Surrey County Gaol (Horsemonger Lane Gaol)

Overview

Details

Records

Overview

Alternative Names   Surrey County Gaol and Bridewell, Horsemonger Lane Gaol, Newington County Gaol

Prison Type   Local Prison -  Common Gaol

Jurisdiction   County

Date opened   1798

Date closed   1878

Location   located on Horsemonger Lane, parish of St Mary, Newington, Sessions House adjoins it   Newington, Southwark

Map location   exact or closely approximate

County   Surrey

Critical Remarks

When constructed in 1798 also included a House of Correction (ID 294) in its grounds, but the two institutions were considered separately by the official sources until after 1818.

Prison Info

Alternative Names   Surrey County Gaol and Bridewell, Horsemonger Lane Gaol, Newington County Gaol

Prison Type   Local Prison

Jurisdiction   County

Date opened   1798

Date closed   1878

Location   located on Horsemonger Lane, parish of St Mary, Newington, Sessions House adjoins it   Newington, Southwark

Map location   exact or closely approximate
Lat.   51.4977  Long.   -0.096

County   Surrey

Critical Remarks

When constructed in 1798 also included a House of Correction (ID 294) in its grounds, but the two institutions were considered separately by the official sources until after 1818.

Prisoner Statistics

 

Year 1818

Annual Committed   -   1742

Daily Greatest number   -   321

 

Year 1824

Annual Committed   -   2245

Daily Census   -   179

 

Year 1828

Annual Committed   -   2647

Daily Census   -   238

 

Year 1833

Annual Committed   -   3027

Daily Census   -   211

 

Year 1838

Annual Confined   -   3903

Daily Census   -   271

 

Year 1843

Annual Confined   -   4075

Daily Census   -   234

 

Year 1848

Annual Confined   -   4201

Daily Daily average   -   217

 

Year 1853

Annual Confined   -   3211

Daily Daily average   -   146

 

Year 1858

Annual Committed   -   3224

Daily Daily average   -   156

 

Year 1863

Annual Committed   -   3798

Daily Greatest number   -   217

 

Year 1868

Annual Committed   -   4774

Daily Daily average   -   158

 

Year 1873

Annual Committed   -   3964

Daily Daily average   -   140

 

Year 1878

Annual Committed   -   1954

Daily Daily average   -   0

Principal Primary Sources

  • James Neild, The State of the Prisons of England, Scotland and Wales (London, 1812), p.547
  • Account of Gaols, Houses of Correction or Penitentiaries in the United Kingdom, 1818 (Parl. Papers, 1819, XVII.371), p.44
  • 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.60; 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.107; 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.133; 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.137; 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, 1825, XXIII.1), p.258; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1826, XXIV.1), p.250; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1826-27, XIX.365), p.228; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1828, XX.327), p.264; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1829, XIX.1), p.232; Reports and Schedules Pursuant To Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1830, XXIV.1), p.231; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1830-31, XII.1), p.226; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1831-32. XXXIII.197), p.227; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1833, XXVIII.1), p.242; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1834, XLVI.1), p.228; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1835, XLIV.225), p.218; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1836, XLII.1), p.146; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1837, XLV.1), p.146; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1837-8, XLIII.227), p.153; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1839, XXXVIII.17), p.148; Reports Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1840, XXXVIII.1), p.155; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1841, XVIII.1), p.162; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1842, XXXII.1), p.164; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1843, XLIII.1), p.161; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1844, XXXIX.403), p.166; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1845, XXXVII.417), p.198; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1846, XXXIV.187), p.202; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1847, XLVII.297), p.207; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1847-48, LII.465), p.213
  • 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.148; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Home District, Third Report, Supplement (Parl. Papers, 1837-38, XXX.367), p.56; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Home District, Fourth Report (Parl. Papers, 1839, XXI.1), p.365; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Home District, Fifth Report (Parl. Papers, 1840, XXV.1), p.323; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Home District, Sixth Report (Parl. Papers, 1841 Session 2, IV.1), p.315; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Home District, Tenth Report (Parl. Papers, 1845, XXIII.1), p.524; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Home District, Fourteenth Report (Parl. Papers, 1850, XXVIII.1), p.40; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Home District, Fifteenth Report (Parl. Papers, 1851, XXVII.1), p.149; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Twenty-third Report (Parl. Papers, 1857-58, XXIX.69), p.106; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Twenty-fifth Report (Parl. Papers, 1860, XXXV.153), p.61; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Twenty-seventh Report (Parl. Papers, 1862, XXV.5), p.73; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Twenty-ninth Report (Parl. Papers, 1864, XXVI.1), p.71; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Thirtieth Report (Parl. Papers, 1865, XXIII.1), p.222; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Thirty-first Report (Parl. Papers, 1866, XXXVII.1), p.197; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Thirty-second Report (Parl. Papers, 1867-68, XXXIV.203), p.269; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Thirty-third Report (Parl. Papers, 1868-69, XXIX.1), p.187; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Thirty-fourth Report (Parl. Papers, 1870, XXXVII.1), p.193; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Thirty-fifth Report (Parl. Papers, 1871, XXIX.241), p.246; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Thirty-sixth Report (Parl. Papers, 1872, XXXI.1), p.141; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Thirty-seventh Report (Parl. Papers, 1873, XXXII.1), p.288; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Thirty-eighth Report (Parl. Papers, 1874, XXIX.1), p.332; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Thirty-ninth Report (Parl. Papers, 1875, XXXVII.1), p.358; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Fortieth Report (Parl. Papers, 1876, XXXV.1), p.356; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Forty-first Report (Parl. Papers, 1877, XLIII.1), p.360; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Forty-second Report (Parl. Papers, 1878, XLI.1), p.356

Secondary Sources

  • Survey of London, vol 25, St George's Fields, ed. Ida Darlington, 1955, http://www.british-history.ac.uk/survey-london/vol25/pp9-21; Christopher W. Chalklin, ed. Surrey Gaol and Session House, 1791-1824 (Woking: Surrey Record Society, 2009)

Management

Archive name: Surrey History Centre

Catalogue ref: 1457/6/5-12

Collection: Papers of James Luck

Description: Includes printed reports of visitors to Wandsworth House of Correction and the County Gaol

Dates: 1869, 1873


Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives

Catalogue ref: CLA/032/04/018

Collection: Prisons and Compters

Description: Copy return for the County Gaol, Horsemonger Lane

Dates: 1858


Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives

Catalogue ref: CLC/B/192/F/001/MS11936/424/730016

Collection: Royal and Sun Alliance Insurance Group records 

Description: Insured - the Trustees for the time being of the new Gaol and Sessions House in Horsemonger Lane, Blackman Street

Dates: 1802


Archive name: Surrey History Centre

Catalogue ref: G85/2/4/1/97-98, G111/9/14

Collection: Bray family of Shere

Description: Report of meeting of 'The Surrey Institution for the Discharge and Relief of Persons Imprisoned for debt in the County Gaol', Newington. Also, notes 'from the rule book'.

Dates: 1812


Archive name: Surrey History Centre

Catalogue ref: QS2/6/1824/EA/53

Collection: Surrey Quarter Sessions

Description: Presentment of the Grand Jury for Surrey. All well except for the complaints received from female prisoners held awaiting transportation being given insufficient food to sustain them while serving hard labour.

Dates: 1824


Archive name: Surrey History Centre

Catalogue ref: QS5/4/2/1-4

Collection: Surrey Quarter Sessions

Description: Prison Discipline Committee and Prison Accommodation Committee records

Dates: 1854-1858


Archive name: Surrey History Centre

Catalogue ref: QS5/4/3/1-2

Collection: Surrey Quarter Sessions

Description: Prisons Act (1877) Committee papers. Regarding Wandsworth and the County Gaol

Dates: 1877


Archive name: Surrey History Centre

Catalogue ref: QS5/4/7/27

Collection: Surrey Quarter Sessions

Description: Tender to supply bread to the County Gaol

Dates: 1874


Archive name: Surrey History Centre

Catalogue ref: 3997/1

Collection: None

Description: Letter from Clerk of the Papers at Surrey County Gaol requesting 'few long and short blank petitions for the use of the poor debtors confined in this prison as the stock is quite exhausted'

Dates: 1841


Archive name: Surrey History Centre

Catalogue ref: QS2/6

Collection: Surrey Quarter Sessions

Description: Quarter Sessions Bundles. Continue up to 1888 and those for the period 1800-1829 are described in great detail in the online catalogue. Material relating to the administration of the county's prisons, including: reports of visiting magistrates; reports of chaplains, surgeons, governors; returns of prisoners, rules and regulations; staff appointments, conditions and dismissals; maintenance and alteration of buildings; prison conditions; prisoner petitions

Dates: 1800-1888


Finance

Archive name: Surrey History Centre

Catalogue ref: QS5/4/1/1-3

Collection: Surrey Quarter Sessions

Description: Minute and account books for the new County Gaol and Sessions house

Dates: 1791-1824


Daily Business

Archive name: Surrey History Centre

Catalogue ref: QS2/6/1825/MID/35a-d

Collection: Surrey Quarter Sessions

Description: Report list by the Surgeons of the sick prisoners in Houses of Correction at Guildford, Kingston, and Brixton, and County Gaol

Dates: 1825


Archive name: Surrey History Centre

Catalogue ref: QS5/4/7/26

Collection: Surrey Quarter Sessions

Description: Surgeon's order book, County Gaol. Lists orders to move inmates into the infirmary and outcome (eg removed to another Prison, acquitted, sent to class, discharged, died).

Dates: 1867-1878


Staff

Archive name: Surrey History Centre

Catalogue ref: QS5/2B/1

Collection: Surrey Quarter Sessions

Description: List of County Officers. Includes Officers of County Gaol (to 1878), and Officers of House of Correction (to 1877).

Dates: 1874-1878


Archive name: Surrey History Centre

Catalogue ref: QS5/4/7/24

Collection: Surrey Quarter Sessions

Description: Includes a list of staff.

Dates: 1874-1878


Archive name: Surrey History Centre

Catalogue ref: G43/446

Collection: Godwin Austen family papers

Description: Appointment by Sheriff of four Gaolers in the County Gaol in St Mary Newington

Dates: 1810


Archive name: Surrey History Centre

Catalogue ref: QS5/2A/1

Collection: Surrey Quarter Sessions

Description: Committee membership book. Towards the rear of the volume are listed the periodical payments due to the Officers of the County Gaol and the Wandsworth House of Correction.

Dates: 1855-1870


Prisoners

Archive name: Surrey History Centre

Catalogue ref: QS5/4/7/24

Collection: Surrey Quarter Sessions

Description: Register of deaths (1798-1878) and baptisms (1798-1833) in the County Gaol

Dates: 1798-1878


Archive name: Surrey History Centre

Catalogue ref: QS2/6/1816/MIC/22

Collection: Surrey Quarter Sessions

Description: Letter of complaint from late prisoner at the County Gaol, accusing the Keeper of robbing prisoners of the two bushels of coals they were allowed each week.

Dates: 1816


Archive name: Surrey History Centre

Catalogue ref: 7502/7/2

Collection: None

Description: Letter from George Woods at Horsemonger Lane Gaol, asking for pardon and referring to the remission of his death sentence

Dates: 1836


Archive name: Surrey History Centre

Catalogue ref: QS2/6/1810/EP/44

Collection: Surrey Quarter Sessions

Description: Petition by the prisoners confined in the debtor's side of the County Gaol to receive a daily allowance of bread

Dates: c.1810


Land & Buildings

Archive name: Surrey History Centre

Catalogue ref: QS5/4/5/3-4, 7-16

Collection: Surrey Quarter Sessions

Description: Papers relating to the acquisition, development and disposal of the County Gaols and Sessions House

Dates: 1856-1890


Archive name: Surrey History Centre

Catalogue ref: QS5/4/6/2-37e, 39-61, 78-81, 85

Collection: Surrey Quarter Sessions

Description: Plans of County Gaol

Dates: 1817-1885


Archive name: Surrey History Centre

Catalogue ref: QS5/7/7-8

Collection: Surrey Quarter Sessions

Description: Bundle of insurance policies for County premises, including County Gaol

Dates: 1802, 1844, 1865


Images

Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives

Catalogue ref: SC/GL/PR/S2/UNI/p5409656

Collection: Guildhall Library Prints and Maps, London Boroughs

Description: Horsemonger Lane and Gaol during the notorious execution of the Mannings

Dates: 1849


Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives

Catalogue ref: SC/GL/VIS/001/006/001-002

Collection: Guildhall Library Prints and Maps, Views in Surrey

Description: G. Yates, watercolours, Horsemonger Lane Gaol (various aspects)

Dates: 1826


Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives

Catalogue ref: SC/GL/VIS/001/007

Collection: Guildhall Library Prints and Maps, Views in Surrey

Description: G. Yates, watercolours, Horsemonger Lane Gaol (various aspects)

Dates: 1826


Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives

Catalogue ref: SC/PZ/SW/01/620-631

Collection: Metropolitan Prints: Borough Sequence, Southwark

Description: Prints of Horsemonger Lane Gaol (various aspects)

Dates: 1802-1879


Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives

Catalogue ref: SC/PZ/SW/02/001-002, 170

Collection: Metropolitan Prints: Borough Sequence, Southwark

Description: Prints of Horsemonger Lane Gaol (various aspects)

Dates: undated


Archive name: Surrey History Centre

Catalogue ref: PX/132/25

Collection: Surrey Illustrations collection

Description: County Jail in Horsemonger Lane, Southwark, with Colonel Despard and his associates being hanged in 1803 for high treason

Dates: Early 19th century


Archive name: Surrey History Centre

Catalogue ref: Z/359/1

Collection: None

Description: Photographic copy of 'View of the County Gaol of Surrey, Horsemonger Lane'

Dates: Early 19th century