Worcester City Gaol and House of Correction

Overview

Details

Records

Overview

Alternative Names   Worcester City Gaol

Prison Type   Local Prison -  Common Gaol

Jurisdiction   Municipality

Date opened   1539

Date closed   1867

Location   Friar Street   Worcester

Map location   exact or closely approximate

County   Worcestershire

Critical Remarks

From 1867, borough prisoners sent to County Gaol (ID 87).

Prison Info

Alternative Names   Worcester City Gaol

Prison Type   Local Prison

Jurisdiction   Municipality

Date opened   1539

Date closed   1867

Location   Friar Street   Worcester

Map location   exact or closely approximate
Lat.   52.189988  Long.   -2.2182501

County   Worcestershire

Critical Remarks

From 1867, borough prisoners sent to County Gaol (ID 87).

Prisoner Statistics

 

Year 1818

Annual Committed   -   179

Daily Greatest number   -   31

 

Year 1828

Annual Committed   -   240

Daily Census   -   9

 

Year 1833

Annual Committed   -   258

Daily Census   -   21

 

Year 1838

Annual Confined   -   267

Daily Census   -   23

 

Year 1843

Annual Confined   -   386

Daily Census   -   49

 

Year 1848

Annual Confined   -   327

Daily Daily average   -   25

 

Year 1853

Annual Confined   -   262

Daily Daily average   -   32

 

Year 1858

Annual Committed   -   288

Daily Daily average   -   34

 

Year 1863

Annual Committed   -   382

Daily Greatest number   -   53

Principal Primary Sources

  • James Neild, The State of the Prisons of England, Scotland and Wales (London, 1812), p.593
  • Account of Gaols, Houses of Correction or Penitentiaries in the United Kingdom, 1818 (Parl. Papers, 1819, XVII.371), p.50
  • 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.83; 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.66; 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.119; 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.151; 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.159; 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.46
  • Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1826, XXIV.1), p.340; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1826-27, XIX.365), p.296; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1828, XX.327), p.348; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1829, XIX.1), p.313; Reports and Schedules Pursuant To Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1830, XXIV.1), p.315; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1830-31, XII.1), p.310; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1831-32. XXXIII.197), p.309; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1833, XXVIII.1), p.335; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1834, XLVI.1), p.319; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1835, XLIV.225), p.305; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1836, XLII.1), p.205; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1837, XLV.1), p.206; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1837-8, XLIII.227), p.208; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1839, XXXVIII.17), p.209; Reports Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1840, XXXVIII.1), p.222; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1841, XVIII.1), p.236; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1842, XXXII.1), p.238; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1843, XLIII.1), p.240; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1844, XXXIX.403), p.229; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1845, XXXVII.417), p.266; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1846, XXXIV.187), p.275; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1847, XLVII.297), p.278; Reports and Schedules Pursuant to Gaol Acts (Parl. Papers, 1847-48, LII.465), p.282
  • Royal Commission of Inquiry into Municipal Corporations of England and Wales, First Report, Appendices: Part 1 (Parl. Papers, 1835, XXIII.1), p.157
  • Abstract Return of Establishment and Expenditure of Gaols and Houses of Correction in England and Wales (Parl. Papers, 1840, XXXVIII.241), p.68
  • Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain III. Southern and Western District. First Report (Parl. Papers, 1836, XXXV.269), p.83; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain III. Southern and Western District, Fourth Report (Parl. Papers, 1839, XXII.217), p.181; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain III. Southern and Western District, Sixth Report (Parl. Papers, 1841 Session 2, V.177), p.61; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain III. Southern and Western District, Ninth Report (Parl. Papers, 1844, XXIX.391), p.477; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain III. Southern and Western District, Eleventh Report (Parl. Papers, 1846, XXI.565), p.453; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain III. Southern and Western District, Twelfth Report (Parl. Papers, 1847-8, XXXV.1), p.446; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Midland and Eastern District, Fourteenth Report (Parl. Papers, 1849, XXVI.1), p.73; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain III. Southern and Western District, Seventeenth Report (Parl. Papers, 1852, XXIV.1), p.102; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain III. Southern and Western District, Nineteenth Report (Parl. Papers, 1854, XXXIV.1), p.134; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain III. Southern and Western District, Twenty-first Report (Parl. Papers, 1856, XXXIII.485), p.101; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Midland District, Twenty-third Report (Parl. Papers, 1859, Session 1, XI.1), p.147; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Midland District, Twenty-fourth Report (Parl. Papers, 1860, XXXV.1), p.131; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Midland District, Twenty-fifth Report (Parl. Papers, 1860, XXXV.229), p.135; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Midland District, Twenty-sixth Report (Parl. Papers, 1861, XXIX.45), p.131; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain II. Midland District, Twenty-seventh Report (Parl. Papers, 1862, XXV.93), p.124; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Twenty-eighth Report (Parl. Papers, 1863, XXIII.1), p.93; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Thirtieth Report (Parl. Papers, 1865, XXIII.1), p.251; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Thirty-first Report (Parl. Papers, 1866, XXXVII.1), p.227; Inspectors of Prisons of Great Britain I. Southern District, Thirty-second Report (Parl. Papers, 1867-68, XXXIV.203), p.309

Secondary Sources

  • http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/worcs/vol4/pp390-394

Management

Archive name: Worcestershire Archive and Archaeology Service

Catalogue ref: 8001/3/3 (not available)

Collection: Worcester City archives

Description: Quarter Sessions Rolls and Bundles. Include calendars of prisoners and those convicted at previous sessions; chaplain's reports on the gaol

Dates: 1710-1971


Archive name: Worcestershire Archive and Archaeology Service

Catalogue ref: 8001/3/4/1/2 /2 (496.5 BA9360/A8/Box 2/15)

Collection: Worcester City archives

Description: Chaplain's report of the City Gaol (1839)

Dates: 1839


Archive name: Worcestershire Archive and Archaeology Service

Catalogue ref: 8001/3/4/1/3/2 (496.5 BA9360/A8/Box 2/30)

Collection: Worcester City archives

Description: Worcester City Gaol Committee minutes. Rough notes of meetings held in 1825 concerning orders made for the new Gaol, appointment of Chaplain and Matron, Gaol rates, and a drawing up of regulations etc.

Dates: 1825


Archive name: Worcestershire Archive and Archaeology Service

Catalogue ref: 8001/1/1/18 (b496.5 BA9360/A18/17)

Collection: Worcester City archives

Description: Chamber order book. Reports received from Committees and Sub-Committees. Matters discussed include new Prison building, regulations and staff, and the merger of the City and County Prisons. Old Prison staff and building, visitors of Worcester Prison reports, members and duties of the Sub-Committees, expenses for criminal prosecutions.

Dates: 1867-1872


Archive name: Worcestershire Archive and Archaeology Service

Catalogue ref: 8001/1/1/11-12 (b496.5 BA9360/A14/Box 5/1-2)

Collection: Worcester City archives

Description: Chamber order book. Includes matters relating to the City and Gaol

Dates: 1835-1849


Archive name: Worcestershire Archive and Archaeology Service

Catalogue ref: 8001/1/1/17 (b496.5 BA9630/A18/16)

Collection: Worcester City archives

Description: Chamber order book. Reports received from Committees and Sub-Committees. Matters discussed include costs of prosecuting and maintaining prisoners, investigations into inadequacies of Prison accommodation, and eventual amalgamation of County and City Gaols.

Dates: 1864-1867


Archive name: Worcestershire Archive and Archaeology Service

Catalogue ref: 8001/3/4/1 (not available)

Collection: Worcester City archives

Description: Worcester City and County Gaol Committee Minutes, Reports and other administrative records

Dates: 1823-1963


Archive name: Worcestershire Archive and Archaeology Service

Catalogue ref: 8001/3/4/1/2/3 (496.5 BA9360/A8/Box 4/11)

Collection: Worcester City archives

Description: Draft copy of the Inspector of Prison's review (of Worcester City Gaol and House of Correction)

Dates: 1867


Archive name: Worcestershire Archive and Archaeology Service

Catalogue ref: 8001/3/4/1/3/3 (496.5 BA9360/A8/Box 4/15)

Collection: Worcester City archives

Description: Minutes of the Gaol Amalgamation Committee

Dates: 1866


Archive name: Worcestershire Archive and Archaeology Service

Catalogue ref: 8001/3/4/1/3/5 (496.5 BA9360/A8/Box 8/3)

Collection: Worcester City archives

Description: Worcester City Gaol Committee minutes

Dates: 1865-1871


Archive name: Worcestershire Archive and Archaeology Service

Catalogue ref: 8001/3/4/1/3/6 (496.5 BA9360/A8/Box 8/4)

Collection: Worcester City archives

Description: Gaol Committee minutes, with handwritten copies of letter received

Dates: 1823-1824


Archive name: Worcestershire Archive and Archaeology Service

Catalogue ref: 8001/3/4/7/7 (496.5 BA9360/A8/Box 5/1-4)

Collection: Worcester City archives

Description: Documents relating to the amalgamation of the City and County Gaols

Dates: 1850-1878


Archive name: Worcestershire Archive and Archaeology Service

Catalogue ref: 8001/3/4/9 (not available)

Collection: Worcester City archives

Description: Miscellaneous documents relating to Worcester City and County Gaol and the Police Force

Dates: 1861-1967


Archive name: Worcestershire Archive and Archaeology Service

Catalogue ref: 8001/3/4/1/2/1 (496.5 BA9360/A8/Box 2/13/1-2)

Collection: Worcester City archives

Description: Visiting Justices reports

Dates: 1832-1839


Archive name: Worcestershire Archive and Archaeology Service

Catalogue ref: 8001/3/4/1/1/7 (496.5 BA9360/A8/Box 2/20/1-3)

Collection: Worcester City archives

Description: Union of Worcester County and City Prison. Published copy of an Act for the Union of the Prisons of the County and of the City of Worcester; agreement between the Justices of the Peace for the County, and the Corporation of Worcester; book of reference to accompany the Act, containing a plan of the building and list of owners and their property to be compulsorily purchased.

Dates: 1867


Finance

Archive name: Worcestershire Archive and Archaeology Service

Catalogue ref: 8001/1 (496.5)

Collection: Worcester City archives

Description: Worcester City administration, covering the finance and accounts for the Prison

Dates: undated


Archive name: Worcestershire Archive and Archaeology Service

Catalogue ref: 8001/3/4/1/3/4 (496.5 BA9360/A8/Box 4/12)

Collection: Worcester City archives

Description: Gaol Expenditure Committee

Dates: 1861


Archive name: Worcestershire Archive and Archaeology Service

Catalogue ref: 8001/3/4/2/1/1 (496.5 BA9360/A8/Box 1/9/1-2)

Collection: Worcester City archives

Description: Worcester City Gaol loan

Dates: 1869


Archive name: Worcestershire Archive and Archaeology Service

Catalogue ref: 8001/3/4/2/1/4 (496.5 BA9360/A8/Box 1/21/1-179)

Collection: Worcester City archives

Description: Worcester City and County Gaol accounts and other papers

Dates: 1779-1834


Archive name: Worcestershire Archive and Archaeology Service

Catalogue ref: 8001/3/4/2/1/6 (496.5 BA9360/A8/Box 2/17)

Collection: Worcester City archives

Description: Letters re loan of the Gaol

Dates: undated


Archive name: Worcestershire Archive and Archaeology Service

Catalogue ref: 8001/3/4/2/1/8 (496.5 BA9360/A8/Box 2/22/1 – 13)

Collection: Worcester City archives

Description: Miscellaneous Gaol accounts

Dates: 1753-1890


Archive name: Worcestershire Archive and Archaeology Service

Catalogue ref: 8001/3/4/2/1/9 (496.5 BA9360/A8/Box 2/28/1-6)

Collection: Worcester City archives

Description: Parish rates received by Worcester Gaol

Dates: 1836-1837


Archive name: Worcestershire Archive and Archaeology Service

Catalogue ref: 8001/3/4/2/3/1-2 (496.5 BA9360/A8/Box 6/1 - 2; 496.5 BA9360/A8/Box 7/1 - 4)

Collection: Worcester City archives

Description: Gaol accounts ledgers

Dates: 1780-1835


Archive name: Worcestershire Archive and Archaeology Service

Catalogue ref: 8001/3/4/2/3/3 (496.5 BA9360/A8/Box 8/1 - 2)

Collection: Worcester City archives

Description: County Rates Accounts

Dates: 1780-1835


Archive name: Worcestershire Archive and Archaeology Service

Catalogue ref: 850WORCESTERSTMARTINWITHSTPETER/5234/16-17

Collection: Worcester St Martin with St Peter parish records

Description: City levy and gaol rate books (1824-1832)

Dates: 1824-1832


Staff

Archive name: Worcestershire Archive and Archaeology Service

Catalogue ref: 8001/3/4/4 (not available)

Collection: Worcester City archives

Description: Worcester City and County Gaol and Police staff. Includes pensions.

Dates: 1782-1904


Prisoners

Archive name: Worcestershire Archive and Archaeology Service

Catalogue ref: 8001/3/4/3/1 (not available)

Collection: Worcester City archives

Description: Lists, schedules and calendars of prisoners

Dates: 1772-1875


Land & Buildings

Archive name: Worcestershire Archive and Archaeology Service

Catalogue ref: 8001/10 (not available)

Collection: Worcester City archives

Description: Land and property of the Worcester Corporation

Dates: undated


Archive name: Worcestershire Archive and Archaeology Service

Catalogue ref: 8001/2/5/1/39 (496.5 BA9360/Cab 12/Box 25/2/1-8)

Collection: Worcester City archives

Description: Land for City Gaol, Worcester St Helens. Includes leases, releases, agreements, assignments, and relating to messuages, shops and land in Union Street and Friar Street, Worcester. All to be used for the City Gaol.

Dates: 1821


Archive name: Worcestershire Archive and Archaeology Service

Catalogue ref: 8001/3/4/1/1/13 (496.5 BA9360/A8/Box 9/3)

Collection: Worcester City archives

Description: Plumbers' book, City Gaol

Dates: 1823-1826


Archive name: Worcestershire Archive and Archaeology Service

Catalogue ref: 8001/3/4/1/1/5 (496.5 BA9360/A8/Box 2/19)

Collection: Worcester City archives

Description: Copy Charter regarding purchase of land at Greyfriars (1541)

Dates: undated


Archive name: Worcestershire Archive and Archaeology Service

Catalogue ref: 8001/3/4/7 (not available)

Collection: Worcester City archives

Description: Worcester City and County Gaol buildings and property

Dates: 1808-1932


Archive name: Worcestershire Archive and Archaeology Service

Catalogue ref: 8001/3/4/7/3 (496.5 BA9360/A8/Box 2/25/1-34)

Collection: Worcester City archives

Description: Documents relating to the construction of the Worcester City Gaol

Dates: 1808-1824


Archive name: Worcestershire Archive and Archaeology Service

Catalogue ref: 8001/3/4/7/4 (496.5 BA9360/A8/Box 2/26/1-39)

Collection: Worcester City archives

Description: Documents relating to the sale of the Worcester City Gaol, to William Laslett

Dates: 1867-1868