The keeper lends his own Bibles and Prayer-books to the prisoners. There is no provision for instruction.

No separate apartments are provided for the sick.

Twelve prisoners was the greatest number in confinement at one time in the last year, and the number of committals during the year amounted to forty. Only one re-committal took place.

NEWCASTLE.

Town Gaol and House of Correction.

Jan. 1824.

THE erection of the new prison for this town and the county of the town (included in the Gaol Act of 4 Geo. 4,) has been some time in progress. The gaol and house of correction are to be comprised within the same Establishment, which will also include accommodation for debtors.

The buildings are on the radiating plan, having a central station, occupied by the chapel, governor's house, and rooms for turnkeys, from which there will be general inspection over the buildings and airing-yards. There are to be six radiating buildings, having double yards between each, to provide for the separate confinement of twelve classes of prisoners. Distinct buildings are provided for vagrants, and likewise infirmaries for males and females on each side of the entrance-lodges. The number of prisoners for which the arrangements are made is 120. The site of ground is about two acres, which will be surrounded with a boundary wall, leaving a sufficient space of ground between the wall and the prison buildings and yards, so as to render the interior airy and salubrious, and at the same time secure against escapes, as it is expected the external inclosure of the yards will be of lofty iron pallisading, which in every respect forms the most eligible barrier.

The old gaol having been pulled down, the criminals are now placed in a temporary prison; the Moot-hall belonging to the county having been converted to the purpose. It consists of two large and two small rooms. Male prisoners are kept apart from the females, and felons from misdemeanants, as far as is practicable by the confined construction of the building, but there is no airing-yard. No means of employment are provided. No duty is performed by the chaplain, and no provision is made for instructing prisoners who require it, but they are supplied with Bibles and Prayer-books. The allowance to each prisoner is fivepence a day in money, which is paid every morning.

The number of persons in confinement, during the last year, was 141; and the greatest number at one time was 15,

The debtors are removed to the ancient tower or keep of the castle, which belongs to the corporation. Males and females are kept apart during the night, but this is stated not to be practicable in the day-time. There is no yard, but the roof of the prison is used for air and exercise. No employment is provided.

尊

A chaplain reads prayers twice a week, and preaches a sermon once a month.

The number of debtors committed in the last year was 133; the greatest number at one time was 26.

In the house of correction there is no classification, for want of room. Males are kept separate from females, but there is only one yard. There are thirteen sleeping-cells, but 65 prisoners were confined at one time last year. The number at Michaelmas was 50; viz. felons, 7; misdemeanants, 43; of these 15 were females, and three untried prisoners. The number of commitments in the year was 228.

There is no chapel, and no chaplain attends this prison; but the keeper lends Bibles and Testaments to the prisoners.

The employment consists of a small tread-wheel, which is used for crushing corn and sand. Each prisoner is allowed three-pence a day for the purchase of food, &c.

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE.

NOTTINGHAM.

County Gaol.

Oct, 1824.

In consequence of this defective prison having been presented at the Michaelmas sessions, 1823, as being inadequate to the regulations required by the new Prison Act, the subject of its improvement was referred to the consideration of the magistrates at the following sessions. Since the above period, several alterations have been made, in order to extend the classification. On the east side of the prison, an additional department has been formed for the female felons, comprising a spacious day-room, airing-yard, and sleeping-rooms, all of which are entirely detached from the men's wards. The site formerly occupied by the female felons' ward, has been appropriated to

six new sleeping-cells, with an airing-yard, for prisoners under sentence of death.

There are five distinct compartments, with separate yards, for the following classes :-

Two classes of male felons.

One....

One....
One..

female do.

male misdemeanants.
debtors.

It is to be regretted, that the buildings do not admit of inspection over the prisoners. It is however satisfactory to state, that the number of persons in confinement has been lately much diminished. At the time of this visit there were only eight prisoners, viz. three male felons, two female felons, and three male debtors. The greatest number, during the last year, was fourteen male felons, and two female felons. Convicted prisoners sentenced to hard labour, (felons and misdemeanants,) are sent to the county house of correction at Southwell, where the tread-mill is in operation.

In the gaol, the male prisoners are employed in opening or pulling horse-hair for upholsterers. The females are employed in the finishing of lace breadths.

The chapel has been divided, so that four classes of prisoners are perfectly secluded from the view of each other, while they are under the immediate observation of the chaplain.

A matron is appointed for the females.

There is only one male officer (a turnkey) besides the keeper. On this visit, the state of the prison throughout evinced much attention to cleanliness and good order.

NOTTINGHAM.
Town Gaol.

Oct. 1824.

THIS prison is included in the schedule of the new Prison Act, as the jurisdiction of the town and county of Nottingham extends to the trial of offenders of all descriptions.

The confined space of ground occupied by the prison affords but little opportunity for classification, which is at present limited to debtors, male felons, and females; for all of whom there are three day-rooms and three airing-yards. The present number of prisoners is but small, being two debtors, five male felons, and one female felon. The greatest number in confinement at one time last year was thirty-two, and the number of commitments during the year was eighty-seven. The re-committals were heavy, being

thirteen for the same period. There are sixteen sleeping-cells, but ten of these are under ground. They are, however, stated to be well ventilated, and rendered "as comfortable as the situation will admit," by the frequent introduction of day-fires. The whole prison was found very clean on this visit.

The chapel is an upper room, used by the debtors, without any division for the classes during the time of divine service, which is performed twice on the Sabbath. Daily prayers are read, and Bibles and other books supplied to the prisoners. A matron is appointed for the women. There is no employment for either males or females. The weekly allowance of food is 10 lbs. of bread, peck of potatoes, and 2 oz. of salt. The cost is 2s. per head. Clothing and bedding are allowed: the cost of the former is £1.178. 6d. per head for the year.

The turnkey is the only inferior officer.

NOTTINGHAM.

Town Bridewell.

Oct. 1824.

CONSIDERABLE alterations have been made, during the past year, for the improvement of this prison. Two additional wards have been formed, for male prisoners, each containing a day-room and airing-yard. Over the new day-rooms, an infirmary has been made for male prisoners. Another ward is building for females, 54 feet by 16 feet, which is to contain a wash-house on the lower floor, and a work-room on the upper floor, where the women will be under the inspection of the matron, and superintended by a committee of ladies, who regularly visit the prison for the benevolent purpose of assisting in their reformation. The females are employed in plain sewing, &c. There is a daily school conducted by the matron, from which many beneficial results have arisen. The male prisoners have been generally employed in assisting in the erection of the additional buildings; but no regular system of hard labour has been introduced, although the erection of a corn-mill has been for some time in contemplation. One of the new buildings in progress will comprise a chapel, with separate stair-cases for males and females.

The "Rules," as required by the late act of Parliament, have been printed, and put up in conspicuous parts of the building.

The number of persons committed to this prison, from Michaelmas 1823 to Michaelmas 1824, was 1116. The re-committals during the same period, were—

Total 190, (nearly 18 per cent.)

The re-commitments are stated to be principally for misdemeanors, the heavier degrees of crime being considered much upon the decrease.

It must be observed that this bridewell is used also as a watchhouse for night-charges; and, of the above number of commitments, the very large proportion of 1004 were cases sent in by the constables of the night, for breaches of the peace and petty offences. The remainder 112 may therefore be considered as the number of convictions for criminal offences.

OXFORDSHIRE.

OXFORD.

County Gaol and House of Correction.

May 1824.

No alteration has taken place in the construction of this prison, within the last twelve months; but it is stated that a material change has been introduced in the discipline. A very active and vigilant system of discipline and management is now adopted.

The present classification of the prisoners is as follows :— 1. Ward for untried male felons.

5, 6, 7, 8. For female prisoners of a similar description to the above four classes.

9. The sheriff's ward for debtors, and prisoners for contempt of court.

10. A separate ward for boys.

11. A pass-house, for the reception of vagrants and beggars. Each of the above classes has a separate day-room and yard.