Springfield County Gaol and House of Correction

Overview

Details

Records

Overview

Alternative Names Springfield County Gaol, Chelmsford Prison, HMP Chelmsford

Prison Type Local Prison - Common Gaol

Jurisdiction County

Date opened 1825

Date closed post 1900 (still open)

Location Springfield Road (Springfield Parish) Chelmsford

Map location exact or closely approximate

County Essex

Prison Info

Alternative Names Springfield County Gaol, Chelmsford Prison, HMP Chelmsford

Prison Type Local Prison

Jurisdiction County

Date opened 1825

Date closed post 1900 (still open)

Location Springfield Road (Springfield Parish) Chelmsford

Map location exact or closely approximate
Lat. 51.7359 Long. 0.4865

County Essex

Prisoner Statistics

Year 1828

Annual Committed - 633

Daily Census - 128

Year 1833

Annual Committed - 1285

Daily Census - 252

Year 1838

Annual Confined - 1178

Daily Census - 164

Year 1843

Annual Confined - 1644

Daily Census - 153

Year 1848

Annual Confined - 1341

Daily Daily average - 218

Year 1853

Annual Confined - 1353

Daily Daily average - 254

Year 1858

Annual Committed - 1298

Daily Daily average - 233

Year 1863

Annual Committed - 1484

Daily Greatest number - 336

Year 1868

Annual Committed - 1472

Daily Daily average - 232

Year 1873

Annual Committed - 1088

Daily Daily average - 190

Year 1878

Annual Committed - 1409

Daily Daily average - 224

Year 1883

Annual Committed - 768

Daily Daily average - 201

Year 1888

Annual Committed - 1745

Daily Daily average - 264

Year 1893

Annual Committed - 850

Daily -

Year 1898

Annual Committed - 688

Daily -

Principal Primary Sources

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.39; 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.12

Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1826-27, XIX.365), p.83; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1828, XX.327), p.88; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1829, XIX.1), p.74; Reports and Schedules Pursuant To Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1830, XXIV.1), p.68; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1830-31, XII.1), p.68; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1831-32. XXXIII.197), p.71; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1833, XXVIII.1), p.75; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1834, XLVI.1), p.70; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1835, XLIV.225), p.74; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1836, XLII.1), p.45; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1837, XLV.1), p.48; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1837-8, XLIII.227), p.46; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1839, XXXVIII.17), p.45; Reports Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1840, XXXVIII.1), p.45; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1841, XVIII.1), p.47; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1842, XXXII.1), p.49; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1843, XLIII.1), p.54; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1844, XXXIX.403), p.51; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1845, XXXVII.417), p.53; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1846, XXXIV.187), p.54; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1847, XLVII.297), p.59; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1847-48, LII.465), p.59

Abstract Return of Establishment and Expenditure of Gaols and Houses of Correction in England and Wales (Parl. Papers, 1840, XXXVIII.241), p.16

Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Home District, Second Report (Parl. Papers, 1837 XXXII.1), p.300; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Home District, Third Report (Parl. Papers, 1837-38, XXX.1), p.199; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Home District, Fourth Report (Parl. Papers, 1839, XXI.1), p.112; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Home District, Fifth Report (Parl. Papers, 1840, XXV.1), p.119; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Home District, Sixth Report (Parl. Papers, 1841 Session 2, IV.1), p.87; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Home District, Seventh Report (Parl. Papers, 1842, XX.1), p.70; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Home District, Tenth Report (Parl. Papers, 1845, XXIII.1), p.131; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Twenty-fourth Report (Parl. Papers, 1859, Session 1, XI.169), p.17; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Twenty-sixth Report (Parl. Papers, 1861, XXIX.1), p.13; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Twenty-eighth Report (Parl. Papers, 1863, XXIII.1), p.29; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Thirtieth Report (Parl. Papers, 1865, XXIII.1), p.80; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Thirty-first Report (Parl. Papers, 1866, XXXVII.1), p.69; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Thirty-second Report (Parl. Papers, 1867-68, XXXIV.203), p.89; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Thirty-third Report (Parl. Papers, 1868-69, XXIX.1), p.60; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Thirty-fourth Report (Parl. Papers, 1870, XXXVII.1), p.63; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Thirty-fifth Report (Parl. Papers, 1871, XXIX.241), p.76; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Thirty-sixth Report (Parl. Papers, 1872, XXXI.1), p.46; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Thirty-seventh Report (Parl. Papers, 1873, XXXII.1), p.88; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Thirty-eighth Report (Parl. Papers, 1874, XXIX.1), p.100; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Thirty-ninth Report (Parl. Papers, 1875, XXXVII.1), p.110; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Fortieth Report (Parl. Papers, 1876, XXXV.1), p.110; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Forty-first Report (Parl. Papers, 1877, XLIII.1), p.112; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Forty-second Report (Parl. Papers, 1878, XLI.1), p.112

Commissioners of Prisons, Second Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1878-79, XXXIV.1, 97), p.15; Commissioners of Prisons, Third Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1880, XXXV.1,73), p.18; Commissioners of Prisons, Fourth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1881, LI.441, 521), p.20; Commissioners of Prisons, Fifth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1882, XXXIII.443, 541), p.23; Commissioners of Prisons, Sixth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1883, XXXI.445, 579), p.25; Commissioners of Prisons, Seventh Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1884, XLII.461, 551), p.23; Commissioners of Prisons, Eighth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1884-85, XXXVII.527, 651), p.23; Commissioners of Prisons, Ninth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1886, XXXV.1, 93), p.24; Commissioners of Prisons, Tenth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1887, XLI.203, 335), p.23; Commissioners of Prisons, Eleventh Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1888, LVIII.1, 209), p.23; Commissioners of Prisons, Twelfth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1889, XLI.1, 181), p.23; Commissioners of Prisons, Thirteenth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1890, XXXVII.1, 183), p.23; Commissioners of Prisons, Fourteenth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1890-91, XLIII.1, 125), p.22; Commissioners of Prisons, Fifteenth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1892, XLII.1, 147), p.21; Commissioners of Prisons, Sixteenth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1893-94, XLVII.1, 121), p.22; Commissioners of Prisons, Seventeenth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1894, XLIV.1, 183), p.21; Commissioners of Prisons, Eighteenth Annual Report (Parl. Papers, 1895, LVI.727, 865), p.21

Report of Coms. of Prisons and Directors of Convict Prisons, 1895-96 (Parl. Papers, 1896, XLIV.235), p.57; Report of Coms. of Prisons and Directors of Convict Prisons, 1896-97 (Parl. Papers, 1897, XL.105), p.193; Report of Coms. of Prisons and Directors of Convict Prisons, 1897-98 (Parl. Papers, 1898, XLVII.23), p.215; Report of Coms. of Prisons and Directors of Convict Prisons, 1898-99 (Parl. Papers, 1899, XLIII.65), p.205; Report of Coms. of Prisons and Directors of Convict Prisons, 1899-1900 (Parl. Papers, 1900, XLI.1), p.240

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Management

Archive name: Essex Record Office

Catalogue ref: Q/CR 4/1-3

Collection: Essex Quarter Sessions

Description: Returns. Of expenses of prisons and houses of correction (1815-1838); of chaplains of prisons (salaries and duties) (1832); of the number of prisoners in the gaols and houses of correction (1830-1849)

Dates: 1815-1849

Archive name: Centre for Buckinghamshire Studies

Catalogue ref: Q/AG/17/1a-b

Collection: Buckinghamshire Quarter Sessions

Description: Includes notes on Springfield Gaol in Essex (construction?)

Dates: 1841

Archive name: Essex Record Office

Catalogue ref: D/DCc F15

Collection: Diary of Sir Charles Smith

Description: Includes comments on incarceration of prisoners in old and new Chelmsford gaols.

Dates: 1829

Archive name: Essex Record Office

Catalogue ref: P/C P55-67

Collection: Chelmsford Division, Petty Sessions papers

Description: The Petty Session papers include weekly returns of the numbers of prisoners in the County Gaols and the House of Correction in Chelmsford.

Dates: 1841-1849

Archive name: Essex Record Office

Catalogue ref: Q/ACM 11

Collection: Essex Quarter Sessions

Description: Minutes of New or Additional Gaol Committee

Dates: 1821-1828

Archive name: Essex Record Office

Catalogue ref: Q/ACM 12

Collection: Essex Quarter Sessions

Description: Minutes of Gaol Committee (alterations to County Gaol at Springfield)

Dates: 1845-1848

Archive name: Essex Record Office

Catalogue ref: Q/ACM 1-9

Collection: Essex Quarter Sessions

Description: General Committee minutes. Include reports of the Gaol Committee and much relevant material on the administration of the county gaols and houses of correction (including improvements, staffing, labour)

Dates: 1796-1897

Archive name: Essex Record Office

Catalogue ref: Q/ACp 2

Collection: Essex Quarter Sessions

Description: Reports of committees as to Gaols (including additional Gaol) and Houses of Correction

Dates: 1819-1828

Archive name: Essex Record Office

Catalogue ref: Q/ACp 22

Collection: Essex Quarter Sessions

Description: Reports of Prisons Committee

Dates: 1878

Archive name: Essex Record Office

Catalogue ref: Q/AGp 15

Collection: Essex Quarter Sessions

Description: Examinations on prison discipline by Quarter Sessions gaol committee. Including evidence of Officers of Gaols and Houses of Correction on such matters as staffing, salaries, living conditions, cost, feeding arrangements, employment of prisoners, exercise, and effect of sentences, with analysis and statistics.

Dates: 1841-1844

Archive name: Essex Record Office

Catalogue ref: Q/AGp 8

Collection: Essex Quarter Sessions

Description: Printed final report to Quarter Sessions of select committee appointed to carry out Act of 1821 for building additional gaol

Dates: 1828

Archive name: Essex Record Office

Catalogue ref: Q/CR 4/4

Collection: Essex Quarter Sessions

Description: Annual returns required by 1823 Gaol Act submitted by each county prison on printed forms giving particulars under 34 heads. Springfield Gaol

Dates: 1844-1857

Archive name: Essex Record Office

Catalogue ref: Q/ACp 8

Collection: Essex Quarter Sessions

Description: Papers re Gaol and House of Correction Expenditure Committee. Statistics relating to numbers of prisoners in the County Gaol, duties of Chaplain, former appointments of Keepers with extracts from the Minute Books of the Visiting Justice.

Dates: 1851

Archive name: Essex Record Office

Catalogue ref: Q/SBb 378 onwards

Collection: Essex Quarter Sessions

Description: Quarter Sessions bundles include individually catalogued reports of the Keepers, Chaplains, Surgeons and Visiting Justices of the County's Gaols, including Colchester and Newport Houses of Correction, the Gaol, House of Correction and Convict Gaol at Chelmsford, Ilford House of Correction, and Springfield Gaol. The records also include accounts, staff appointments and dismissals, dietaries and labour accounts, and correspondence on prison conditions and prisoners. Up to mid 1840s, contents described in great detail.

Dates: 1800 onwards

Archive name: Essex Record Office

Catalogue ref: Q/ACM 38-40

Collection: Essex Quarter Sessions

Description: Minutes of Visiting Justices of Springfield Gaol

Dates: 1875-1915

Archive name: Essex Record Office

Catalogue ref: Q/ACM 44

Collection: Essex Quarter Sessions

Description: Minutes of Visiting Justices of Chelmsford Gaol, Chelmsford House of Correction and Springfield Gaol

Dates: 1828-1846

Archive name: Essex Record Office

Catalogue ref: Q/ACM 45

Collection: Essex Quarter Sessions

Description: Minutes of Visiting Justices of Springfield Gaol

Dates: 1854-1862

Finance

Archive name: Essex Record Office

Catalogue ref: D/B 2/QSS5/50

Collection: Saffron Walden Borough

Description: General accounts of county gaol, for maintenance of prisoners

Dates: 1860-1865

Archive name: Essex Record Office

Catalogue ref: Q/FAC 5/1-15

Collection: Essex Quarter Sessions

Description: County Treasurers' Special Accounts: Gaols and Houses of Correction

Dates: 1767-1849

Staff

Archive name: Essex Record Office

Catalogue ref: T/B 493/1

Collection: None

Description: Copy of scrapbook concerning Samuel Oliver, principal warden at Chelmsford Prison (d. c.1925) Inc. newscuttings re Samuel Oliver and other matters of Chelmsford prison, memorandum of promotion of Samuel Oliver to principal warden, 9 January 1895, photograph of Governor and staff of prison c.1895

Dates: 1895-1925

Archive name: Essex Record Office

Catalogue ref: Q/ACp 3

Collection: Essex Quarter Sessions

Description: Papers re Committee on salaries of County Officers. Papers relating to the duties and emoluments of the Keepers of the Gaol at Springfield and the House of Correction at Ilford.

Dates: 1845

Archive name: Essex Record Office

Catalogue ref: T/Z 280/1

Collection: None

Description: Xeroxes of entries in scrapbook belonging to Samuel Oliver of Little Baddow, Principal Warden of Chelmsford Prison from 1895. Notes on Chelmsford Prisons from 17th century and service of Samuel Oliver, memo of promotion of SO to Principal Warden (9 January 1895), photographs of prison staff (c.1890), newspaper cuttings concerning deaths of William Box of Chelmsford, Police and Prison Officer (1866-1906), and formerly Chief Warden, SO, J. Hirst of Chelmsford, former Discharged Prisoners Aid Officer.

Dates: 1890-1979

Prisoners

Archive name: Essex Record Office

Catalogue ref: D/B 2/QSS5/30

Collection: Saffron Walden Borough

Description: Lists of [prisoners] committed to county gaol

Dates: 1830-1836

Archive name: Essex Record Office

Catalogue ref: D/B 2/QSS5/40

Collection: Saffron Walden Borough

Description: Accounts of prisoners committed to Springfield gaol (prisoners named); some consist of several sheets sewn together and some are drafts or duplicates

Dates: 1837-1875

Archive name: Essex Record Office

Catalogue ref: D/P 312/18/7

Collection: None

Description: Accounts of prisoners committed to County Gaol at Springfield for crimes committed in special jurisdiction of Brightlingsea

Dates: 1828-1834

Land & Buildings

Archive name: Essex Record Office

Catalogue ref: D/CT 322B

Collection: None

Description: Springfield tithe map. Shows 'convict gaol'

Dates: 1842

Archive name: Essex Record Office

Catalogue ref: Q/AGb 1/11-15

Collection: Essex Quarter Sessions

Description: Springfield, alterations and enlargment. Plans and papers including contracts, specifications

Dates: 1843-1858

Archive name: Essex Record Office

Catalogue ref: Q/AGb 1/16

Collection: Essex Quarter Sessions

Description: Contract for rebuilding part of Springfield gaol after fire Contract for rebuilding part of Springfield gaol after fire

Dates: 1878

Archive name: Essex Record Office

Catalogue ref: Q/AGb 1/3/2

Collection: Essex Quarter Sessions

Description: Plans, signed by Thomas Hopper for new county gaol at Springfield

Dates: 1819

Archive name: Essex Record Office

Catalogue ref: Q/AGb 1/5-6

Collection: Essex Quarter Sessions

Description: Plans. Thomas Hopper. Chelmsford Gaol and House of Correction, and new gaol at Springfield

Dates: 1820-1828

Archive name: Essex Record Office

Catalogue ref: Q/AGb 1/9-10

Collection: Essex Quarter Sessions

Description: Springfield. Contracts, estimates, plans (including for treadmill)

Dates: 1822-1825

Archive name: Essex Record Office

Catalogue ref: Q/AGp 5

Collection: Essex Quarter Sessions

Description: County surveyor's detailed reports and estimates for proposed additional gaol at Springfield (1818-1822, 1826)

Dates: 1818-1826

Archive name: Essex Record Office

Catalogue ref: Q/AGp 5

Collection: Essex Quarter Sessions

Description: County Surveyor's detailed reports and estimates for proposed additional Gaol at Springfield (1818-1822, 1826)

Dates: 1818-1826

Archive name: Essex Record Office

Catalogue ref: Q/AGp 9

Collection: Essex Quarter Sessions

Description: Estimates for enlargement of County Gaol at Springfield, with reports and correspondence

Dates: 1843-1848

Images

Archive name: Essex Record Office

Catalogue ref: I/LS/CFD/00014

Collection: None

Description: Black and white photograph of the main gate of the Prison, Springfield, Chelmsford (c.1900).

Dates: 1890-1910

Archive name: Essex Record Office

Catalogue ref: Q/AGb 1/4

Collection: Essex Quarter Sessions

Description: Unsigned watercolour 'Bird's Eye View' of 'intended' county gaol for Essex [i.e, at Springfield]

Dates: 1819?

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