Alternative Names Tothill Fields Bridewell, Westminster Bridewell or House of Correction, Westminster County Gaol, Westminster Prison
Prison Type Local Prison - House of Correction/Bridewell
Jurisdiction County
Date opened 1834
Date closed 1884
Location near Vauxhall Bridge Road with its front in Francis Street London, Westminster
Map location exact or closely approximate
County Middlesex
In 1850 restricted to female prisoners and juvenile males (aged under 17 years). In 1861 became a female prison as the juvenile males were sent to Cold Bath Fields (ID 50).
Alternative Names Tothill Fields Bridewell, Westminster Bridewell or House of Correction, Westminster County Gaol, Westminster Prison
Prison Type Local Prison
Jurisdiction County
Date opened 1834
Date closed 1884
Location near Vauxhall Bridge Road with its front in Francis Street London, Westminster
Map location exact or closely approximate
Lat. 51.49395 Long. -0.1418288
County Middlesex
In 1850 restricted to female prisoners and juvenile males (aged under 17 years). In 1861 became a female prison as the juvenile males were sent to Cold Bath Fields (ID 50).
Year 1838
Annual Confined - 6037
Daily Census - 374
Year 1843
Annual Confined - 6114
Daily Census - 346
Year 1848
Annual Confined - 8199
Daily Daily average - 747
Year 1853
Annual Confined - 7933
Daily Daily average - 759
Year 1858
Annual Committed - 8731
Daily Daily average - 946
Year 1863
Annual Committed - 4960
Daily Greatest number - 723
Year 1868
Annual Committed - 4994
Daily Daily average - 647
Year 1873
Annual Committed - 8484
Daily Daily average - 686
Year 1878
Annual Committed - 8018
Daily Daily average - 583
Year 1883
Annual Committed - 9495
Daily Daily average - 623
Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives
Catalogue ref: WJ/SP
Collection: Westminster Sessions of the Peace: Court in Session
Description: Includes papers on the administration of the Westminster House of Correction, such as reports of the keeper/ governor, chaplain, surgeon; reports of the accounts committee; papers on staffing issues; plans and specifications of buildings and alterations; lists of prisoners
Dates: 1640-1844
Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives
Catalogue ref: MA/D/G/055-058
Collection: Middlesex Sessions of the Peace: Deeds and Contracts, Prisons
Description: Contracts for the supply of goods and provisions at the three Middlesex Prisons
Dates: 1836-1864
Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives
Catalogue ref: WA/G/018-019
Collection: Westminster Sessions of the Peace: Prisons
Description: Abstracts of minutes.
Dates: 1854-1858
Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives
Catalogue ref: WJ/O/C/003-004
Collection: Westminster Sessions of the Peace: Court in Session
Description: General orders of the Court (later called County minute books). Includes accounts of the management of the Westminster (Tothill Fields) Bridewell Prison, including the daily occupation of the prisoners.
Dates: 1829-1844
Archive name: Norfolk Record Office
Catalogue ref: C/Saa 1/23
Collection: Norfolk Quarter Sessions
Description: Norwich Castle Gaol. Correspondence concerning the treatment of vagrants and their ailments. Including an account of the treatment given at the Westminster Bridewell.
Dates: 1842
Archive name: The National Archives
Catalogue ref: PCOM7/24
Collection: Prison Commission
Description: Westminster Prison: transfer to Middlesex authorities
Dates: 1883
Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives
Catalogue ref: W/AG/P
Collection: Westminster Sessions of the Peace: Prisons
Description: Working papers. Includes rules and regulations, bills for work done, inventories, Visiting Justices' reports, contracts, appointments, letters, returns, plans, dietary, Governor's reports, supplies, rough minutes, and working papers.
Dates: 1801-1880
Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives
Catalogue ref: MJ/SP
Collection: Middlesex Sessions of the Peace: Court in Session
Description: Sessions papers. Documents on the administration of the Middlesex prisons. Include reports from Visiting Justices, governors, chaplains, surgeons; special reports on prison conditions and prison (re) construction or alterations; prisoner numbers and statistics; prison dietaries.
Dates: 1550-1903
Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives
Catalogue ref: H11/HLL/A/05/014
Collection: Hanwell Asylum
Description: Annual reports of Committees of Visiting Justices on Westminster House of Correction
Dates: 1859
Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives
Catalogue ref: WA/G/001
Collection: Westminster Sessions of the Peace: Prisons
Description: Visiting Justices reports
Dates: 1834-1843
Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives
Catalogue ref: WA/G/002-017
Collection: Westminster Sessions of the Peace: Prisons
Description: Visiting Justices minute books (with indexes)
Dates: 1840-1878
Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives
Catalogue ref: WA/G/020
Collection: Westminster Sessions of the Peace: Prisons
Description: Letter book of the Clerk to the Visiting Justices. With index.
Dates: 1871-1876
Archive name: East Sussex Record Office
Catalogue ref: GWY/1/1/4/11
Collection: None
Description: Miscellaneous printed papers sent to Magistrates. Lists of bills, salaries and demands, reports of Visiting Justices of Houses of Correction at Westminster etc
Dates: 1869
Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives
Catalogue ref: MA/D/G/059-066
Collection: Middlesex Sessions of the Peace: Deeds and Contracts, Prisons
Description: Mortgages on the county rates for building and enlarging Westminster House of Correction
Dates: 1830-1866
Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives
Catalogue ref: MF/321
Collection: Middlesex Sessions of the Peace: County Treasurer
Description: Borrowed monies, income and repayments, interest and principal. Entries for Westminster Bridewell
Dates: 1828-1889
Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives
Catalogue ref: MF/325
Collection: Middlesex Sessions of the Peace: County Treasurer
Description: Property tax, retained (deducted) on interest on monies borrowed. Covering Westminster Bridewell
Dates: 1842-1872
Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives
Catalogue ref: CLA/032/01/020
Collection: Prisons and Compters
Description: Comparative statement of endowments of officers of London and Middlesex prisons, including Westminster Bridewell
Dates: c.1850
Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives
Catalogue ref: MA/G/GEN/729
Collection: Middlesex Sessions of the Peace: Prison Administration
Description: Prison Committee. Statement of facts relating to the dismissal of the Reverend Frederick Hathaway from attending Roman Catholic prisoners at Tothill Fields Prison.
Dates: 1866
Archive name: The National Archives
Catalogue ref: PROB 11/2153/293
Collection: Prerogative Court of Canterbury
Description: Will of William Graham, Warder of Tothill Fields Prison of Westminster, Middlesex
Dates: 1852
Archive name: Hampshire Archives and Local Studies
Catalogue ref: 5M62/8 page 760
Collection: None
Description: Registered copy will of George Laskey, formerly of 10 Belvoire Terrace, Westminster, Middlesex, and late of Hounsdown, Eling, Warder in the Westminster House of Correction
Dates: 1866
Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives
Catalogue ref: MJ/SP/XX/728
Collection: Middlesex Sessions of the Peace: Court in Session
Description: Nominal register of prisoners convicted at Assizes and Sessions
Dates: 1866-1872
Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives
Catalogue ref: MJ/SP/XX/728
Collection: Middlesex Sessions of the Peace: Court in Session
Description: Nominal register of prisoners (female)
Dates: 1866-1872
Archive name: The National Archives
Catalogue ref: PCOM2/139
Collection: Prison Commission
Description: Westminster Penitentiary, Middlesex: register of baptisms
Dates: 1816-1871
Archive name: The National Archives
Catalogue ref: PCOM2/140
Collection: Prison Commission
Description: Westminster Penitentiary, Middlesex: register of burials
Dates: 1817-1853
Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives
Catalogue ref: WJ/CP/A/001-064
Collection: Westminster Sessions of the Peace: Court in Session
Description: Lists of prisoners tried
Dates: 1838-1847
Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives
Catalogue ref: MA/D/G/024-040
Collection: Middlesex Sessions of the Peace: Deeds and Contracts, Prisons
Description: Including charges on the county rates and bonds for performing various duties, contracts for warming and ventilating apparatus, and documents relating to its reconveyance and sale in 1883 under the 1877 Prison Act
Dates: 1832-1884
Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives
Catalogue ref: MA/DCP/G/017, 019-021
Collection: Middlesex Sessions of the Peace: Plans of County Prisons
Description: Plans of the new Westminster Bridewell
Dates: 1829-1846
Archive name: London Metropolitan Archives
Catalogue ref: MA/G/GEN/825
Collection: Middlesex Sessions of the Peace: Prison Administration
Description: Westminster Bridewell - proposed covered way to chapel etc. F. H. Pownall, Architect.
Dates: 1865
Archive name: City of Westminster Archives Centre
Catalogue ref: E137 Bridewell (002)
Collection: None
Description: Contains several different 'views' of Tothill Prison (undated)
Dates: 19th century
Archive name: City of Westminster Archives Centre
Catalogue ref: Gardner Box 51
Collection: None
Description: Contains a number of images of Tothill Fields Prison (old and new) from different aspects (prints, drawings, etc)
Dates: 19th century
