Southwark Borough Compter

Overview

Details

Records

Overview

Alternative Names   Borough Compter

Prison Type   Local Prison -  Common Gaol

Jurisdiction   Municipality

Date opened   1717

Date closed   1852

Location   Tooley Street   Southwark

Map location   exact or closely approximate

County   Surrey

Critical Remarks

In 1840, used exclusively for female prisoners transferred from Giltspur Street Prison.

Prison Info

Alternative Names   Borough Compter

Prison Type   Local Prison

Jurisdiction   Municipality

Date opened   1717

Date closed   1852

Location   Tooley Street   Southwark

Map location   exact or closely approximate
Lat.   51.5044  Long.   -0.0908

County   Surrey

Critical Remarks

In 1840, used exclusively for female prisoners transferred from Giltspur Street Prison.

Prisoner Statistics

 

Year 1818

Annual Committed   -   1509

Daily Greatest number   -   82

 

Year 1823

Annual Committed   -   1327

Daily Census   -   46

 

Year 1828

Annual Committed   -   1003

Daily Census   -   47

 

Year 1833

Annual Committed   -   2084

Daily Census   -   56

 

Year 1838

Annual Confined   -   1495

Daily Census   -   54

 

Year 1843

Annual Confined   -   269

Daily Census   -   11

 

Year 1848

Annual Confined   -   143

Daily Daily average   -   43

Principal Primary Sources

  • James Neild, The State of the Prisons of England, Scotland and Wales (London, 1812), p.57
  • Account of Gaols, Houses of Correction or Penitentiaries in the United Kingdom, 1818 (Parl. Papers, 1819, XVII.371), p.46
  • 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.73; 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.59; 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.110; 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.139; 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.141; 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.42
  • Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1824, XIX.359), p.250; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1825, XXIII.1), p.346; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1826, XXIV.1), p.330; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1828, XX.327), p.340; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1829, XIX.1), p.304; Reports and Schedules Pursuant To Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1830, XXIV.1), p.306; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1830-31, XII.1), p.301; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1831-32. XXXIII.197), p.300; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1833, XXVIII.1), p.325; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1834, XLVI.1), p.310; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1835, XLIV.225), p.295; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1836, XLII.1), p.198; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1837, XLV.1), p.200; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1837-8, XLIII.227), p.202; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1839, XXXVIII.17), p.202; Reports Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1840, XXXVIII.1), p.217; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1841, XVIII.1), p.230; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1842, XXXII.1), p.232; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1843, XLIII.1), p.234; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1844, XXXIX.403), p.224; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1845, XXXVII.417), p.263; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1846, XXXIV.187), p.273; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1847, XLVII.297), p.276; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1847-48, LII.465), p.278
  • Abstract Return of Establishment and Expenditure of Gaols and Houses of Correction in England and Wales (Parl. Papers, 1840, XXXVIII.241), p.60
  • Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Home District, Second Report (Parl. Papers, 1837 XXXII.1), p.178; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Home District, Third Report, Supplement (Parl. Papers, 1837-38, XXX.367), p.37; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Home District, Fourth Report (Parl. Papers, 1839, XXI.1), p.276; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Home District, Fifth Report (Parl. Papers, 1840, XXV.1), p.288; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Home District, Sixth Report (Parl. Papers, 1841 Session 2, IV.1), p.308; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Home District, Fourteenth Report (Parl. Papers, 1850, XXVIII.1), p.7; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Home District, Fifteenth Report (Parl. Papers, 1851, XXVII.1), p.122

Secondary Sources

  • https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/things-to-do/london-metropolitan-archives/visitor-information/Documents/59-prison-records.pdf

Management

Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives

Catalogue ref: COL/OF/02/027

Collection: Corporation of London: Officers

Description: Notes re Chaplains of the House of Correction, Borough Compter, and Newgate.

Dates: 1816-1825


Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives

Catalogue ref: CLA/031/02/012

Collection: Southwark Compter

Description: Miscellaneous papers, copy letters, certificates, notes etc relating to the Prison, being rough papers of Keeper's office

Dates: 1817-1834


Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives

Catalogue ref: CLA/031/02/013-014

Collection: Southwark Compter

Description: Miscellaneous papers

Dates: c.1814-1842


Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives

Catalogue ref: CLA/031/02/018

Collection: Southwark Compter

Description: Return of the State of the Borough Compter made to the Court of Alderman

Dates: 1822-1834


Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives

Catalogue ref: CLA/032/01

Collection: Prisons and Compters

Description: Miscellaneous records relating to Prisons and Compters (including Southwark Compter). These include accounts and financial papers, statutes and bills relating to Gaols and Prisons, various Committee minutes and papers, including reports of the Gaol Committee, staffing issues, contracts, petitions, regulations, papers relating to the health of the prisoners.

Dates: 1487-1878


Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives

Catalogue ref: CLA/046/01/017-021

Collection: Southwark Sessions

Description: Sessions books

Dates: 1787-1929


Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives

Catalogue ref: CLA/046/02/014-019

Collection: Southwark Sessions

Description: Sessions files

Dates: 1790-1870


Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives

Catalogue ref: CLA/046/03/003-012

Collection: Southwark Sessions

Description: Sessions papers

Dates: 1814-c.1861


Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives

Catalogue ref: COL/CA/GAC/01

Collection: Corportation of London, Court of Alderman: Gaol Committee

Description: Minutes

Dates: 1817-1857


Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives

Catalogue ref: COL/CA/GAC/02

Collection: Corportation of London, Court of Alderman: Gaol Committee

Description: Rough minutes

Dates: 1794-1795, 1815-1816


Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives

Catalogue ref: COL/CA/GAC/03

Collection: Corportation of London, Court of Alderman: Gaol Committee

Description: Committee papers

Dates: 1812-1866


Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives

Catalogue ref: COL/CA/GAC/04

Collection: Corportation of London, Court of Alderman: Gaol Committee

Description: Reports

Dates: 1843-1878


Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives

Catalogue ref: COL/CA/GAC/05

Collection: Corportation of London, Court of Alderman: Gaol Committee

Description: Orders

Dates: 1867, 1871-1878


Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives

Catalogue ref: COL/CA/GAC/07

Collection: Corportation of London, Court of Alderman: Gaol Committee

Description: Testimonials

Dates: 1849-1865


Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives

Catalogue ref: COL/CC/PCC

Collection: Corporation of London: Court of Common Council

Description: Prisons Committee papers

Dates: 1842-1853


Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives

Catalogue ref: COL/PL/01/077/B

Collection: Corporation of London: Plans

Description: Annual returns of the state of the prison made to the Secretary of State

Dates: 1823-1840


Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives

Catalogue ref: COL/PL/02/U/005/s, t, u

Collection: Corporation of London: Plans

Description: Southwark Compter

Dates: 1848


Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives

Catalogue ref: CLA/031/02/008

Collection: Southwark Compter

Description: Letter from Lord John Russel to the Visiting Magistrate of the Borough Gaol and House of Correction, Southwark

Dates: 1835


Finance

Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives

Catalogue ref: CLA/031/02/001-005

Collection: Southwark Compter

Description: Account of deliveries of supplies

Dates: 1816-1839


Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives

Catalogue ref: COL/CA/GAC/06

Collection: Corportation of London, Court of Alderman: Gaol Committee

Description: Financial accounts

Dates: 1859-1878


Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives

Catalogue ref: COL/CC/FNG

Collection: Corporation of London: Court of Common Council

Description: Gaol expenses and Finance Committee (including minutes, 1816-1834, rough minutes, 1817-1825, and committee papers, 1817-1832)

Dates: 1816-1834


Daily Business

Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives

Catalogue ref: CLA/031/02/020

Collection: Southwark Compter

Description: Keeper's letter book

Dates: 1817-1820


Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives

Catalogue ref: CLA/031/02/021-027

Collection: Southwark Compter

Description: Keeper's account books

Dates: 1814-1839


Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives

Catalogue ref: CLA/031/02/019

Collection: Southwark Compter

Description: Journal of the Borough Compter

Dates: 1817-1823


Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives

Catalogue ref: CLA/031/02/015

Collection: Southwark Compter

Description: Surgeon's visiting book

Dates: 1815-1823


Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives

Catalogue ref: CLA/031/02/016

Collection: Southwark Compter

Description: Visiting records, chiefly by the Chaplain, but also by the Surgeon, High Bailiff and others

Dates: 1823-1836


Staff

Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives

Catalogue ref: CLA/031/02/007

Collection: Southwark Compter

Description: Counterpart of the appointment of an Officer of the Borough Court and Keeper of the Borough Compter, High Bailiff to John Law

Dates: 1825


Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives

Catalogue ref: CLA/031/02/009

Collection: Southwark Compter

Description: Appointment of John Law as Keeper

Dates: 1815


Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives

Catalogue ref: CLA/032/01/029/B

Collection: Prisons and Compters

Description: Return of duties, names and ages of Officers for Borough Compter

Dates: 1846


Prisoners

Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives

Catalogue ref: CLA/031/01/009

Collection: Southwark Compter

Description: Lists of prisoners committed for trial at the Southwark Sessions

Dates: 1814-1842


Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives

Catalogue ref: CLA/031/01/010

Collection: Southwark Compter

Description: Lists of prisoners in the Borough Compter

Dates: 1824


Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives

Catalogue ref: CLA/031/01/011

Collection: Southwark Compter

Description: Receipts of the Keeper of Newgate, of Brixton House of Correction & c. to the Keeper of the Borough Compter Southwark, for prisoners transferred into their custody

Dates: 1817-1841


Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives

Catalogue ref: CLA/046/04/027

Collection: Southwark Sessions

Description: Notices of insolvent debtors to Keeper of their intention to file petitions in Insolvent Court, and return of debtors in Southwark Compter 

Dates: 1813


Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives

Catalogue ref: CLA/031/01/003-008

Collection: Southwark Compter

Description: Charge books (with index)

Dates: 1814-1842


Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives

Catalogue ref: CLA/031/01/016

Collection: Southwark Compter

Description: Orders for keeping in custody or discharging prisoners

Dates: 1815-1833


Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives

Catalogue ref: CLA/031/02/017

Collection: Southwark Compter

Description: Weekly return of the names of prisoners distinguishing debtors, misdemeanours etc, prisoners committed to Sessions, prisoners upon orders with particulars, as appropriate of debt, offence, sentence etc.

Dates: 1815-1818


Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives

Catalogue ref: CLA/041/PI/01/002,005

Collection: City of London Coroners Court

Description: Inquests into deaths of prisoners, including Southwark Compter

Dates: 1788-1838


Land & Buildings

Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives

Catalogue ref: COL/PL/01/049/E/003

Collection: Corporation of London: Plans

Description: Mill Lane, plan of premises showing proposals for letting with possible enlargement of the Borough Compter

Dates: 1815


Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives

Catalogue ref: COL/PL/01/049/E/016

Collection: Corporation of London: Plans

Description: Plan for letting three lots of ground on building case in Tooley Street, at the corner of Mill Lane, showing the Borough Compter

Dates: 1826


Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives

Catalogue ref: COL/SVD/PL/08/103-104

Collection: Corporation of London: SurveyorÂ’s Department

Description: Plans of Southwark Compter

Dates: 1818, 1843