St Albans Liberty Gaol and House of Correction

Overview

Details

Records

Overview

Alternative Names   St Albans Liberty Gaol, St Alban's Borough Common Gaol

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

Jurisdiction   Franchise / Municipality

Date opened   1553

Date closed   1867

Location   Abbey Gateway   St Alban's

Map location   exact or closely approximate

County   Hertfordshire

Critical Remarks

From 1823, includes the St Albans House of Correction (ID 257) which was located on the same site.

Prison Info

Alternative Names   St Albans Liberty Gaol, St Alban's Borough Common Gaol

Prison Type   Local Prison

Jurisdiction   Franchise / Municipality

Date opened   1553

Date closed   1867

Location   Abbey Gateway   St Alban's

Map location   exact or closely approximate
Lat.   51.7509497  Long.   -0.3450085

County   Hertfordshire

Critical Remarks

From 1823, includes the St Albans House of Correction (ID 257) which was located on the same site.

Prisoner Statistics

 

Year 1818

Annual Committed   -   36

Daily Greatest number   -   20

 

Year 1828

Annual Committed   -   164

Daily Census   -   180

 

Year 1832

Annual Committed   -   268

Daily Greatest number   -   73

 

Year 1838

Annual Confined   -   378

Daily Census   -   38

 

Year 1843

Annual Confined   -   312

Daily Census   -   23

 

Year 1848

Annual Confined   -   305

Daily Daily average   -   0

 

Year 1853

Annual Confined   -   261

Daily Daily average   -   45

 

Year 1858

Annual Committed   -   337

Daily Daily average   -   49

 

Year 1863

Annual Committed   -   362

Daily Greatest number   -   63

Principal Primary Sources

  • James Neild, The State of the Prisons of England, Scotland and Wales (London, 1812), p.512
  • Account of Gaols, Houses of Correction or Penitentiaries in the United Kingdom, 1818 (Parl. Papers, 1819, XVII.371), p.20
  • [Second] Report of the Committee of the Society for the Improvement of Prison Discipline and for the Reformation of Juvenile Offenders (London, 1820), p.22; 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.31; 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.47; 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.58; 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.18
  • Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1844, XXXIX.403), p.253; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1845, XXXVII.417), p.290; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1846, XXXIV.187), p.297; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1847, XLVII.297), p.301; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1847-48, LII.465), p.305
  • Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (1829, XIX.401), p.61
  • Return of Places of Confinement Outside Gaol Acts in England and Wales (Parl. Papers, 1833, XXVIII.425), p.89
  • Royal Commission of Inquiry into Municipal Corporations of England and Wales, First Report, Appendices: Part 5 (Parl. Papers, 1835, XXVI.1), p.2926
  • Abstract Return of Establishment and Expenditure of Gaols and Houses of Correction in England and Wales (Parl. Papers, 1840, XXXVIII.241), p.20
  • Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Home District, Third Report, Supplement (Parl. Papers, 1837-38, XXX.367), p.1; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Home District, Fourth Report (Parl. Papers, 1839, XXI.1), p.197; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Home District, Fifth Report (Parl. Papers, 1840, XXV.1), p.103; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Home District, Sixth Report (Parl. Papers, 1841 Session 2, IV.1), p.166; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Home District, Seventh Report (Parl. Papers, 1842, XX.1), p.137; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Home District, Tenth Report (Parl. Papers, 1845, XXIII.1), p.241; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Home District, Fourteenth Report (Parl. Papers, 1850, XXVIII.1), p.92; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Twenty-third Report (Parl. Papers, 1857-58, XXIX.69), p.44; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Twenty-fifth Report (Parl. Papers, 1860, XXXV.153), p.28; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Twenty-seventh Report (Parl. Papers, 1862, XXV.5), p.44; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Twenty-ninth Report (Parl. Papers, 1864, XXVI.1), p.38; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Thirtieth Report (Parl. Papers, 1865, XXIII.1), p.114; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Thirty-first Report (Parl. Papers, 1866, XXXVII.1), p.101; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Thirty-second Report (Parl. Papers, 1867-68, XXXIV.203), p.137

Management

Archive name: Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies

Catalogue ref: L/MISC/348-352

Collection: Liberty of St Albans Quarter Sessions

Description: Papers relating to the Liberty Gaol at St Albans and the House of Correction. Extracts from orders made concerning the Chaplain, and correspondence.

Dates: 1820-1825


Archive name: Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies

Catalogue ref: QS/Misc/B/57/3

Collection: Hertfordshire Quarter Sessions

Description: Gaol visitors reports (2 papers) (Liberty)

Dates: 1842


Archive name: Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies

Catalogue ref: L/MISC/299-400

Collection: Liberty of St Albans Quarter Sessions

Description: Papers relating to the Liberty Gaol at St Albans and the House of Correction, dealing with alterations and additions, circulars, reports and returns, tenders and accounts

Dates: 1800-1841


Archive name: Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies

Catalogue ref: L/MISC/401-460, 472, 931-964, 471

Collection: Liberty of St Albans Quarter Sessions

Description: Miscellaneous papers, including tenders for supplies for Gaol and House of Correction (1832-1850), a Bill regarding returns (1815), financial arrangements for improvements (1841-1842, 1864)

Dates: 1832-1864


Archive name: Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies

Catalogue ref: L/MISC/461-470

Collection: Hertfordshire Quarter Sessions

Description: Annual general returns, etc

Dates: 1833-1845


Archive name: Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies

Catalogue ref: L/MISC/473-539A

Collection: Hertfordshire Quarter Sessions

Description: Correspondence and drafts of quarterly returns of persons committed for trial

Dates: 1819-1830


Archive name: Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies

Catalogue ref: LSB/2-11

Collection: Liberty of St Albans Quarter Sessions

Description: Quarter Sessions books

Dates: 1793-1874


Archive name: Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies

Catalogue ref: QS/Misc/3066

Collection: Hertfordshire Quarter Sessions

Description: Original opinion of Sir Barnes Peacock upon relations of County and Liberty, especially in respect of the Liberty Gaol

Dates: 1845


Archive name: Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies

Catalogue ref: QS/Misc/B/56/12

Collection: Hertfordshire Quarter Sessions

Description: Goal bread accounts (3 packets). (St. Albans Liberty)

Dates: 1836-1841


Archive name: Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies

Catalogue ref: QS/Misc/B/57/11

Collection: Hertfordshire Quarter Sessions

Description: Prisoners clothing etc.: Liberty. Bundle of receipts

Dates: 1837-1838


Archive name: Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies

Catalogue ref: QS/Misc/B/57/4

Collection: Hertfordshire Quarter Sessions

Description: Bills allowed. Liberty Gaol.

Dates: 1842


Archive name: Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies

Catalogue ref: QS/Misc/B/57/7

Collection: Hertfordshire Quarter Sessions

Description: Coal supply to gaol and courthouse. (Liberty)

Dates: 1831


Archive name: Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies

Catalogue ref: QS/Misc/B/58/4

Collection: Hertfordshire Quarter Sessions

Description: Maintenance of Liberty Prisoners.

Dates: 1861


Archive name: Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies

Catalogue ref: QS/Misc/B/59/1

Collection: Hertfordshire Quarter Sessions

Description: Posters re tenders for bread for prisoners, Liberty.

Dates: 1831


Finance

Archive name: Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies

Catalogue ref: LS/VAR/36

Collection: Liberty of St Albans Quarter Sessions

Description: Treasurers' accounts in connection with the Gaol

Dates: 1841-1856


Staff

Archive name: Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies

Catalogue ref: QS/Misc/B/57/8, 10

Collection: Hertfordshire Quarter Sessions

Description: Salaries. Receipts (surgeon and gaoler)

Dates: 1837-1838


Prisoners

Archive name: Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies

Catalogue ref: LSGB/2-4

Collection: Liberty of St Albans Quarter Sessions

Description: Gaol Books, consisting of Gaol and House of Correction calendars, records of convictions, and recognizances delivered into Court. From 1770 -1814, the record covers both Liberty and Borough of St Albans, and thereafter solely the Liberty.

Dates: 1786-1814, 1819-1828


Land & Buildings

Archive name: Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies

Catalogue ref: L/MISC/299-400

Collection: Liberty of St Albans Quarter Sessions

Description: Papers relating to the Liberty Gaol at St Albans and the House of Correction, including plans and specifications for alterations

Dates: 1832, 1834


Archive name: Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies

Catalogue ref: L/MISC/346-7

Collection: Liberty of St Albans Quarter Sessions

Description: Papers relating to the Liberty Gaol at St Albans and the House of Correction, including plans and specifications for alterations

Dates: 1832, 1834


Archive name: Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies

Catalogue ref: QS/Misc/B/57/6, 9

Collection: Hertfordshire Quarter Sessions

Description: Repairs to gaol (Liberty). Including receipts.

Dates: 1837-1838