WINCHESTER, City-Gaol. Gaoler, William Forster. Salary. None. Surgeon. None. Number of Debtors,.. o; Offenders, 2 Allowance. To felons a quart loaf every other day, weight (Jan. 3, 1802,) 2lb. 4oz. REMARKS. Debtors arrested on actions sued out of the City court, for any sums great or small, are sent to this gaol, which is newly built, and the keeper lately appointed, so that I could get no certain information about it. For debtors, there are two rooms about 13 feet square and 9 feet high; a court-yard 20 feet by 14. The felons two rooms are below on the opposite side of the prison, and open into their courtyard: the City allows a straw sacking bed, (no bedstead,) bolster, blanket, and rug, and a bushel of coals every week; there being only one fire allowed the two prisoners (a man and a woman) were locked up together. Both rooms are lighted by an iron grating over each door, and a small aperture in the door 9 inches by 7. Courts well supplied with water, and the prison clean. In the front of the building is the following inscription: "Erected in the year 1800, Joseph Barker, esq. mayor." WINCHESTER, County-Gaol. Gaoler, John White. Salary, 200l. and 21. 2s. a year for keeping the bread accompt, to check the baker. Fees, 1. and to the turnkey 25.; for every other action IIS.; copy of every warrant is.; certificate for six-pences 3s. 4d.; besides which the Under Sheriff demands a fee of 6s. 8d. and 1s. for his clerk, for his liberate. Garnish. None. Chaplain, Rev. Nicholas Westcomb. Duty, Sunday, Wednesday, and Friday. Surgeon, Mr. Giles Lyford. Salary, 100l. for Gaol and House of Cor rection. Number of Debtors Allowance. Those on the common-side have each seventeen ounces of bread per day, and a pound of mutton each on Sunday. No allowance on the master's side. REMARKS. Master's side debtors have a court yard 90 feet by 75 feet; their apartments (over the old dungeon which has been raised) consist of a day-room and two sleeping-rooms, boarded, on the ground floor, with a large window to each. On the first and second story are two sleeping-rooms and a day-room to each. Every debtor pays 2s. 6d. per week for a bed. Women debtors have a court-yard 50 feet by 20; a day-room, and above it two sleeping-rooms. Common-side debtors occupy one wing North-East of the New Gaol, they are allowed about 40 bushels of coals in the winter, and those who are certificated as paupers have 170z. of bread per day, and a pound of meat each on a Sunday. The Dole, a donation at the Hospital of St. Croix, about a mile from the city: a small loaf is given to every person who chooses to apply, six times a year; viz. Eastereve, Whitsun-eve, May the 3d, August 10th, October 31, and Christmas-eve; upon sending the number of prisoners in custody on that day, the same number of loaves are put by, and sent for the day following. Debtors have the option of attending divine service, but if they neglect are locked up in their rooms till it is over. The Rev. John Milner, a Romish priest, attends gratuitously those of the same persuasion. The keeper appears to be humane and intelligent; and I found the prison very clean. Water Water is laid on by leaden pipes to every part of it. No employment is provided by the County. Through the exertions of that active and excellent magistrate Sir Henry St. John Mildmay, Bart. a fund is now established in this county for the relief of those poor debtors who are unable to sue for their six-pences, supersedeas, &c. and likewise to give some temporary assistance to enable them to return to their places of residence. If similar institutions were established throughout England and Wales, it would be productive of infinite good; in Wales particularly so, where many poor debtors are confined for three or four pounds, and the expence of sueing for the aliment is greater than the original debt. In the various county prisons which I have visited, it is astonishing how few have obtained from their creditors the six-pences per day to which they are entitled by the Lords' Act. At Bedford the gaoler told me, that, during the seventeen years he had held that office, he did not remember one debtor having obtained the relief provided by that benevolent act. 2 WORCESTER CASTLE GAOL. Gaoler, William Davis. Salary, 100%. Fees. See Table. Garnish. None. Chaplain, Rev. William Falkner. Duty, Prayers and Sermon every Sunday, Christmas-day, and Good-Friday. Surgeon, Mr. Rayment; Salary, 201. Number of Debtors { 1800, Allowance. None, except the party applies to the visiting magistrates, to swear to his or her last settlement; and then, if the parish is within the county, they will make an order to allow the prisoner a weekly sum. If it is out of the magistrates jurisdiction, they cannot make an order. The utmost the keeper ever remembers was 2s. 6d. per week. REMARKS. |