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Ancestry UK

Dock Gaol, Plymouth, Devon

In 1708, part of the Plymouth workhouse on Catherine Street was assigned to be used as a Bridewell, or House of Correction. That part of the site became known as the Plymouth Dock Gaol.

In 1812, James Neild wrote:

This Prison is under a room where the Petty Sessions are held, and adjoins the Poor-House. It has four cells on the ground-floor, 10 feet 8 by 9 feet 6 each, with arched roofs: two of them have crib-bedsteads with straw, and open into a passage 4 feet 6 inches wide; the other two have straw on the floor only to sleep on, into a passage, 6 feet 10 inches wide. The only light or ventilation they receive is through a wicket in the door, 9 inches by 7. No court. No sewer. Water not accessible.

Gaoler, William Cock; now Hugh Tregonan. No Salary. He lives at a distance, and keeps a Publick House, the Queen's Head. Fees, none.

Surgeon, from the Workhouse, when wanted.

Number of Prisoners, 1803, Oct. 9th, Nine. 1806, Oct. 9th, One.

Allowance, a pound of bread, milk porridge, or broth, as at the Workhouse.

The prison appears to have closed some time after 1818.

Records

Note: many repositories impose a closure period of up to 100 years for records identifying individuals. Before travelling a long distance, always check that the records you want to consult will be available.

  • No individual records identified for this establishment — any information welcome.
  • The National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 4DU. Has a wide variety of crime and prison records going back to the 1770s, including calendars of prisoners, prison registers and criminal registers.
  • Find My Past has digitized many of the National Archives' prison records, including prisoner-of-war records, plus a variety of local records including Manchester, York and Plymouth. More information.
  • Prison-related records on Ancestry UK include Prison Commission Records, 1770-1951, and local records from London, Swansea, Gloucesterhire and West Yorkshire. More information.
  • The Genealogist also has a number of National Archives' prison records. More information.

Bibliography

  • Prison Oracle - resources those involved in present-day UK prisons.
  • GOV.UK - UK Government's information on sentencing, probation and support for families.

Except where indicated, this page () © Peter Higginbotham. Contents may not be reproduced without permission.