It was designed to hold 197 prisoners, all to be kept in single cells measuring 6 feet by 9 feet. Facilities were such (and this was unusual) that the prisoners were expected to be able to wash their hands and faces and comb their hair daily - and even bath once a month.
Both sexes were catered for in the prison - but were to be strictly segregated. The female prisoners were supervised by a matron and no male warders were allowed to visit the female prisoners unless accompanied by the matron or another female officer.
Shortly after the new building became operational, Alderman Fripp reported to the Committee that Mr Wilmot, the carpenter, had been sent to Gloucester to examine the 'Drop', and that a model of the 'Drop' from Gloucester had been made available and a 'Drop' for the Bristol New Gaol had been ordered at a cost of £30.
This appears to have been built by April 13th, 1821, for on that date John Horwood, a boy of 18, was hanged outside the prison in the presence of hundreds of spectators, being the first execution at the Gaol. Horwood had thrown a stone at his sweetheart, from the effects of which blow she had died. So great was the crowd that notices were set up warning of the danger of being pushed into the New Cut, there being no railings along its banks at that date.
The Somerset magistrate Thomas Hassel - who presided at the Bedminster Sessions. held at the Star Inn, North Street, Bedminster, attended the hanging. After death, the body was handed over to Richard Smith, Surgeon, for dissection and he had Norwood’s skin tanned and bound with a book containing all the records of the trial and execution.
This procedure was not an isolated one for in 1827 William Corder. who murdered Maria Marten, had his skin tanned after death and used to bind a book containing records of the trial, which was kept in the courthouse of Bury St Edmunds.
On the 28th July 1823 the visiting magistrate asked that a treadmill be immediately erected and the machinery of the water-mill inspected by a competent engineer and, if necessary, improved by alteration. A treadmill at Devizes was subsequently inspected by Aldermen Daniel and Fripp. About this date a notice was exhibited publically which stated:
'Persons willing to contract for the erection of a tread-mill at the Bristol Gaol, capable of employing twenty persons for the purpose of grinding corn and raising water, are desired to send plans and estimates to Messrs Osbourne and Brice under cover to Mr Brice, Council House, Bristol, on or before the 1st December 1823'.
The Gaol was supposed to be supplied with water from an inexhaustible spring, 100 feet deep, from which the water was to be raised by the treadmill. The latter was known to the prisoners as the 'Cockschafer' because of the physical disability associated with it.
In July 1820 it was decided that the annual salary of £500 should be paid to the Governor of the New Gaol. This sum covered his own expenses (except for rates and taxes and repairs to the building) and out of this he had to pay the salaries of two turnkeys, one porter and one night-watchman.
Task Master
In 1821 an application was received by the Committee from Thomas Burrough, of Shepton Mallet Gaol, for the position of Task-Master at the New Gaol. The appointment was confirmed and he was told that until such time as his particular department would occupy him fully, he would also do general duties.
'You will be allowed one eight part of the clear produce of the labour of the prisoners, such produce being estimated at the rates for labour established at llchester and if such allowance shall not amount to £80 per annum the deficiency shall be made good to you. Meantime, and until lodging can be provided for you in the Gaol, you will be further allowed £10 per annum for house rent'.
There was to be more ventilation in the cells and corridors and, as no new baths had been provided for prisoners when first committed - to replace those destroyed in the 1831 riots, it was suggested that new baths be built.
At the time new prisoners were obliged to bathe in a tub or in a privy. Just prior to the publication of this report there appears to have been a scandal concerning a prisoner called Hollister. Details are not available but it is possible that this man died due to catching a chill through having to bathe in cold water in exposed conditions. Anyhow, it was recommended that two baths be built and an adequate supply of both hot and cold water be freely available for the new prisoner’s ablutions.
The treadmill had seen heavy service since its repair after the riots and it was now estimated that repairs to the machinery, plus other alterations, would be in the region of £280.
The locks of the gaol were found to be in a serious state; so much so that prisoners had been able to force them whenever they chose. The locks were repaired by Messrs Room and Grazebrook and their internal mechanism secured in such a way as to prevent such attempts in the future. The cost was in excess of £350.
The water pipes conveying water from the treadmill pump were badly corroded and coated with sludge from the infiltration of river and surface water. To remedy this the well was deepened.
Debtors were allowed to keep a small supply of provisions in their cells but as much of this decayed before fully used, it became a threat to their health. To overcome this, a small cupboard for each debtor was installed in their day-room.
Prison Conditions
Other improvements were tables and chairs supplied for untried prisoners; the introduction of gas lighting; bedsteads provided in place of the straw mattresses on the floor; the straw mattresses used by the sick in the infirmary replaced by flock ones with pillows; rugs, blankets and new sheets were also acquired.
The diet of the convicted prisoners in the gaol had been, up to this report, restricted to one pound of bread per day, for dinner two pounds of potatoes, or half a pound of boiled rice with treacle, alternatively. No meat was supplied. This restrictive diet had led to illness and death among the prisoners and the Justices now ordered that 5 ounces of meat be given twice a week, soup twice a week and a larger portion of bread on those days when meat was not allowed.
Prison Working Conditions for Criminals and Felons
Removing ground (3)
Hatting (37)
Cutting fur (1 female)
Spring Mop yarn (1)
Washing (1)
Jobbing (1)
Basket Making (1 female)
Tayloring (1)
Debtors
Hatting (5)
Jobbing (3)
Both felons and debtors were paid for their work, although the amount retained by each class of prisoner varied, as below.
Felon
Cost of bread - £3-14-7d
Maintainance expenses - £3-5-0d
Extra when ill - £0-1-4d
Earnings - £19-14-4d
County’s share - £13-2-1d
Gaoler’sshare - £3-5-8d
Prisoner’sshare - £3-5-8d
Money advanced to prisoner - £0-10-8d
Balance due to prisoner - £2-15-0d
Earnings exceeding maintainance - £12-13-4½d
Debtor
Cost of bread - £1-9-5d
Illness - Nil
Earnings - £5-5-10d
County’s share (2/6th) - £1-15-3d
Gaoler’s share(1/6th) - £0-17-7d
Prisoner’s share - £2-12-11d
Earnings exceeding maintainance - £3-14-1d
The felon was only allowed to keep a sixth of his earnings while the debtor kept half of his. It was little wonder, therefore, that drunkeness was so common among debtors. And, also, why it was to the Gaoler’s advantage to ignore efforts to change conditions within the gaol with regard to the free access to drink, when it was he who supplied this commodity to those in his care.
The transfer of prisoners from the various gaols was carried out under contract. An advertisement in the Bristol Mirror of the 22nd February 1834 states:
To Waggoners, Carriers, Coach Proprietors etc. Offers to contract for the secure conveyance of prisoners and vagrants from Bath, Bedminster and Frome to the gaol at Shepton Mallet at so much a head, for one, two or three years, with proper security for their performance, will be received till the 6th March next addressed to the Chairman of the County of Somerset Committee, Post Office, Bristol. The committments to Shepton Mallet from the Division of Bath in 1833 were, in round numbers about 580; division of Frome 85 and division of Bedminster and Portbury 78.
Jail Fever
THIS malignant distemper was fatal and frequent in Bristol and other county jails in different parts of England. The judges, jury, witnesses, nay, in fact every person, except the prisoners, women and children, in court were killed by a foul air, which at first was thought to have arisen out of the bowels of the earth; but that great philosopher, Lord Bacon, proved it to have come from the prisoners taken out of a noisome jail and brought into court to take their trials; and they alone, inhaling foul air, were not injured by it.
'The public may be rather concerned than surprised, at the deplorable consequences of gaol distempers, and at the fatal instances of their contagion. Several judges, sheriffs, magistrates, juries, and whole courts of judicature, have been infected by those contagious diseases, which caused the loss of many valuable lives, particularly at the Old Bailey, and formerly at the assizes at Oxford, all owing to the horrid neglect of gaolers, and even of the sheriffs and magistrates, whose office it is to compel the gaolers, to the most rigorous repeated orders and attention to their duty, without the least indulgence or remission; as the gaolers are (some excepted) frequently low bred, mercenary and oppressive barbarous fellows, who think of nothing but enriching themselves by the most cruel extortion; and who have less regard for the life of a poor prisoner than for the life of a brute.
'The felons of this kingdom lie worse than dogs or swine, and are kept much more uncleanly than those animals are in kennels and sties, according to all accounts from clergymen, who are obliged to go to the gaols. From them I have been assured, that the stench and nastiness are so nauseous, that the very atmosphere is pestiferous, and that no persons enter therein, without the risque of their health or lives, which prevents even many clergymen and physicians from going there, and assisting their sick and dying fellow-creatures; so that they live and die like brutes, even worse than many beasts, to the disgrace of human nature. 'Every person endowed with the least principle of real humanity, and of true policy, must be affected with such barbarities, neglects, uncleanliness, and dangers.
A contagion of that kind may spread over a whole country and kingdom; the greatest precaution ought therefore to be taken in time. 'The gaolers ought to be forced to have all the rooms sprinkled and fumigated with vinegar every day: as should all the felons, before their appearance in a court of judicature; for some hundred prisoners, particularly criminals, are early killed by a sort of pestilence and vermin among them, occasioned by filth and nastiness, and a corrupted air. 'All hospitals, prisons, and workhouses, should have bathing-places, for the sake of cleanliness and health, as in Asia.'
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