Buildings and Purpose

This section contains information on gaols in Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire; their design and how this reflected 19th century ideas about punishment and reform. It also includes reports made to the quarter sessions on the way the prisons were working.

The prison buildings of the 19th century were built to meet the requirements of separation, silence, hard labour and moral guidance. They usually included a treadmill, cells for solitary confinement and a chapel.

Buildings Picture Gallery

An Overview of Prison Design Changes in the 19th Century The early and mid 19th century, saw a spate of prison building to cope with the increasing numbers... Panopticon - Millbank Millbank was built to reflect the design of Jeremy Bentham's 'Panopticon'. It cost £500,000... Separation - Pentonville Pentonville was built in 1842 in North London. Its design was influenced by the 'separate system'.

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Bedford County Gaol A History of Bedford County Gaol c1603 onwards Bedford County Gaol has been located on two sites in the town of Bedford. Prisoners were transfered... Plans for Bedford Country Gaol Expansion Plans for Bedford County Gaol (1830's and 1840's). The New House of Correction built in... Chaplians report to Quarter Sessions 1819 The Chaplain of Bedford County Gaol and House of Correction reporting to the Quarter Sessions 1819...

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Bedford New House of Correction A History of Bedford New House of Correction 1819 - 1849 The New House of Correction was built in 1819 in response overcrowding at Bedford County Gaol. It... Building Plans for the New House of Correction The prison population continued to grow at an alarming rate in Bedford (in 1802 65 gaol entries by... Plans for treadmill at Bedford New House of Correction Plans of the treadmill.Here the treadmill was connected to working mill stones (in many gaols the...

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Bedford Bridewell A History of Bedford Bridewell 1585-1801 The Old Bridewell was also known as the House of Correction, originally a place built to house...

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Bedford Town Gaol A History of Bedford Town Gaol c1852-1824 The town gaol was located at several different sites within Bedford during its history, as...

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Cambridge County Gaol A History of Cambridge County Gaol 1802-1829 A new octagonal Gaol and House of Correction was built between 1802-07. It was built on the old... Plans For Cambridgshire County Gaol The plans for the building of the county gaol, which was constructed between 1802 and 1807. For...

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Ely Gaol A History of Ely Goal 1679 -1836 The Old Gaol is situated on the corner of Lynn Road and Market Street in the centre of Ely.

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Huntingdon County Gaol A History of Huntingdon County Gaol 1768-1892 The County Gaol has been located at two different sites in the town. Quarter Session Report (Extract) 1869 Michaelmas Quarter Session report from Michaelmas Sessions 1869 on Huntingdon County Gaol, with reports from... Quarter Session Report (Extract) 1869 Epiphany Quarter Session report from Epiphany Sessions 1869 on Huntingdon County Gaol, with reports from the... Quarter Session Report (Extract) 1870 Easter Quarter Session report from Easter Sessions 1870 on Huntingdon County Gaol, with reports from the... Rules for the Construction and Internal Arrangements of the Prison Rules and Regulations to be observed in the Gaol and House of Correction for the County of...

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