QG

The County Gaol

In the eighteenth century the County Gaol was situated on the north side of Silver Street, at the junction with Bedford High Street. 1786 Easter Sessions The Justices considered a presentment of the Grand Jury at the Summer Assizes of the previous year. They were of the opinion that a house, the property of John Howard the gaoler, should be purchased so that the Gaol could be enlarged, and an advertisement was put into the public newspapers for persons willing to undertake the work. In response to this it seems that two plans were sent in. One, which was by Mr Thomas Skaife and was not approved of, has survived among the Quarter Session Records [pp1] Pland by a Mr William Blackburn, a friend of John Howard the philanthropist, are not extant. At the adjourned Michaelmas Sessions of the same year it was resolved that a new gaol and bridewell be built on a new site in the High Street and that Mr Blackburn be asked to make a plan. However, the owner of the site would not agree to sell and the project fell through. In 1791 the County paid Mr Blackburn's executors a hundred guineas for his plans. 1798 Following another presentment by the Grant Jury, a Committee of Justices was set up. 'The Committee appointed to find out a proper site for the New Gaol and Bridewell reported that Dove House Close, the property of the Duke of Bedford and in the occupation of William Sharp was the fittest spot for it'. [10th January 1798]. This piece of land is that part of the present Prison that fronts on St. Loyes. There was no advertisement this time, but Mr Wing produced plans and estimates for the building of the new Gaol and House of Correction, and his plan No. 3 was unanimously adopted. The plan itself has not survived, but there is a full particular and estimate dated June 1798. There is a diagram of the Gaol on an engraved map of the town by Roper from a plan of G Cole, 1807. The building was finished and the prisoners moved in in 1801. The best plan of Wing's building is on PP4, which are plans made in 1834 for a proposed alteration, on which the original building with 1819 alterations is shown in black. The building and site of the old gaol was sold to Samuel Whitbread in 1802 [W 3068]. 1818 Midsummer Sessions It was decided to erect a House of Correction, not directly connected with the Gaol, and also to make certain alterations to the Gaol itself. At the Michaelmas Sessions of the same year Mr Wing was invited to deliver plans and specifications [PP2-4]. 1819 Epiphany Sessions Mr Wing's specification, plans and estimate appeared to be 'on a Scale too Extensive' and so the work was advertised. Four plans have survived [PP2/1-3,5] including that by James Elmes which was the one used [PP2/1]. The site eventually chosen was to the north of but not directly adjoining the Gaol, with a frontage on the Kettering Road, now Tavistock Street. For a plan of the situation see QSR 1820-95. 1821 John Millington produced plans for an infirmary, chapel, laundry and treadmill as an addition to the Penitentiary and House of Correction [PP3], and these were erected. 1834 In this year plans were drawn up by Mr Francis Giles, the County Surveyor, for proposed alterations to the prison, but the work was not carried out. On the plans the proposed extension is coloured pink, and Wing's original building (with 1819 alterations) of 1798-1801 is coloured black [PP4]. 1838 A new curtain wall was built to replace the old one blown down by the wind. [PP5; QSM 1838 p117]. 1848 The Gaol was rebuilt according to the plans of Thomas Smith, the County Surveyor [PP6/2]. Plans by Wing and Jackson were not used [PP6/1]. The nucleus of the original building of 1798-1801 remained. 1850-1 The old penitentiary was pulled down and the site turned into a garden where the prisoners could be put to work. The wall was extended. 1854 Thomas Smith published plans of his previous work [PP7]. 1856 The chapel has to be re-roofed because of defective building by Thomas Smith. 1868 Another storey was built on to the female block [PP8]. GAOLERS OF THE COUNTY GAOL: Rich Freeborne 1864 Richardson Bamford John Richardson 1724: 1727 Nathnl Bradolph 1728 John Richardson 1729-30 John Mott 1730/31 Thos Walker 1734 Wm Stevens 1736-c.1741Thos Richardson c.1741-1750 Henry Tanner 1751-1755 Thos. Richardson 1755-1759 Henry Tanner 1759-c.1764 Thos Richardson c.1764-1769 Jas Howard 1769-1770 (died 1770) Thos Howard 1770-1783 (dead by Epiph Sess. 1784) Jn Moore Howard 1783-1814 (dismissed-see QSM 24 pp. 231, 232) Thos Warner 1814-1834 (resigned) Jn Treganza 1834-1849 (died 16 Feb. 1849) James Banfield 1849-1850 (resigned 1850 and was given a superannuation grant of 80, having formerly been the keeper of the House of Correction. Certificate by Isaac Hurst, surgeon of the gaol 'the Governor had been suffering for the last year or two from aggravated Dyspepsia accompanied with nervous depression and irregular action of the Heart in a great measure induced by the exertions and anxieties of his Office'). Chas Foster 1850-1853 Robert Evan Roberts 1853-1885 (Was 'called upon to consent to be transferred to the Governorship of HM Prison at York Castle' by the Home Office. On his declining he was forced to resign, despite petitions from JP's, MP's etc to Home Office. He spent 42 years in the Prison Service - 32 being at Bedford. Before coming to Bedford at the age of 35, he was Governor of Westmoreland County Gaol, Appleby. He compiled the criminal statistics of Bedfordshire 1801 - 1878 - QSS4). BRIDEWELL OR HOUSE OF CORRECTION [In ST Mary's, off Cauldwell Street: see Ordnance Survey map, 1884, 41.66 feet to 1 inch, for 'Bridewell Yard'] 1724. Memorandum of the appointment of Jn Okeley as keeper of the Bridewell, 'for life' '....... he will put the Prison and the Appurtenances ....... in good and sufficient Repair and so keep the same and Tile all that part of it which is now Thatch'd for the Yearly Sallary of Thirty Pounds ... and that he shall find straw and all other Incidents except money for passing Vagrants committed thereunto .......' QSR 1724/155. 1755. Estimate of repairs necessary in Bridewell and keeper's house 'Take down the West Front of Bridewell being now only built with Timberand build the said Front with Bricks' with many other alterations. [Architect Thos. Moore] QSR 1755/86, 56, 116. 1782. John Howard's account of the Bridewell 'consists of three rooms about 131/2 feet by 111/2, on the ground floor; no fire-place: the court 36 feet by 24; no water accessible to the prisoners ....' 1801. Mr Sam Whitbread proposed to purchase both the gaol and bridewell sites and buildings at Mr Wing's valuation - gaol site and buildings 170; bridewell site and buildings 130. QSM 21 p. 74. Resolution agreeing to sell to Whitbread and order to the Clerk of the Peace to prepare the necessary conveyance. QSM 21 p. 86. [prisoners were moved to new combined gaol and house of correction built by Wing in 1801. This was under the care of a single gaoler]. Another separate house of correction was built in 1819 [James Elmes, architect] north of the gaol and fronting on Tavistock Street and is usually referred to as The New House of Correction or Penitentiary. [References to the Old House of Correction mean the one combined with the gaol not the first one in St Mary's]. Plan of the new site QSR 1820/95. In 1821 extensions were added, including a treadmill. Jn Millington architect. 1848/9. Used to house the prisoners during the large rebuilding of the gaol. 1850. Put up for sale but no buyers. 1850/1. Pulled down; gaol wall extended and site coverted into a garden for the gaol. CAULDWELL STREET BEDFORD - BRIDEWELL IN ST MARY'S Bridewell first mentioned in Quarter Sessions Minutes, 1652 - Andrew Norris a Ridgemont labourer, was sentenced 'to be in Bridewell a fortnight for his rude carriage in the court', 4th October 1652. Structural alteration:- Quarter Sessions Rolls 1755/86 Estimate of repairs necessary 'Take down the West Front of Bridewell being now only built with timber andbuild the said Front with Bricks'. QSR 1776/35 Prisoner escaped by forcing the door of his prison and climbing the wall. John Howard's description of the County Bridewell, 1782 'Consists of three rooms about 13 1/2 feet by 11 1/2 on the ground floor; no fire-place: the court 36 feet by 24; no water accessible to the prisoners .....' from 'The State of the Prisons in England and Wales ..... by John Howard, FRS'. QSR 1776/35 Prisoners escaping 'by the wall'. 1792/103 'Hamptin the necessary'. 1801/162 John Wing's valuation of the bridewell. 1802 Sold, and prisoners moved to new jail. Eventually 10 cottages built down yard. KEEPERS OF THE BRIDEWELL AND HOUSES OF CORRECTION The Old Bridewell was off Cauldwell Street, St Mary's. See Ordnance Survey map 1884 41.66'' to 1 inch which shows the 'Bridewell Yard'. This was used until 1801 when the new Gaol and House of Correction were built and prisoners formerly in the Bridewell were transferred to it. A new House of Correction (or Penitentiary) was built in 1819 separate from the Gaol. NB The words Bridewell and House of Correction are interchangeable; especially in the first two buildings. The third and last building is usually termed House of Correction or Penitentiary, but sometimes New H. of C. References after 1819 to Old H. of C. are to the second building ie the one combined with the gaol. (Any references to the 'County Castle' = The Gaol) Jn Okeley 1724 - 29 Thos Money 1729 - 30 [died by Michs. Sess. 1730] Chambers Potter 1730 - 44 [died 3 days before Lady Day 1744] Wm Stewardson 1744 - 70 [died before East. Sess. 1770] [Mathew Barker was deputy keeper 1744 - 80 bur. St Mary's, July 9th 1780] Wm. Clare 1770 - 1804 [NB Jn. Moore Howard was appointed keeper of the gaol and House of Correction in 1801 but according to QSM, Clare drew a salary (quarterly) until 1804] Jn Moore Howard 1801 - 1814 ) Combined gaol and House of Correction) Thomas Warner 1814 -19) John Tregenza 1820 - 34 Jas. Banfield 1834 - 49

QG contains at series level QGR (gaol reports), QGE, QGV

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