Warwick County Gaol

Overview

Details

Records

Overview

Prison Type   Local Prison -  Common Gaol

Jurisdiction   County

Date opened   c1676

Date closed   1860

Location   Northgate Street and Wallditch (now Barrack Street)   Warwick

Map location   exact or closely approximate

County   Warwickshire

Prison Info

Prison Type   Local Prison

Jurisdiction   County

Date opened   c1676

Date closed   1860

Location   Northgate Street and Wallditch (now Barrack Street)   Warwick

Map location   exact or closely approximate
Lat.   52.2830521  Long.   -1.5902385

County   Warwickshire

Prisoner Statistics

 

Year 1818

Annual Committed   -   549

Daily Greatest number   -   315

 

Year 1823

Annual Committed   -   437

Daily Census   -   516

 

Year 1828

Annual Committed   -   645

Daily Census   -   119

 

Year 1833

Annual Committed   -   784

Daily Census   -   159

 

Year 1838

Annual Confined   -   1329

Daily Census   -   173

 

Year 1843

Annual Confined   -   1477

Daily Census   -   161

 

Year 1848

Annual Confined   -   1683

Daily Daily average   -   236

 

Year 1853

Annual Confined   -   669

Daily Daily average   -   124

 

Year 1858

Annual Committed   -   711

Daily Daily average   -   110

Principal Primary Sources

  • James Neild, The State of the Prisons of England, Scotland and Wales (London, 1812), p.575
  • Account of Gaols, Houses of Correction or Penitentiaries in the United Kingdom, 1818 (Parl. Papers, 1819, XVII.371), p.48
  • [Second] Report of the Committee of the Society for the Improvement of Prison Discipline and for the Reformation of Juvenile Offenders (London, 1820), 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.77; 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.113; 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.143; 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.151; 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.44
  • Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1824, XIX.359), p.230; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1825, XXIII.1), p.280; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1826, XXIV.1), p.270; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1826-27, XIX.365), p.248; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1828, XX.327), p.284; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1829, XIX.1), p.252; Reports and Schedules Pursuant To Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1830, XXIV.1), p.251; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1830-31, XII.1), p.247; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1831-32. XXXIII.197), p.248; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1833, XXVIII.1), p.273; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1834, XLVI.1), p.260; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1835, XLIV.225), p.248; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1836, XLII.1), p.166; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1837, XLV.1), p.168; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1837-8, XLIII.227), p.170; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1839, XXXVIII.17), p.167; Reports Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1840, XXXVIII.1), p.184; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1841, XVIII.1), p.196; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1842, XXXII.1), p.200; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1843, XLIII.1), p.199; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1844, XXXIX.403), p.192; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1845, XXXVII.417), p.227; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1846, XXXIV.187), p.230; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1847, XLVII.297), p.236; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1847-48, LII.465), p.242
  • Royal Commission of Inquiry into Municipal Corporations of England and Wales, First Report, Appendices: Part 3 (Parl. Papers, 1835, XXIV.1), p.2061
  • Abstract Return of Establishment and Expenditure of Gaols and Houses of Correction in England and Wales (Parl. Papers, 1840, XXXVIII.241), p.64
  • Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain III. Southern and Western District. First Report (Parl. Papers, 1836, XXXV.269), p.66; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain III. Southern and Western District, Fourth Report (Parl. Papers, 1839, XXII.217), p.149; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain III. Southern and Western District, Sixth Report (Parl. Papers, 1841 Session 2, V.177), p.37; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain III. Southern and Western District, Ninth Report (Parl. Papers, 1844, XXIX.391), p.429; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain III. Southern and Western District, Eleventh Report (Parl. Papers, 1846, XXI.565), p.405; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain III. Southern and Western District, Twelfth Report (Parl. Papers, 1847-8, XXXV.1), p.403; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Midland and Eastern District, Fourteenth Report (Parl. Papers, 1849, XXVI.1), p.65; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain III. Southern and Western District, Seventeenth Report (Parl. Papers, 1852, XXIV.1), p.18; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain III. Southern and Western District, Nineteenth Report (Parl. Papers, 1854, XXXIV.1), p.110; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain III. Southern and Western District, Twenty-first Report (Parl. Papers, 1856, XXXIII.485), p.78; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Midland District, Twenty-third Report (Parl. Papers, 1859, Session 1, XI.1), p.138; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Midland District, Twenty-fourth Report (Parl. Papers, 1860, XXXV.1), p.122; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Midland District, Twenty-fifth Report (Parl. Papers, 1860, XXXV.229), p.124; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Midland District, Twenty-sixth Report (Parl. Papers, 1861, XXIX.45), p.127

Secondary Sources

  • http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/warks/vol8/pp447-451

Management

Archive name: Warwickshire County Record Office

Catalogue ref: Z0415/1(SM)

Collection: None

Description: Report on Warwick Gaol by Thomas Warner, Gaoler of Bedford

Dates: 1818


Archive name: Warwickshire County Record Office

Catalogue ref: QS 24/h/i/587  

Collection: Warwickshire Quarter Sessions

Description: Gaol Keepers' certificates, certifying that rules of the Prison have been complied with. Chaplains' and Surgeons' reports are occasionally to be found with these certificates.

Dates: 1824-1836


Archive name: Warwickshire County Record Office

Catalogue ref: CR 611/944

Collection: Papers of T. Heath and R.C. Heath as Under-Sheriff

Description: Miscellaneous administrative papers, including statement of numbers and categories of prisoners in Warwick Gaol

Dates: 1835


Archive name: Warwickshire County Record Office

Catalogue ref: QS 24/h/i/592

Collection: Warwickshire Quarter Sessions

Description: Annual returns, giving the numbers of prisoners, debtors etc, their employment, average weekly, cost of maintenance etc

Dates: 1823-1861


Archive name: Warwickshire County Record Office

Catalogue ref: QS 43/1-6

Collection: Warwickshire Quarter Sessions

Description: Quarter Sessions orders of the Court. Contain material relevant to the administration of the county prisons

Dates: 1841-1905


Archive name: Warwickshire County Record Office

Catalogue ref: QS 24/h/i/590

Collection: Warwickshire Quarter Sessions

Description: General annual reports, founded on the reports of the Visiting Justices and the Chaplain, submitted to each Michaelmas Sessions

Dates: 1828-1856, 1840, 1846, 1849, 1851-1854


Archive name: Warwickshire County Record Office

Catalogue ref: QS 2/1/1-3

Collection: Warwickshire Quarter Sessions

Description: Reports of Visiting Justices to the County Prison. Reports of the Prison Governor, Chaplain, and Surgeon. Also, Prison Governors' certificates that Prison rules have been observed. There are gaps in the series of reports from the Prison Officers.

Dates: 1843-1897


Finance

Archive name: Warwickshire County Record Office

Catalogue ref: QS 24/h/i/582

Collection: Warwickshire Quarter Sessions

Description: Account of the total expenses incurred in building up and furnishing the Gaol and House of Correction

Dates: 1800-1831


Archive name: Warwickshire County Record Office

Catalogue ref: QS 24/h/i/591

Collection: Warwickshire Quarter Sessions

Description: Treasurer's annual statements of the disbursements at the County Gaol

Dates: 1850-1860


Archive name: Warwickshire County Record Office

Catalogue ref: QS 90/7

Collection: Warwickshire Quarter Sessions

Description: Accounts for the prosecution and maintenance costs of Birmingham Borough prisoners in the County Gaol

Dates: 1839-1842


Staff

Archive name: Warwickshire County Record Office

Catalogue ref: QS 3/c/iv/15

Collection: Warwickshire Quarter Sessions

Description: Advertisement for Chaplain to Warwick Gaol

Dates: 1850


Archive name: Warwickshire County Record Office

Catalogue ref: QS 3/c/i/10

Collection: Warwickshire Quarter Sessions

Description: Applications and advertisements for governorship of County Gaol and House of Correction, Warwick and Coventry Gaol and House of Correction

Dates: 1826-1854


Archive name: Warwickshire County Record Office

Catalogue ref: CR1596/Box 85/1 and Box 87/14

Collection: None

Description: Papers in the case against Keeper of Gaol at Warwick for allowing a prisoner out of the Prison

Dates: 1806


Archive name: Warwickshire County Record Office

Catalogue ref: QS 3/c/iii/14

Collection: Warwickshire Quarter Sessions

Description: Appointment of Clerk to the Governor, Storekeeper etc

Dates: 1842


Archive name: Warwickshire County Record Office

Catalogue ref: QS 3/c/ii/11

Collection: Warwickshire Quarter Sessions

Description: Advertisement for the election of a Surgeon to the Warwick Gaol and House of Correction

Dates: 1836


Archive name: Warwickshire County Record Office

Catalogue ref: QS 3/c/ii/12

Collection: Warwickshire Quarter Sessions

Description: Advertisement for Surgeons to County Gaol, with list of candidates and name of appointee

Dates: 1851


Prisoners

Archive name: Birmingham Archives & Collections

Catalogue ref: MS 1036

Collection: Birmingham Quarter Sessions

Description: Printed list of sentences of prisoners committed to the County Gaol of Warwick

Dates: 1847


Archive name: Birmingham Archives & Collections

Catalogue ref: MS 3069/Acc1907-006/202574-20258, 202582

Collection: Papers of W. B. Bickley

Description: Lists of prisoners in Warwick Gaol

Dates: 1819-1820, 1839


Archive name: Birmingham Archives & Collections

Catalogue ref: MS 3375/2/1788

Collection: None

Description: List by Sheriff of the County of Warwick, of all prisoners in his custody, writs, records, books and other matters appertaining to the office of Sheriff. Made out at the expiration of his office and delivered to the incoming Sheriff.

Dates: 1854


Archive name: Birmingham Archives & Collections

Catalogue ref: MS 3375/2/1789

Collection: None

Description: List by Sheriff of the County of Warwick, of all prisoners in his custody, writs, records, books and other matters appertaining to the office of Sheriff. Made out at the expiration of his office and delivered to the incoming Sheriff.

Dates: 1855


Archive name: Birmingham Archives & Collections

Catalogue ref: MS 1816/1

Collection: None

Description: Letters to parents of Samuel Underhill while awaiting transportation in Warwick Gaol

Dates: 1849


Archive name: Birmingham Archives & Collections

Catalogue ref: MS 1834

Collection: None

Description: Papers of John Collins, Chartist, who was imprisoned in Warwick Gaol

Dates: 1839-1840


Archive name: Herefordshire Archive and Records Centre

Catalogue ref: BC79/27/11

Collection: Belmont Phillipps collection

Description: Copy of correspondence relating to the treatment of William Lovett and John Colling, prisoners in Warwick Gaol

Dates: 1840


Archive name: Warwickshire County Record Office

Catalogue ref: CR 611/78/38-42

Collection: None

Description: Papers chiefly relating to the bankruptcy of Thomas Bissell, including material relating to his committal to the County Prison

Dates: 1822-1823


Archive name: Warwickshire County Record Office

Catalogue ref: CR1596/box 92/1/2

Collection: None

Description: Schedules of prisoners at Warwick Gaol

Dates: 1818-1819


Archive name: Warwickshire County Record Office

Catalogue ref: PH1035/A8775

Collection: None

Description: Sorrowful lamentation and confession of John Kington, a prisoner under sentence of death at Warwick Gaol, Warwick

Dates: 1859


Land & Buildings

Archive name: Warwickshire County Record Office

Catalogue ref: QS 24/h/i/585

Collection: Warwickshire Quarter Sessions

Description: Report of Captain Chesterton, Governor of the House of Correction at Cold Field Baths, upon his inspection of the Warwick Old Gaol and unsuitability of the buildings. He recommends an entirely new building on another site.

Dates: 1847


Archive name: Warwickshire County Record Office

Catalogue ref: QS 24/h/i/583

Collection: Warwickshire Quarter Sessions

Description: Reports of Committees etc upon the desirability of either enlarging the existing County Gaol or building a new one

Dates: 1844-1847


Archive name: Warwickshire County Record Office

Catalogue ref: QS 24/h/i/584

Collection: Warwickshire Quarter Sessions

Description: Several plans, with report of the County Prison Committee thereon, for the proposed extension of the existing County Gaol

Dates: 1844-1847


Other

Archive name: Essex Record Office

Catalogue ref: D/DFr F6

Collection: Maryon-Wilson family

Description: Journal of tour, with Lady Wilson of Charlton House, Kent, of Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Warwickshire. Entries include description of a visit to the Gaol at Warwick.

Dates: 1815