County Gaol, Warwick, Warwickshire

GAOLER, William Roe.

Salary, none.

Fees, Debtors, £0 : 14 : 6.

Felons, 0 : 13 : 4.

Transports, £8 : 0 : 0 each, he paying clerk of assize £1 : 1 : 0 for each.

Licence to turnkey for beer.

PRISONERS,

Allowance, Debtors, none.

Felons, a loaf of 3lb. every other day.

Garnish, £0 : 2 : 6.

Number,

CHAPLAIN, Rev. Mr. Mussen.

Duty, Sunday and Friday.

Salary, £50.

SURGEON, Mr. Weale.

Salary, £20 for gaol and bridewell.

REMARKS.

One court for debtors, and men-felons. Women-felons have a separate court, day-room, and two small night-rooms (7 feet 10 inches by 6 feet 8), aperture only 7 inches by 6. They used to be loaded with irons; now they have none. Men felons have a day-room: their night-room is in an octagonal dungeon about 21 feet diameter, down 31 steps; damp, and offensive: the gaoler on going down took a preservative. Two cells, in another dungeon for the condemned. Prisoners are tried in the county clothing: there are twelve suits for men, and six for women.

Debtors common day-room is the hall, which is also used as a chapel. For master's-side, ten or twelve rooms, some of them the Rooks Nest, where also is the free ward. All the debtors rooms were very dirty. — No infirmary: no bath. The late gaoler Mr. Roe (uncle to the present) died in 1772, of the gaol-distemper; and so did some of his prisoners. No water then, but now plenty. The felons allowance of bread is judiciously fixed by weight, not variable with the price.

Debtors have in common from a legacy thirty shillings a year, and from another legacy eight three-penny loaves twice every month. No memorial of either hung up in the gaol.

The justices of this county have taken the gaol and bridewell under consideration, and propose that debtors and felons, and also men and women, in both, shall be entirely separated. A chapel and infirmary also are designed. May it not be hoped that gentlemen so considerate will not continue the damp and offensive dungeon, which has only an aperture level with the court, 3 feet diameter.-In 1782, many rooms for debtors were finished, which open into passages only 3 feet wide. It seems by what is done, that the plan is adapted more for shew than for security, health, or convenience.

There were hung up in the debtors hall, some rules against profaneness, rioting and drunkenness, with penalties annexed; but I was sorry to find among them that "Every debtor at his or her first coming must pay for garnish, 2s. 6d."

At my last visit, I was informed there had been no divine service, except to the condemned, for near two years.

In this gaol is hung up the following Order.

Gaoler, Henry Tatnall. Salary, 300l.

Fees, Debtors, see Table. Felons pay no Fees. For removal of Transports, the Expence of Conveyance. Garnish abolished.

Chaplain, Rev. Hugh Laugharne.

Duty, Sunday and Friday, Prayers and Sermon.

Salary, 50l. for Gaol and Bridewell.

Surgeon, Mr. Birch. Salary, 40l. for Gaol and Bridewell.

Number of Prisoners,

Allowance, one pound and half of bread daily, to every description of Prisoners, It is sent in loaves from the Baker's; and I have always found them full weight.

REMARKS.

At the entrance is the Turnkey's Lodge; the room over which, denominated the Dead-Room, is so called from the Executions which take place out of it. A small court-yard fronts the Gaoler's house, which is nearly in the centre of the building.

Master's-Side Debtors have a court-yard, 82 feet by 37; a day-room, 20 feet by 16; and nine lodging-rooms, about 10 feet square, for which, they pay as per Table. Above stairs are eighteen rooms, of about the same size, and opening into passages only 3 feet wide.

Common-Side Debtors have also a court exactly similar to the former; a dayroom about 14 feet square; and three sleeping-rooms above stairs, furnished with chaff beds, and two rugs each on the floor, for which they pay nothing. Too poor, perhaps, to pay any thing. I could not but consider their circumstances as very pitiable; and I find that a stranger, of similar sentiments, sent these Common-side Paupers, as follows, at the time of one of my visits; viz. Four iron bedsteads, with sacking bottoms; four brown Holland flock-beds and pillows; four pair of blankets, and four quilts.

Women Debtors have two rooms, the largest about 20 feet square, and the smaller, 16 feet by 9, with bedding the same as the Men; and are allowed wooden bedsteads, with sacking bottoms: they have likewise a small court-yard.

Besides the stated allowance, Debtors receive, from a Legacy, eight threepenny loaves twice a month, of which here is no Memorial. They are regularly sent by Bernard Dewes, Esq. of Welshbourn in this County, who likewise gives annually one ton of coals to the Debtors, and one ton to the Felons, at Christmas. Debtors also receive Donations at Christmas yearly; which amounted, in 1798, to about 28l. in money, meal and coals; in 1799, to 26l.; in 1800,26l.; in 1801, 24l; in 1802, 25l.; in 1803, to 18l.; in 1804, 16l.; in 1805, 11l. 16s.; in 1806, 22l. 12s.; in 1807, 35l 2s.; and in 1808, to 49l. 7s. 4½d.

The Chapel is so partitioned off, that the Sexes are out of sight of each other. All the Prisoners attended Divine Service when I was here in 1803, and 1809. Below the Chapel are two work-rooms, in one of which the Men weave; and eight looms were employed: in the other the Women spin, and mend and wash for the Men-Prisoners.

The Male-Felons' court-yard is 96 feet by 54; and that of the Females 51 feet by 21; both well supplied with hard and soft water. The Men have two day-rooms on the ground-floor, each 31 feet by 19 feet 6 inches; sixteen sleeping-cells, and three solitary ones, each 9 feet by 6, and 9 feet high, with arched roofs, divided by a passage 5 feet wide. On the first story are twenty-eight cells of the same size, separated by a wall, and a passage on each side, of 5 feet wide. The second, third, and fourth stories have each the same number of cells, divided in like manner, and of the same dimensions. In the whole, therefore, here are 103 cells, of which twenty-four are called double cells, as being twice the size of the rest, and adapted to receive two prisoners. Two large cells, with fire-places and glazed windows, are set apart for the sick.

The Women-Felons also have, on the ground-floor, one day-room, of 18 feet by 14; a wash-house and two sleeping-cells; and on the upper story, two sleeping-rooms, of the same size as their day rooms; and an infirmary-room, with fire-place and glazed windows.

Felons are here allowed cast-iron bedsteads, covered with wood, chaff-beds, and two rugs to each. Every cell has a double door; the inner of wood, the outer one iron-grated. I must observe, that if the passages, numbered 3, 4, 7, and 8, on the Felon's-side of this Prison, had circular apertures at the end, it would greatly improve the ventilation. It is intended to have a separate court-yard for young Offenders, with a large room and a workshop, which are very much wanted.

Here is a room for depositing the irons, and a warm and cold bath. The old dungeon (a descent of 21 steps) in this Gaol, is made use of for Deserters; and adjoining to it is a subterraneous passage, through which the Prisoners are brought into Court for trial, and cannot but feel the awfulness of such a transit!

The Act for Preservation of Health, and Clauses against Spirituous Liquors, are conspicuously hung up; and the whole Prison is very clean.

Formerly, the Debtors in common were used to receive thirty shillings a year, from the rent of a house in the Town. This, 1 understand, was a Legacy; but am told it has been discontinued for many years. No Memorial of it is hung up in the Gaol.

In the Debtor's court there is a Poor's Box, put up by Blackett Wise, Esq. Sheriff, 9th January 1S08; and on a board over it are the following original lines, which, for their excellent and scriptural pathos, have already been transcribed at Dover-Castle.

"Oh ye, whose hours exempt from sorrow flow,
Behold the seat of pain, and want, and woe!
Think, while your hands threatened alms extend,
That what to us ye give, to God ye lend."

This Gentleman likewise gave to poor Debtors in the List two winters, a joint of meat, a quantity of garden stuff, and one hundred weight of coals.

In the year 1813, I visited the gaol at Warwick. The keeper conducted me, in some triumph, into this offensive vault. He then accompanied me through the prison, which was, as it now is, healthy and clean : the felons' yard spacious and dry; and their separate night-rooms, above stairs, sweet and airy.

Sensible of this improvement, I yet saw, with great regret, that the felons were all herding together in large parties, without any employment; and, although well behaved when we were in the yard, it was easy to conceive the vice which must exist when they were no longer under the eye of the keeper; and it was painful to see the certain corruption of the children doomed to associate with the most hardened offenders.

In the yard, I was much struck at the sight of one man, whose arm was chained to his ankle. Upon inquiry into the cause of this coercion, I learnt that he was a clergyman, who had been acquitted at the preceding assizes, upon a charge of murder, it having been proved that he was a confirmed maniac. "He is an instrument," said the keeper, in the hands of the other felons, to gratify their malevolence. By them he is instigated to commit outrages upon us; and it was only yesterday that he struck down one of my assistants, who was rescued when the prisoner was in the act of stamping upon his chest, to destroy him. I am most reluctantly obliged to use this everéion, for his sake as well as for our own."

In October 1815, I again visited the gaol; and a more interesting scene I never witnessed . The prison is now divided into two parts; the one appropriated to adults, the other to children. They are wholly separated . Instead of lewd conversation, blasphemy, and the dangerous repetition of contrivances to do ill, the children are now improved in habits of industry, and hear only lessons of virtue and religion. When I entered their apartment, I heard no noise, but the buzzing of a manufactory; and saw their little countenances, not depressed and degraded, but placid and cheerful. Mr. Tatnal had selected an employment suitable for every person. He had procured, from Birmingham, pins to be headed, and in this occupation they were all actively employed . The boys, on an average, earn about two shillings per week, but when they first begin, from eight pence to one shilling. One quarter of their earnings is paid to them weekly, another quarter is kept till they are liberated, and the remaining half is applied in payment of expenses. I caused a small drawing of the Machine to be made, from which the annexed plate is engraved.

Inmates pin-heading at County Gaol, Warwick, 1815.

This improvement in the gaol is not confined to the manufactory. Under the superintendence of the county magistrates, a school has been formed for the children; and many of the boys, who knew not a letter when they entered the gaol, are now able to read. At my request, the labours of the manufactory were, for a few minutes, suspended. I had the satisfaction to hear the children read and repeat their lessons, and to witness the good effects which must result from the exertions of Mrs. Tatnal, to whom the county magistrates, who kindly superintend the school, and render all the assistance in their power, have presented a piece of plate, expressive of their approbation of her attention to these once unfortunate children.

The male convicted prisoners continue to be employed at the tread-wheels, and the juvenile prisoners at pin-making. The females wash and mend the clothing; they also wind silk and stitch patten-ties. Male prisoners before trial are employed at splitting beans, &c. by hand-mills. The earnings last year were about £54.

The prisoners are divided into twelve classes, each of which has a separate day-room and airing-yard.

An addition has been made to the weekly dietary, which now consists of 1lb. of meat, vegetables, bread 11lb. 12oz.; soup twice a week, and gruel once a week: the cost per head is 2s.8½d. A schoolmaster instructs the juvenile prisoners. Service is now performed by the chaplain on Tuesdays and Thursdays, in addition to the Sunday duties.

The number of commitments dining the year, from Michaelmas 1823 to 1894, was as follows:

From Michaelmas 1824 to Michaelmas 1825 the number of commitments was 498. The greatest number of prisoners at one time in the year was 225; but in the preceding year 291 was the highest number in confinement. A large proportion a the prisoners are under 17 years of age.

The prison contains 93 separate sleeping-rooms or cells.

Construction.—This Gaol is well ventilated and dry. The Master Debtors' Cells are separated by a high wall from the Female Side, but it is not so high as to prevent the windows of the Female Cells from corresponding with the upper windows of the Debtors.

The walls which separate the Yards are two low; communication across them is easy. The Governor's Kitchen has two windows which command the Female Yards; it is frequented by his own female servant, by the letter-carrier, and sometimes by the prison cook, who is himself a prisoner. A screen might be advantageously placed in front of these windows. The Matron's Apartment adjoining the Female Yards has no bed-room attached to it. When she leaves this sitting-room, her exit is visible to the Female Prisoners; she is obliged at present, in the want of a bedchamber, to share a part of one of the Gaoler's Rooms; if she is required at night, she is at a distance from her charge. This inconvenience might be easily remedied.

The number of cells where one prisoner sleeps only is 54 (52 male, 2 female).

The number of cells where more than one prisoner sleeps is 36 (25 male, 11 female).

Prisoners the Prison is capable of holding is 292 (261 males, 31 female).

There are 6 Refractory Cells (3 Light, 3 Dark).

There are 12 Day Rooms and 2 Work Rooms.

There are 2 Infirmaries (1 male, 1 female),

There are 3 Warm and Cold Baths.

There are 13 Airing Yards.

The dimensions of the Double Cell are 9 feet by 13½, height 9 feet; of the Single Cell 9 feet, width 5 feet 11 inches, height 8 feet 10½ inches.

There has been no alarm of fire during the last nine years. Within that time there have been six attempts to escape, but all have been retaken.

Management.—Silence is not enjoined except on the Tread-wheel. At other times quiet is maintained. The Untried associate in their Yards and Day Rooms during the day,and sleep three, four and five in a cell, according to the fullness of the prison. The Convicted are not separated by day, but are placed at night in separate cells, according to the fullness of the Prison. One Turnkey superintends five adjoining Yards. All the meals are taken in the Day Rooms. The Convicted Prisoners are not prohibited from receiving visits anti letters. The Debtors are very troublesome; the Magistrates have directed a Dark Cell to be made for them, (as a punishment in case of riotous conduct), but it has never been used. The Master Debtors have even set fire to their benches, and break their windows so frequently that an iron blind has been substituted for the glass window, which formerly was placed over the doors of their sleeping cells. They pay 2s. 6d. a week for their rooms to the county. It is found impossible at present to give any prisoner a separate bed; both males and females sleep two in a bed sometimes; but the practice is only tolerated from want of room; it is pernicious.

The number of lashes inflicted when whipping is ordered varies from 20 to 80, and is performed with a light cat-o'-nine-tails. The Prison is neat and clean throughout.

Diet.—The Diet is the same as that which will be described presently under the House of Correction. The Untried are permitted to expend 3d. a day of their own money upon food. An errand-woman comes daily with certain fixed articles for sale. The Clothing for Males is a jacket, waistcoat, trowsers, cap and shoes; for Females, cap, gown, petticoat and shoes. The Bedding consists of a straw mattrass, two blankets, coverlid and sheets for Females.

Labour.—For the Male Felons is the Tread-wheel. The Females are employed in washing, cleaning and scouring. The profits are paid to the County Treasurer. The Untried grind corn, and receive half the profit, the other half goes to the county.

Crank Labour.

Months employed; every month.
Number of working hours per day; six, eight and ten.

Religious and other Instruction.—The Chaplain performs Divine service once, with a sermon, on Sundays, Christmas-day, and Good Friday, and reads prayers on Mondays and Wednesdays. The prisoners are well supplied with. Bibles and other religious books. The Chaplain has no other duty beyond that of this Prison, and of the House of Correction or Bridewell.

After Divine service (both here and at the Bridewell) the lads are examined by the Chaplain in the Catechism : he then goes to the Females, hears them read portions of Scripture, and catechizes them subsequently.

He administers the Sacrament about four times yearly at each Prison.

The Men are not disposed to read aloud nor to be catechised, in general, unless when there are very few present; as the numbers increase, the disposition to attend diminishes; indeed, well-disposed prisoners have observed to him that the most severe part of their punishment is to be mixed up with a number of associates whose noise and .conversation prevents them from reading and from reflection: they have said to him that they should be glad to be placed, quite alone. Others have said to him, that it seemed to them more like to hell than to anything else.

The Chaplain attends almost-daily at one or both of the Prisons, and is always ready to come when sent for. He devotes his visits to religious instruction, and to conferences with new prisoners. He selects a Male prisoner as a schoolmaster at both Prisons. The Matrons at both Prisons instruct the Females. The Chaplain has favoured me with some observations on the conduct to be maintained towards prisoners, which,are the result of his own considerable experience and most zealous attention. Whether they harmonize with the conclusions of others or not, they will be read with interest; so important a subject deserves to be viewed in every light, and ought not to be approached with fixed prepossessions of any kind.

"An idea appears to prevail very extensively that our Prisons are made much too-comfortable; in fact, that they are become, under the present arrangements, quite desirable places for a temporary residence; and, as such, greatly tend to the encouragement of crime, since nothing, it is imagined by half the world, will ever effectually repress crime except severity. When I was appointed to my present situation, I was, as much as others, impressed with these notions, but they are no longer mine, and I now believe them to be as erroneous,-and consequently as mischievous, as I ever at any time formerly thought them to be true. This change of opinion has been forced upon my mind by facts,which have come under my own observation; it is a conviction arising from experience, I have found that the majority of prisoners are so far from needing severity that, they have experienced too much of such treatment already; in fact, that they have been the victims of unkind and often cruel treatment. Many, the offspring of licentious parents, have never known what real kindness is: having been in reality reality outcasts from the world, they have learned to look upon themselves as such, and have therefore readily joined those whom they found living in hostility with all the reputable part of society, and who were in truth the only persons likely to receive them as fitting associates. Now to talk of making such persons Warwickshire: reputable members of society, or of even exciting in them the desire of becoming such by severity, must surely be very inconsistent. Such a mode of dealing with them may make them abhor society with a more deadly feeling of hatred, but it can never tend to their reformation. If that ever be effected, it must be by a very different process. They must be made sensible of the comforts of a reputable life, and then they must be shown that such a situation is accessible to them. Show them this with the kindness which proceeds from a heart really affected with pity for their forlorn situation, only once convince them that all on your part is sincere, and they will seldom fail to have their hearts affected in return, and thus afford you the first prospect of success. Many persons who seem to imagine that a prisoner has none of the feelings of humanity left, would, I know, treat this as mere enthusiasm, and what has no foundation in fact. They who should so judge would, however, be grievously mistaken, for it is nothing more than a very feeble recital of what I have often experienced. They who are inclined to throw cold water upon all that is attempted for these poor destitute beings, complain of the smallness of the number of those who are really reformed; but they little know the difficulties which are to be encountered; little do they know the mass of ignorance and prejudice which is to be removed, and as little do they know the impediments which, in a thickly populated country like this this, oppose themselves to a person who is known to have been in prison, but is become desirous of leading an honest and reputable life. It is also not commonly known, nor will it be readily believed, that there are persons who, most perversely, do all that lies in their power, which is often by far too much, to prevent a man who has once gone wrong from ever again getting an honest livelihood. These reasons will show how necessary it is that the utmost caution should be used, that no person be lightly or unnecessarily sent to a prison lest an injury he inflicted -which can never be repaired. Indeed, a -person who has before time held a fair character, on first becoming the inmate of a prison has a moral injury inflicted most difficult to be healed : he feels himself a degraded being, and in consequence, if nothing worse ensue, he becomes comparatively careless, and having lost the respect of others he retains but little for himself. On this ground I have long felt most anxious that some other method than imprisonment were devised for the correction of many offences which are now always punished in this manner; but more particularly for neglect of service in apprentices and farmers' servants, especially young ones. I have seen so much mischief done in this way, and can in so many instances trace the unhappy offender through the most regular unvarying course from this beginning either to transportation or the gallows, that my heart aches whenever I find a person, who has any reputation whatever to lose, first committed for this offence."

Care of the Sick, Disease and .11fortality.—The Surgeon attends almost daily, and at all times when called upon. The patients are attended by a Wardsman as well as by a Turnkey and Matron. Two deaths took place only amongst 750 prisoners received during the last year. The proportion of sick during the same period was 30 out of the 750. Diarrhoea, itch and venereal complaints are the most common disorders.

From 22d December 1834 to 21st December 1835, the number of prisoners received into the Infirmary amounted to six, and the greatest number of prisoners unwell at one time was three.

There are three Insane Prisoners in confinement; one of whom is untried, but reputed such:

1. William Timpsen, age 42, indicted for murder in 1827; acquitted on the ground of insanity.

2. John Garmonsway, age 35, indicted for murder at the Lent Assizes 1832; acquitted on the ground of insanity.

3. A woman on trial for murder of her child; reputed insane.

Salaries.