Alternative Names Wakefield House of Correction, Wakefield County Gaol, Wakefield Prison, HMP Wakefield
Prison Type Local Prison - House of Correction/Bridewell
Jurisdiction County
Date opened c1595 [1770]
Date closed post 1900 (still open)
Location Love Lane Wakefield
Map location exact or closely approximate
County Yorkshire
Prison first opened in about 1595, but was entirely rebuilt in 1770.
Alternative Names Wakefield House of Correction, Wakefield County Gaol, Wakefield Prison, HMP Wakefield
Prison Type Local Prison
Jurisdiction County
Date opened c1595 [1770]
Date closed post 1900 (still open)
Location Love Lane Wakefield
Map location exact or closely approximate
Lat. 53.6825 Long. -1.509167
County Yorkshire
Prison first opened in about 1595, but was entirely rebuilt in 1770.
Year 1818
Annual Committed - 1998
Daily Greatest number - 347
Year 1824
Annual Committed - 1738
Daily Census - 298
Year 1828
Annual Committed - 2043
Daily Census - 383
Year 1833
Annual Committed - 2862
Daily Census - 476
Year 1838
Annual Confined - 3463
Daily Census - 510
Year 1843
Annual Confined - 4990
Daily Census - 711
Year 1848
Annual Confined - 4435
Daily Daily average - 521
Year 1853
Annual Confined - 4954
Daily Daily average - 591
Year 1858
Annual Committed - 4445
Daily Daily average - 764
Year 1863
Annual Committed - 6112
Daily Greatest number - 1128
Year 1868
Annual Committed - 6627
Daily Daily average - 1331
Year 1873
Annual Committed - 8495
Daily Daily average - 1163
Year 1878
Annual Committed - 9840
Daily Daily average - 1236
Year 1883
Annual Committed - 8545
Daily Daily average - 803
Year 1888
Annual Committed - 7346
Daily Daily average - 654
Year 1893
Annual Committed - 7309
Daily -
Year 1898
Annual Committed - 8837
Daily -
Archive name: Sheffield City Archives
Catalogue ref: WWM/F/122/53
Collection: Wentworth Woodhouse muniments
Description: Resolutions of the Michaelmas Quarter Sessions at Wakefield on a Report on the Wakefield House of Correction
Dates: 1819
Archive name: Sheffield City Archives
Catalogue ref: WWM/F/61/1
Collection: Wentworth Woodhouse muniments
Description: Letter about the state of the House of Correction at Wakefield
Dates: 1817
Archive name: West Yorkshire Archive Service, Calderdale
Catalogue ref: KM/A/1554
Collection: Muniments of Kirklees and the Armytage family
Description: Material relating to Wakefield House of Correction
Dates: c.1817-1834
Archive name: West Yorkshire Archive Service, Calderdale
Catalogue ref: KM/A/1557, KE/14
Collection: Muniments of Kirklees and the Armytage family
Description: Letters concerning a proposed visitation of Wakefield House of Correction, and concerning matters there at the time of the cholera epidemic
Dates: 1833-1836
Archive name: West Yorkshire Archive Service, Calderdale
Catalogue ref: KM/A/1560
Collection: Muniments of Kirklees and the Armytage family
Description: Printed matter concerning prisons, courts etc
Dates: 1827-1836
Archive name: West Yorkshire Archive Service, Wakefield
Catalogue ref: C1128/1
Collection: None
Description: Worksheet, account of work undertaken
Dates: 1881
Archive name: West Yorkshire Archive Service, Wakefield
Catalogue ref: C118/A/Box2
Collection: Wakefield Prison
Description: Commissioners and Inspectors' Minute Book
Dates: 1879-1979
Archive name: West Yorkshire Archive Service, Wakefield
Catalogue ref: QC2/7
Collection: West Riding Quarter Sessions
Description: Trade committee minute book
Dates: 1860-1878
Archive name: West Yorkshire Archive Service, Wakefield
Catalogue ref: QD1/237
Collection: West Riding Quarter Sessions
Description: Resolutions, correspondence etc concerning 1823 Gaol Act
Dates: 1824
Archive name: West Yorkshire Archive Service, Wakefield
Catalogue ref: QD1/239
Collection: West Riding Quarter Sessions
Description: Statistics on number of appeals, prosecutions, prisoners, costs etc
Dates: 1835-1841
Archive name: West Yorkshire Archive Service, Wakefield
Catalogue ref: QD1/244
Collection: West Riding Quarter Sessions
Description: Correspondence about dietaries; statement of number of prisoners in custody in the House of Correction; accounts of disbursements on repairs etc for the House of Correction
Dates: 1847-1849
Archive name: West Yorkshire Archive Service, Wakefield
Catalogue ref: QD1/245
Collection: West Riding Quarter Sessions
Description: Statement of prisoners' earnings (1839-1849)
Dates: 1839-1850
Archive name: West Yorkshire Archive Service, Wakefield
Catalogue ref: QD1/251
Collection: West Riding Quarter Sessions
Description: Statement of prisoners' earnings in the House of Correction (1837-1854). Also, resolutions and correspondence about supply of flour to the House of Correction (1855).
Dates: 1837-1855
Archive name: West Yorkshire Archive Service, Wakefield
Catalogue ref: QD1/379-384
Collection: West Riding Quarter Sessions
Description: Papers relating to outbreak of enteric fever
Dates: 1875
Archive name: West Yorkshire Archive Service, Wakefield
Catalogue ref: QD1/624
Collection: West Riding Quarter Sessions
Description: Amended order in Council regarding commitment of prisoners to appear at the Assizes
Dates: 1867
Archive name: West Yorkshire Archive Service, Wakefield
Catalogue ref: QD2
Collection: West Riding Quarter Sessions
Description: Treasurer's accounts. Includes reports of the Committees, and copies of orders on county administration.
Dates: 1802-1889
Archive name: West Yorkshire Archive Service, Wakefield
Catalogue ref: QD4/122-126
Collection: West Riding Quarter Sessions
Description: Purchase of machinery for making aerated bread
Dates: 1864-1866
Archive name: West Yorkshire Archive Service, Wakefield
Catalogue ref: QD4/128-142
Collection: West Riding Quarter Sessions
Description: Contracts for the maintenance of prisoners committed by other authorities to the West Riding
Dates: 1837-1867
Archive name: West Yorkshire Archive Service, Wakefield
Catalogue ref: QS1/139-238
Collection: West Riding Quarter Sessions
Description: Quarter Sessions rolls, including signed reports of the Committees and the Riding Officers. These cover matters relating to decisions about building, opening new gaols, officials' reports, returns, staffing appointments etc.
Dates: 1800-1899
Archive name: West Yorkshire Archive Service, Wakefield
Catalogue ref: QS10/35-60
Collection: West Riding Quarter Sessions
Description: Order Books. Contain material relating to the administration of Wakefield House of Correction
Dates: 1799-1866
Archive name: West Yorkshire Archive Service, Wakefield
Catalogue ref: QT1/3/110-112
Collection: West Riding Quarter Sessions
Description: Parliamentary returns for the House of Correction
Dates: 1815-1860
Archive name: West Yorkshire Archive Service, Wakefield
Catalogue ref: QT1/3/32-44
Collection: West Riding Quarter Sessions
Description: House of Correction, including accounts, correspondence, rules and regulations, contracts, estimates etc
Dates: c.1700-1878
Archive name: West Yorkshire Archive Service, Wakefield
Catalogue ref: QD1/385
Collection: West Riding Quarter Sessions
Description: Schedule of books and plans belonging to H. M. Prison at the office of the Clerk of the Peace
Dates: c.1880
Archive name: West Yorkshire Archive Service, Calderdale
Catalogue ref: KM/A/1559
Collection: Muniments of Kirklees and the Armytage family
Description: Papers concerning Wakefield House of Correction, including copies of Visiting Justices' reports, correspondence, letter about the cycloped, and printed rules
Dates: 1834-1836, 1852
Archive name: West Yorkshire Archive Service, Wakefield
Catalogue ref: QC2/1-2
Collection: West Riding Quarter Sessions
Description: Visiting Justices' minute books
Dates: 1834-1878
Archive name: West Yorkshire Archive Service, Wakefield
Catalogue ref: QC2/3-5
Collection: West Riding Quarter Sessions
Description: Visiting Justices' order books
Dates: 1858-1878
Archive name: West Yorkshire Archive Service, Wakefield
Catalogue ref: QD1/254
Collection: West Riding Quarter Sessions
Description: Report of the Visiting Justices of the Wakefield House of Correction
Dates: 1859
Archive name: West Yorkshire Archive Service, Wakefield
Catalogue ref: QD4/226
Collection: West Riding Quarter Sessions
Description: Copy resolution of the Visiting Justices of the prison to oppose the clause in the Bill proposing to make the prison liable to rating
Dates: 1876
Archive name: West Yorkshire Archive Service, Wakefield
Catalogue ref: QD3/1-4
Collection: West Riding Quarter Sessions
Description: 2 general account books containing itemised statements of proposed expenditure on bridges and public buildings, including Houses of Correction, which were submitted to the Quarter Sessions for approval
Dates: 1797-c.1887
Archive name: West Yorkshire Archive Service, Wakefield
Catalogue ref: QD4/121
Collection: West Riding Quarter Sessions
Description: Correspondence and papers regarding raising loan for the enlargement of the House of Correction
Dates: 1843-1844
Archive name: West Yorkshire Archive Service, Wakefield
Catalogue ref: WDP20/8/9/3
Collection: Darrington with Wentbridge parish records
Description: Receipts from Wakefield House of Correction for various persons handed to that institution
Dates: 1803-1820
Archive name: West Yorkshire Archive Service, Wakefield
Catalogue ref: WMT/PO/4/27/15
Collection: Pontefract Borough
Description: Invoice relating to an instalment for a loan regarding the House of Correction
Dates: 1851-1858
Archive name: West Yorkshire Archive Service, Wakefield
Catalogue ref: QD1/228
Collection: West Riding Quarter Sessions
Description: Inventory of clothing belonging to the House of Correction and memoranda concerning manufacture of goods by prisoners
Dates: 1809
Archive name: West Yorkshire Archive Service, Wakefield
Catalogue ref: C118/A/Box4
Collection: Wakefield Prison
Description: Visitors' book
Dates: 1874-1985
Archive name: West Yorkshire Archive Service, Wakefield
Catalogue ref: QC2/6
Collection: West Riding Quarter Sessions
Description: Visiting book (visiting magistrates and others, with remarks)
Dates: 1834-1873
Archive name: West Yorkshire Archive Service, Wakefield
Catalogue ref: C118/78/1-2
Collection: Wakefield Prison
Description: Registers of Officers
Dates: 1840-1913
Archive name: West Yorkshire Archive Service, Wakefield
Catalogue ref: QD1/359-361
Collection: West Riding Quarter Sessions
Description: Lists of staff
Dates: 1865, 1877-1880
Archive name: Sheffield City Archives
Catalogue ref: SpSt/60611
Collection: Spencer Stanhope muniments
Description: Correspondence concerning applications for the Governorship of Wakefield gaol
Dates: 1864
Archive name: West Yorkshire Archive Service, Calderdale
Catalogue ref: KM/B/916
Collection: Muniments of Kirklees and the Armytage family
Description: Testimonials of Captain Godfrey Armytage to perform office of Governor of Wakefield House of Correction, with letters
Dates: 1864
Archive name: West Yorkshire Archive Service, Wakefield
Catalogue ref: QD1/363-365
Collection: West Riding Quarter Sessions
Description: Material regarding appointments of Governor (1816, 1864), salaries of Governor of Wakefield and other prisons (1870)
Dates: 1816, 1864, 1870
Archive name: West Yorkshire Archive Service, Wakefield
Catalogue ref: QD1/366-373
Collection: West Riding Quarter Sessions
Description: Duties, appointments etc of surgeon
Dates: 1828-1858, 1875
Archive name: West Yorkshire Archive Service, Wakefield
Catalogue ref: QD1/354
Collection: West Riding Quarter Sessions
Description: Copy orders of quarter sessions concerning the House of Correction. Includes report of committee appointed to consider officers' salaries etc (1861)
Dates: 1860-1865
Archive name: West Yorkshire Archive Service, Wakefield
Catalogue ref: QD1/362
Collection: West Riding Quarter Sessions
Description: Petition regarding pensions from retired prison officers
Dates: 1895
Archive name: West Yorkshire Archive Service, Wakefield
Catalogue ref: QD1/377
Collection: West Riding Quarter Sessions
Description: Letter of application for Taskmaster
Dates: 1806
Archive name: West Yorkshire Archive Service, Wakefield
Catalogue ref: QD4/127
Collection: West Riding Quarter Sessions
Description: Draft bond of Henry Oxley for the performance of the office of Steward of the House of Correction
Dates: 1872
Archive name: West Yorkshire Archive Service, Wakefield
Catalogue ref: QD1/378
Collection: West Riding Quarter Sessions
Description: Letter from the Home Office to the Deputy Clerk of the Peace re salaries paid to the Principal Warder and Trade Instructor
Dates: 1850
Archive name: West Yorkshire Archive Service, Wakefield
Catalogue ref: QD1/374-376
Collection: West Riding Quarter Sessions
Description: Appointment of Chaplain, list of books for prisoners
Dates: 1850-1864
Archive name: The National Archives
Catalogue ref: HO23/14-20
Collection: Home Office
Description: Registers of Prisoners from national prisons lodged in County Prisons, Wakefield
Dates: 1847-1866
Archive name: The National Archives
Catalogue ref: PCOM2/411
Collection: Prison Commission
Description: Wakefield Gaol, Yorkshire: register of prisoners
Dates: 1856
Archive name: West Yorkshire Archive Service, Wakefield
Catalogue ref: C118/103
Collection: Wakefield Prison
Description: Register of military prisoners sentenced by courts martial throughout the country
Dates: 1871-1875
Archive name: West Yorkshire Archive Service, Wakefield
Catalogue ref: C118/104-108
Collection: Wakefield Prison
Description: Indexes to nominal register
Dates: c.1878-1899
Archive name: West Yorkshire Archive Service, Wakefield
Catalogue ref: C118/109-110, 112-114, 116-164
Collection: Wakefield Prison
Description: Nominal registers
Dates: 1879-1900
Archive name: West Yorkshire Archive Service, Wakefield
Catalogue ref: C118/227-238
Collection: Wakefield Prison
Description: Register of female prisoners
Dates: 1883-1900
Archive name: West Yorkshire Archive Service, Wakefield
Catalogue ref: C118/98
Collection: Wakefield Prison
Description: Register of male and female prisoners
Dates: 1800-1808
Archive name: West Yorkshire Archive Service, Wakefield
Catalogue ref: C1303
Collection: None
Description: Convicts reception register. Details of prisoners received at Wakefield prison temporarily to be shipped elsewhere.
Dates: 1858-1862
Archive name: Derbyshire Record Office
Catalogue ref: D258/21/25/1
Collection: Gell of Hopton Hall, Yorkshire Quarter Sessions
Description: List of prisoners committed for trial in the West Riding
Dates: 1833
Archive name: Sheffield City Archives
Catalogue ref: SpSt/60722/17
Collection: Spencer Stanhope muniments
Description: A liberate of the prisoners at Wakefield
Dates: 1827
Archive name: West Yorkshire Archive Service, Wakefield
Catalogue ref: C118/ 99-100
Collection: Wakefield Prison
Description: General receiving books of male and female prisoners
Dates: 1842-1843
Archive name: West Yorkshire Archive Service, Wakefield
Catalogue ref: C118/101
Collection: Wakefield Prison
Description: Debtors' receiving book
Dates: 1847-1849
Archive name: West Yorkshire Archive Service, Wakefield
Catalogue ref: QT3/3/4
Collection: West Riding Quarter Sessions
Description: Statement of the prisoners committed to the West Riding House of Correction
Dates: 1828
Archive name: West Yorkshire Archive Service, Wakefield
Catalogue ref: WDP139/7/8/69
Collection: Darrington with Wentbridge parish records
Description: Letter from Samual Walker of Wakefield House of Correction, asking to be liberated
Dates: c.1800-1825
Archive name: West Yorkshire Archive Service, Wakefield
Catalogue ref: WWD1/Box 211/K 79
Collection: City of Wakefield Corporation
Description: Wakefield prisoners
Dates: 1879-1880
Archive name: West Yorkshire Archive Service, Wakefield
Catalogue ref: Z169/14-17
Collection: None
Description: Photographs of prisoners at Wakefield Prison
Dates: c.1800-2000
Archive name: The National Archives
Catalogue ref: PCOM7/147
Collection: Prison Commission
Description: Land. Wakefield Prison: Coalmining under adjacent land
Dates: 1887-1898
Archive name: West Yorkshire Archive Service, Bradford
Catalogue ref: 11D74/3/90/1
Collection: None
Description: Survey of land purchased to enlarge the House of Correction at Wakefield, with plan
Dates: 1800
Archive name: West Yorkshire Archive Service, Wakefield
Catalogue ref: C118/68-70
Collection: Wakefield Prison
Description: Engineer's day books
Dates: 1886-1890
Archive name: West Yorkshire Archive Service, Wakefield
Catalogue ref: C118/71
Collection: Wakefield Prison
Description: Book recording the names and trades of workmen and the hours spent on each job
Dates: 1886-1891
Archive name: West Yorkshire Archive Service, Wakefield
Catalogue ref: C1358/614-615
Collection: Pilkington papers
Description: Papers relating to Wakefield House of Correction, including plans for a pump and filter tank plans for cell windows, a printed report to the Local Government Board on an outbreak of enteric fever, with a plan of the Jail and graph. Also, plan of a cornmill.
Dates: 1821-1875
Archive name: West Yorkshire Archive Service, Wakefield
Catalogue ref: C861
Collection: Wakefield Museum document collection
Description: Plan of Old Manor Prison, Wakefield
Dates: 1901
Archive name: West Yorkshire Archive Service, Wakefield
Catalogue ref: QD1/257
Collection: West Riding Quarter Sessions
Description: Report of the Repairs Committee for the West Riding House of Correction
Dates: 1865
Archive name: West Yorkshire Archive Service, Wakefield
Catalogue ref: QD1/697
Collection: West Riding Quarter Sessions
Description: Design of Thomas Wright of Manchester for additions to the House of Correction
Dates: 1819
Archive name: West Yorkshire Archive Service, Wakefield
Catalogue ref: QD3/376-477
Collection: West Riding Quarter Sessions
Description: Plans of additions and alterations to the House of Correction (1824, 1837). Also, plans for a new prison (1840-1849), and for subsequent alterations and extensions (1797-1877).
Dates: 1797-1877
Archive name: West Yorkshire Archive Service, Wakefield
Catalogue ref: QD4/111-120
Collection: West Riding Quarter Sessions
Description: Conveyancing papers
Dates: 1842-1870
Archive name: West Yorkshire Archive Service, Wakefield
Catalogue ref: QD4/275
Collection: West Riding Quarter Sessions
Description: Correspondence regarding procuration charge by the Solicitor in respect of loan for new buildings at the House of Correction (1843)
Dates: 1844
Archive name: West Yorkshire Archive Service, Wakefield
Catalogue ref: QD4/95-110
Collection: West Riding Quarter Sessions
Description: House of Correction building contracts
Dates: 1838-1867
Archive name: West Yorkshire Archive Service, Wakefield
Catalogue ref: WRD1, Boxes 47, 74 75, 76, 79, 85
Collection: West Riding County Council
Description: Deeds, contracts etc relating to prison land
Dates: 1772-1894
Archive name: West Yorkshire Archive Service, Wakefield
Catalogue ref: QD1/238
Collection: West Riding Quarter Sessions
Description: Resolutions of Quarter Sessions about new buildings for the House of Correction (1840). With report of the Governor to the Visiting Justices (1839), printed report of the Visiting Justices of the House of Correction (1840), and printed report of Captain Jebb to the Home Secretary on sites for the new prison (1840).
Dates: 1839-1840