name: Shropshire Archives

Catalogue ref: DA2/993/3/2

Collection: Bridgnorth Borough

Description: Duties of the Gaol Surgeon

Dates: 1843


Archive name: Shropshire Archives

Catalogue ref: 665/3/1063

Collection: Eyton family

Description: Memorial of Mr W. H. Griffith. Account of life amd achievements, Officers employed in Goal, time consumed by Mr Griffith's official engagements, other than Gaol. Letter from Henry Hast (1840).

Dates: 1840


Archive name: Shropshire Archives

Catalogue ref: D3651/B/39/4/6/6

Collection: None

Description: Appointment of Dr Edward Burd as Prison Doctor to Shrewsbury Prison

Dates: 1878


Archive name: Shropshire Archives

Catalogue ref: Q/A/2/9/1-11

Collection: Shropshire Quarter Sessions

Description: Prison Officers

Dates: 1845-1881


Prisoners

Archive name: Shropshire Archives

Catalogue ref: Q/S/13/1

Collection: Shropshire Quarter Sessions

Description: Reports on prisoners. Volume contains reports on prisoners, probably made by the prison chaplain. The reports generally contain a brief account of the prisoner, their character, level of literacy, and religious knowledge (1856-1861).

Dates: 1856-1861


Archive name: Shropshire Archives

Catalogue ref: PL5/92/11

Collection: Cleobury Mortimer Poor Law Union

Description: Correspondence and miscellaneous papers. John Bevan, a prisoner in Shrewsbury Gaol, to his wife. Letter relating to conditions for obtaining bail.

Dates: 1844


Land & Buildings

Archive name: Shropshire Archives

Catalogue ref: 665/3/1181

Collection: Eyton family

Description: Cuttings from Shropshire Times (7 March 1865). Shrewsbury Town Council sewerage slaughter houses extension of Gaol buildings, conduit pipes, cleansing streets, special meeting market question etc.

Dates: 1865


Archive name: Shropshire Archives

Catalogue ref: Acc 8644

Collection: HM Prison Shrewsbury records

Description: Ground plan of Shrewsbury Prison

Dates: 1831


Archive name: Shropshire Archives

Catalogue ref: Q/A/1/2/1

Collection: Shropshire Quarter Sessions

Description: Auditing Committee report book. The volume includes reports on County bridges, Gaol, roads etc.

Dates: 1824-1837


Archive name: Shropshire Archives

Catalogue ref: Q/A/2/6/1-15

Collection: Shropshire Quarter Sessions

Description: Prison Building and Maintenance

Dates: 1823-1878


Archive name: Shropshire Archives

Catalogue ref: Q/A/2/7/1-11

Collection: Shropshire Quarter Sessions

Description: Exchanges of land near the Prison

Dates: 1831-1878


Archive name: Shropshire Archives

Catalogue ref: Q/A/2/8/9/1

Collection: Shropshire Quarter Sessions

Description: Report of the County Surveyor on the ventilation of sewers at the Prison

Dates: 1878


Archive name: Shropshire Archives

Catalogue ref: Q/E/7/1/565

Collection: Shropshire Quarter Sessions

Description: Salop County Gaol, Shrewsbury. Details of interior layout of Prison Edward Haycock, County Surveyor

Dates: 1837


Archive name: Shropshire Archives

Catalogue ref: Q/E/7/1/565A

Collection: Shropshire Quarter Sessions

Description: Salop County Gaol, Shrewsbury. Plan of gardens adjoining the County Prison, showing Gaol Walk, Victoria Street, Terrace Walk, Castle Gates and the towing path (1816). Plan of the Courts in the Gaol and House of Correction (1833). Detail of ironwork for the treadmill.

Dates: 1816-1867


Archive name: The National Archives

Catalogue ref: PCOM7/140

Collection: Prison Commission

Description: Land. Shrewsbury Prison: L.N.W. Railway and G.W. Railway Works - various matters

Dates: 1891-1903


Archive name: Shropshire Archives

Catalogue ref: Acc 8644

Collection: HM Prison Shrewsbury records

Description: Land Record Book (plans, perambulation reports, record of registered deeds, abstract of land records, correspondence)

Dates: 1885-1996


Images

Archive name: Shropshire Archives

Catalogue ref: PH/S/13/C/1/14

Collection: Photograph Collection

Description: View of Dana Prison through an arch on Dana walk (photograph)

Dates: undated


Archive name: Shropshire Archives

Catalogue ref: PH/S/13/S/22/8

Collection: Photograph Collection

Description: View towards Laura's tower and Prison from river path, Shrewsbury

Dates: 1891