Town Gaol / Lock-up, Birmingham, Warwickshire

The gaol for this large populous town is called the Dungeon. The court is about 25 feet square. Keeper's house in front; and under it two cells down 7 steps: the straw is on bedsteads. On one side of the court two night-rooms for women, 8 feet by 5 feet 9 inches; and some rooms over them: on the other side is one small day-room for men and women, and the gaoler's stable (from which the litter is flung into the court): above, was a free ward for court of conscience debtors, a sizeable room, with only one window 18 inches square. Over it is another room, or two.

In this small court-yard, besides the litter from the stable, I saw a stagnant puddle near the link, for the Gaoler's ducks. Gaoler's poultry is a very common nuisance; but in so scanty a court it is intolerable. At some particular times here are great numbers confined. Once in the winter 1775 there were above 150, who by the care of the magistrates had a supply of proper food, broth, & c. In November 1782 I found thirty-nine persons who had been apprehended the preceding night by a search-warrant, but most of them were discharged that morning.—Allowance, 4d. a day in bread and cheese. Licence for beer: fees, 25. no table. Neither clauses against spirituous liquors, nor act for preserving the health of prisoners, are hung up.

The Gaol for this large and populous town is called The Dungeon. Gaoler, John Summer, salary 18l. 10s. but he pays a rent of 25l. to the widow of the late keeper, Martha Wooldridge. Fees 2s. No table. Licence for beer. No Chaplain, or any religious attentions. Surgeon from the town, if wanted. Allowance, 4d. a day, in bread and cheese, which the Keeper sells in the prison.

The court, which is paved with broad stones, is about 25 feet square. The Keeper's house in front; and under it two dungeons, down eight steps each, have a wood bedstead, with straw and one blanket. At some particular times the Gaol has been so crowded that six prisoners have slept a night or two in each of these dungeons. On the right hand side the court are two night-rooms for women, 8 feet by feet 9 inches, and four rooms over them. On the other side of the court is one small day-room for men and women, and two night-rooms, formerly the Gaoler's stables; the doors have each an iron-grated aperture of 12 inches square, the only light or ventilation they receive. Over these are four other rooms, but being very insecure are not used. In the Gaoler's house are six rooms for those who can pay, one is partitioned off for a drinking-room, another with lumber in it, and four have iron bedsteads, and bedding for those who can pay 2s. 6d. per week. On each side the bedstead is a chain and handcuff, by which the prisoner is secured, flat on his back, every night: and there is an iron neck collar, with a seven pound weight suspended by a chain, which, I was told, had been frequently used. The lower parts of the prison intolerably filthy. Prisoners, 5th. Nov. 1802, four men, three women; who, with four of their acquaintances from the town, were drinking, and some of them in a state of intoxication. My remarks to the Keeper were not totally thrown away, however; for at my visit, September, 1803, I found the drinking-room, up-stairs, converted into a bed-room, and the lower parts clean. The prisoners, men and women, six in number, were drinking with their associates; the tap must be kept running, or how was the Gaoler to pay his rent, On my visit, 1st. Nov. 1805, prisoners, viz. 3 men, 2 women; drinking, as usual, with their friends. On this occasion I was accompanied by a very worthy and active Magistrate of this town, who went with me to the new Gaol building here, to which, he assured me, there should be no licence for beer, not should the Gaoler furnish any article of provision to the prisoners.

Gaoler, William Payne. Salary 42l. Fees, 2s. for serving a Warrant, 1s. for each Summons, and 2s. on Discharge.

Allowance, Twopenny-worths of Bread, with a slice of Cheese, to each.

REMARKS.

This New Gaol was first inhabited in September, l806, and is situated in Moor Street, at the back of the Publick Office.

Here is only one court-yard for all descriptions of Prisoners, 59 feet by 30, enclosed by a wall 26 feet high, on the top of which is a chevaux de frise, for better security against escape. Attached to it are two day-rooms, or kitchens, fourteen feet square, which open into it; one for Men, the other for Women, with a pump of excellent water.

On the ground-floor are eight sleeping-cells, paved with flag stones; and on the upper-story, eight others, strongly planked with oak. Each cell is 8 feet by G, well ventilated, and fitted up with an iron bedstead, a straw mattress, and three rugs.

The Prisoners have fire in their day-rooms all through the year, and are provided with every requisite for culinary purposes. Coals, bread, &c. paid for by the town. The number of Prisoners must be very uncertain from the nature of the Gaol: There are frequently twenty or more detained here at one time : To-day, perhaps, fourteen or fifteen; and to-morrow, not one. It is not a place of punishment, but a recess only for safe custody, till the Prisoners can be disposed of by a Magistrate. There are no commitments to it of any description; It is no more, in fact, than a lock-up house, provided and appropriated by the parish for the Constable's use and accommodation. The Magistrates have their Sittings three days in the week, and, consequently, except in cases remanded for farther discussion, they may be considered as so many Gaol-deliveries. Of course no Employment is provided, as in such a state of fluctuation no work can be regularly done.

No bath or oven is furnished, for the purifying of infected clothes; but every thing necessary for personal or prison cleanliness is allowed; as mops, brooms, pails, &c. &c.

There is no particular weight here specified of the bread and cheese allowed; but twice a day the custom is, to send a slice of cheese with the sixth-part of a sixpenny loaf, to as many Prisoners as happen to be in the Gaol. This, however, as the size of the loaf varies with the price of wheat, is a very irregular standard, and ought to be adjusted accordingly. It is not found, indeed, that any one suffers; but, on the contrary, much of the bread issued is generally left. Few, in fact, choose to take the above allotment for their subsistence, but have meat and other things brought in by their friends.

The Keeper of this Gaol is not permitted to sell ale, like his predecessor in the old one; nor to furnish any article of provision for the Prisoners, as was the case at that period.

Construction.—This Building stands in a street. The front part is a Police office, then comes a Court-yard, then the Gaoler's apartments, and at the back of all is the Prison or Lock-up house. It is not insecure; there have been only three escapes in 20 years, and all were retaken. There has been no claim from fire for 20 years; it is insured.

There are two Yards, one for Men and one for Women ; but men and women are sometimes put into the same ward to sleep, although in different cells. There are two Day Rooms and 16 Cells. There are also rooms in the Gaoler's House, which he lets out to those who can pay for the accommodation. The cells are dark, and the ventilation defective. There is a Privy, and a supply of water in each yard.

There are in Birmingham two other, or more, Lock-up Houses, but on a much smaller scale. One which I visited has a few cells, and a Day Room for both sexes; the other has no cell, but is a private house, where offenders are sometimes lodged for a few hours.

Management.—The stay of the prisoners here is usually short, fluctuating, I believe, between one and 14 nights, as far as I can collect. Prisoners are transferred `hence to Warwick, after being brought up before the Magistrates.

The prisoners sleep two in a bed occasionally. The cells and bedding are not clean. In the Male Day Room I found about 12 males, of different ages, huddled together on benches around a good fire. In the Female Day Room I found four women in a similar situation.

The Gaoler is the chief officer of police at Birmingham. I cannot think that the individual who is instrumental in seizing a prisoner can be a proper keeper of him, however well he may be disposed ; the usage appears a bad one. This prison seems to be under no control nor visitation whatever, except that of the overseers of the parish.

The use of tobacco is permitted.

The Keeper and one officer always sleep in the house. There is no female officer.

Diet.—The parish supplies 40l. a year to the Gaoler, who, in return, provides bread and cheese for the prisoners. The prisoners are also permitted to receive food from their friends outside, if they happen to have any. The Keeper distributes bread and cheese twice a day to each prisoner; but the Keeper states, that they often waste their bread and cheese, and that they generally receive meals three times a day from their friends. No clothing is allowed. The overseers of the parish furnish mattresses and rugs for bedding. On payment of 1s. a night for the first three nights, and of 6d. a night afterwards, a separate room and a better bed may be obtained. The whole system requires revision.

Labour.—None.

Religious and other Instruction.—There is no Chaplain, and no Divine Service. A private individual has been in the habit, during 15 years, of coming every Sunday to distribute tracts among the prisoners.

Care of the Sick, Disease and Mortality.—The parish Surgeon comes when he is sent for; but the sick are usually removed to the parish workhouse, in which they can be better taken care of, and in which there are strong rooms for the purpose.

There has been no natural death here among the prisoners for 26 years, but two suicides have occurred during that time.

There is no insane prisoner here. If such a case occurs, he is removed to the workhouse, after being examined by the parochial medical officers.

Salaries.

Keeper (coals are allowed)  — 133

There are five Police-officers attached to this establishment, who also act as Turnkeys, by alternate weeks. Each of the five receives 1l. 15s. per week. These comprise the whole Police force of Birmingham, with the exception of 12 men employed by the Commissioners of Paving, and about 145 watchmen.

There are also two Assistants here, paid by the Keeper, but not out of-his salary as Keeper.

GENERAL STATISTICS.

Population.—On Saturdays or Mondays there are sometimes 20 to 30 inmates; on other days a number varying from one to 10, or more.

There is no other prison (except that for Poor Debtors), in Birmingham save this one, and even this is not called by the name, nor considered as such.

Nearly one-half of all the Prisoners confined in the Warwick County Gaol and in the Warwick House of-Correction are stated to me to have been sent thither from Birmingham.