button to main menu  Gents Mag 1806 p.102
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Gentleman's Magazine 1806 p.102

  gaols
  Cumberland
  Westmorland
Mr Neild's Remarks on Cumberland Etc Gaols

Mr. Nield's Remarks on Cumberland &c. Gaols.
...
CUMBERLAND COUNTY GOAL at CARLISLE. Joseph Mullender, gaoler, 40l.; and a blacksmith for his attendance, 2l. 2s. per annum. Fees, debtors, 11s.; felons, 13s 4d. For the conveyance of transports, one shilling per mile if less than 5, but if they exceed that number 9d. per mile. Garnish, 1s. 6d. Chaplain, Rev. Mr. Mark; duty, prayers and sermon on Sunday; salary 20l. Surgeon, Mr. Hodgkin, salary, 5l. 5s. for attendance: medicines paid for by bill. Allowance. Debtors, on applying to the Justices, obtain 1s. 3d. a week; felons 2s. a week.
The court spacious, 85 yards by 36; has a pump with fine water; it was formerly common to all prisoners, but now a part is appropriated to the felons, 15 yards by 8, and separated by iron pallisades; through which they can converse with the debtors, or any persons who visit there. The gaoler's house is at one end of the court, and the chapel (built, as appears by the date, in 1734) adjoins, and where the prisoners mix indiscriminately to hear divine service.
Master's side, debtors have five rooms in the keeper's house, for which they pay 2s. 6d. per week; two sleep in a bed. Commons side, debtors have 4 free wards, 28 feet by 18, and a small room; but they are in a very dirty and ruinous state; with windows opening into the court; formerly they looked into the street. The sexes are separate at night, but together all day. The wards for felons are 2 rooms, down a step or two; dark, damp, and dirty; one of them, 7 yards by 5, the day room, which serves likewise as a night room, had a window to the street; through which spiritous liquors and tools for mischief might easily be conveyed, but it is now bricked up. The condemned room is only 11 feet by 9. There are two rooms over these, called the house of correction, where women are lodged; and straw only is allowed to those prisoners who cannot pay for a bed. Transports have not the king's allowance of 2s. 6d. a week. No infirmary; no bath: Act for preserving the health of prisoners, and clauses against spiritous liquors, not hung up. Number of prisoners, April 1st, 1800; debtors, 28; felons, &c. 5. January 30th 1802, debtors, 4; felons, &c. 8. September 20th 1802, debtors 16; felons, &c. 7. This gaol is in a very ruinous and dilapidated state, but there is an excellent situation near the castle, where I was informed a new gaol was proposed to be built; the session house might likewise adjoin, the present one being very old, and very inconvenient from its being in the middle of the town, and distant from the prison.
CARLISLE CITY GAOL. Over the Scotch gate, is only one ruinous room about 20 feet square, with a fireplace, and a window 4 feet by 1 1/2. No allowance. No court. No water. It was filled with lumber when I was there; no prisoners had been confined in it for 10 years. The prisoners from the city are kept in the County gaol by agreement between the Corporation and the keeper. No town debtor can now be imprisoned for less than 10l.; they seldom exceed 2 or 3 in a year, and those only for a short time.
COUNTY BRIDEWELL at COCKERMOUTH. Joseph Bowman keeper, salary, 20l. Has a small court yard, and 2 rooms on the ground floor, one of which is called the strong room; persons for small offences are committed here for a short time. No allowance.
WHITEHAVEN TOWN GAOL, is part of the workhouse, and consists of a dungeon where prisoners are confined for a night.
WESTMORELAND COUNTY GAOL at Appleby. James Bewsher, gaoler, salary, 20l. he is a blacksmith, and his workshop is at the foot of the bridge, nearly opposite the gaol. Fees, felons, 6s. 8d.; debtors, 13s 4d. out of which the under-sheriff receives 6s. 8d. for his liberate.
For conveyance of transports to Whitehaven, 1s. per mile. Garnish, 1s. Chaplain, Rev. James Metcalfe; salary, 15l.; duty, prayers and sermon Sunday afternoon. Surgeon, Mr. Bushby, salary, none; makes a bill. Allowance: debtors, none; felons, 4d. a day. Remarks: This gaol was built by the County. The Earl of Thanet is hereditary sheriff, and pays the gaoler his salary. The prison itself is out of reach of the floods, but the water overflows part of the court yard, which is 32 yards by 22; and there being no other court, all descriptions of prisoner associate together in the day time. The lower part of the gaol consists of 4 vaulted wards for felons, 14 feet 6 inches by 18 feet; a window in each, but no chimney; no cooking-
room,
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