Bedfordshire Archives Service Catalogue
  • Reference
    QGR2/8/5/3
  • Title
    Report of the Visiting Justices to the Bedfordshire Midsummer Sessions 1877. William Stuart, Francis John Thynne, Harry Thornton, Turner A Macan, Alex Pym, Robert Henry Lindsell, W Francis Higgins, John H Brooks, W B Higgins, Montagu Burgoyne, Henry J R Osborn. Includes the following:
  • Date free text
    June 1877
  • Production date
    From: 1877 To: 1877
  • Scope and Content
    The Visiting Justices have regularly visited and inspected the prison during the Quarter ending 24th June last. The death from typhoid fever of one of the children of the governor on 30th March and of one of the female warders on 5th April and the illness of two of the prisoners from the same disease affording strong ground for believing that the water in the prison well had recently become contaminated with seage matter, immediately after the last Sessions steps were taken to ascertain whther this was the case or not. On 6th April carbolic acid was poured down the water closets in all of the cells and withing twelve hours the water in the well had become strongly impugneated with this acid; after this it was clear that sewage matter had also percolated from the drains into the well . The supply of water from this well to the cells was at once cut off, and the water from the Borough Waterworks laid on. The well water has ever since been used only for cleaning the prison and flushing the sewers. The Visiting Justices instructed the County Surveyor to make a thorough examination of the drains; he did so, they were found defective in some places, these defects have been remedied. On 19th June Dr Henry Briscoe, one of the Government Inspectors visited the prison. Mrs [Eliza Maria] Anderson the Matron has tendered her resignation. The Visiting Justices hereby report that she is not less than 60 years of age, that she has been an officer of the prison for not less than 20 years, and that her conduct during her period of service has been good, and they recommend an annuity of £65 per annum. They recommend that Sarah Rogers, at present warder on the female side of the prison be appointed Matron at a salary of £55. It will be necessary to appoint two female warders, on in her place and one in place of the warder whose death has been referred to. Salary 15s per week. The Chief Warder and Clerk have applied for an increase of salary. The former has been an officer for 20 and the latter for 13 years. The Visiting Justices recommend that the salary of the Chief Warder br raised from £104.8.18 to £120 per annum and the salary of the Clerk from £88.8.6 to £100. An application from Bedford Volunteer Fire Brigade for a subscription or donation has been received. There is no fire brigade in the prison nor are there any proper appliances for extinguishing fire. The Visiting Justices recommend the application to the favourable consideration of the Court.
  • Level of description
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