The next time you drive your car, or take a bus, to work on a morning just as you reach the Old Market one-way system from Trinity Church past Lawford’s gate and down through West Street into Old Market, a little known fact there was once a House of Correction on the site of the modern Trinity Road Police Station. - Lawford's Gate Prison.
Below are listed some of the ‘crimes and sentences’, all of which illustrate the harsh times in which our ancestors lived, when a boy of eight years could be sent to prison for 1 month and fined 1/6... for stealing coal; a 10 year old was sentenced to be 'examined' for stealing a bucket and a 22 year old was sentenced to 6 months and a 2?- fine ... for killing a rabbit (which was a wild animal and no doubt needed to feed his hungry family).
Even in the grander surroundings of Gloucester Gaol the Magistrates and Judges still handed out very harsh justice indeed.
In 1821, 16 year old John Baker, from Wotton under Edge, was hanged for burglary, followed in 1828 by 19 year old Joseph Ray, of Bristol, for a similar offence.
And it was not only men who graced the hangman with their presence, women were also introduced to him. Charlotte Long aged 33 of North Nibley was executed for arson in 1835. and a year later 21 year old Harriet Tarver of Chipping) Campden also danced the hangman’s jig for murder.
OLD MARKET was once the site of the market for the castle garrision in the 13th century, and later redeveloped in the 17th century. Here, country folk set up their stalls and markets and fairs were held here regularly. Today its a shadow of its former self the area ceases to function as a living part of the city.
LAWFORD'S GATE, now only a road, but once this is where the main gate stood for Bristol castle as one of the main outer defences of the old city. It was here that visiting royalty were received and welcomed by the mayor. The old prison gaol which also stood here was another victim of the famous Bristol Rioters' of 1831 in destructive vengeance they burnt down both prisons Cumberland Road and Lawford's Gate.
Lawford's Gate was once a part of Bristol's history, now it is just a street leading into Trinity Road and where the orignal Police Station stood built in 1868.
In 1823 Lawford’s Gate House of Correction Staff Salaries were as follows:
The Keeper Isaac Clewley £75 per annum
The Matron Mrs. Clewley £20 per annum
The Turnkey £36. 10.0.per annum
The Chaplain Rev. Edward Parsons £40 per annum
The Apothicary Mr. Josiah Hill £13. 13.0 per annum
IMPRISONMENT AT LAWFORD’S GATE HOUSE OF CORRECTION 1820
Benjamin Long 22 Stealing a dog 6 months & 20/- fine
Charles Roberts 12 Trespass in a field 6 weeks
John Jenkins 17 Using a dog to destroy game 3 months & 5 -fine
Elizabeth Rodway 22 Lewd woman 12 months
Thomas Britton 8 Stealing coal 1 month & 1/6 fine
James Woodlands 22 Killing rabbits 6 months & 20/- fine
Elisa Green 25 Keeping a disorderly house 3 months
Thomas Colley 25 Cutting down trees 3 months
George Moss 21 Cutting down trees 6 months & 20/- fine
Sarah Chana 26 Stealing wood 1 month
Charlotte Stanton 22 Stealing wood 1 month
Mary Brewer 16 Idle and disorderly person 1 month
James Spokes 16 Damaging a hayfield 1 month & 7/6 fine
Charles Nott 15 Damaging a hayfield 1 month & 7/6 fine
Frederick Allen 19 Breaking windows 3 months & 4/6 fine
Thomas Cross 27 Breaking windows 3 months & 4/1 fine
William Dunn 18 Breaking windows 3 months & 4/6 fine
William Buston 10 Stealing a bucket 1 month
James King 13 Vagrant 1 month
George Cook 16 Damaging a coffin 3 months
William Doure 24 Stealing cabbage 3 months
Aaron Anstee 19 Exposing his person 2 months Hard Labour
George Hulbert 20 Having a hare on his person 3 months
Mary O'Donnel 17 Causing a disturbance 2 months
William Arcs 21 Making a bonfire in the street at 3 months Bisley
Joseph Casey 28 Breaking windows 3 months Hard Labour
Peter Latham 24 Breaking down a garden fence 2 months Hard Labour
Daniel Wright 22 Stealing turnips 1 month Hard Labour
Hannah Thompson 41 Refusing to work, thus chargable 1 month in Workhouse to Tetbury
John Ryan 28 Smuggling Confined till he pay 50’-
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