"An account of the rise, progress, and present state of
the Society for the Discharge and Relief of Persons Imprisoned for
Small Debts throughout
England and Wales"
by James Neiled, Society for the Discharge and Relief of Persons Imprisoned for Small Debts
Published & Printed by J. Nichols and Son, 1808
Transcribed by Heather Carbis
(to read a fuller account of the remarks as sent in the form of a letter to The Gentleman's Magazine plus
an account of Penzance Gaol click here)
Page 438 ACCOUNT OF PRISONS FOR DEBTORS
PENZANCE ; Cornwall
Gaoler, Humphrey Bridgeman (who is also a Sheriff's Officer).
Salary, none : he pays 7l. 7s. to the landlord of the public-house
Salary, none : he pays 7l. 7s. to the landlord of the public-house
Fees, 8s. 4d. every action, and 2s. 1d. entrance.
No Table,
1800, April 16th, - 1
Number of Debtors 1803, Oct. 14th, - 0
1806, Oct. 4th, - 0
Allowance, none whatever.
REMARKS
This prison, for the hundred and liberties of PENWITH, is an appurtenance to the manor of Connerton, which
is the property of Lord Arundel ; who, in right of the manor, is bound
to provide such prison. This right is delegated by his Lordship
to his Steward, or his Bailiff ; who gives security for the safe
custody of all prisoners confined there for debt, taking the whole
responsibility upon himself.
The Court of Penwith is a Court of Record, holding pleas of debt to any amount.
This wretched prison (which is in the stable-yard of a public-house) is 13 feet by 10 feet 5 inches, and 6 feet high, with an offensive sewer at one corner. The floor is very damp, paved with pebble-stones like the street, and without a fire-place ; and the only light or ventilation it receives, is from an iron-grated aperture, two feet square, without casement or glass to keep out the cold : No court-yard. No water. In December 1801 two debtors, Nicholas Basset, and Thomas Nicholas, (a carpenter aged 70), were released from this miserable gaol by the Society for the relief of persons confined for Small Debts, after suffering twelve months imprisonment. Their letter of thanks I have preserved. The number of debtors committed to this prison is about 10 or 12 in the year. The last pitiable inhabitant was Thomas Hoskin, farmer of Madron parish, aged 64. He was committed the 25th of March 1803, for the debt of 20l. or thereabouts, and released the 6th May following. Here is no allowance, even for bread ; so that if his friends and some neighbours had not been charitable, he must have perished with hunger. He never but once was let out for fresh air, and then only for half an hour, to speak with his children. The Gaoler lives half a mile off ; and in case of sudden illness, or fire, he might of perished before relief could come. His provisions were given to him through the centre bars of the small iron grating (five inches apart), and so the Keeper had no occasion to come near the prison. Hoskin had a bed supplied by his friends, or his must have slept upon the scanty pittance of straw on the floor !
The Gaoler has for many years received from the butchers in the hundred of Penwith, at Christmas Market, one shilling each for every bullock killed. The amount at Christmas 1802 was as follows :
The Court of Penwith is a Court of Record, holding pleas of debt to any amount.
This wretched prison (which is in the stable-yard of a public-house) is 13 feet by 10 feet 5 inches, and 6 feet high, with an offensive sewer at one corner. The floor is very damp, paved with pebble-stones like the street, and without a fire-place ; and the only light or ventilation it receives, is from an iron-grated aperture, two feet square, without casement or glass to keep out the cold : No court-yard. No water. In December 1801 two debtors, Nicholas Basset, and Thomas Nicholas, (a carpenter aged 70), were released from this miserable gaol by the Society for the relief of persons confined for Small Debts, after suffering twelve months imprisonment. Their letter of thanks I have preserved. The number of debtors committed to this prison is about 10 or 12 in the year. The last pitiable inhabitant was Thomas Hoskin, farmer of Madron parish, aged 64. He was committed the 25th of March 1803, for the debt of 20l. or thereabouts, and released the 6th May following. Here is no allowance, even for bread ; so that if his friends and some neighbours had not been charitable, he must have perished with hunger. He never but once was let out for fresh air, and then only for half an hour, to speak with his children. The Gaoler lives half a mile off ; and in case of sudden illness, or fire, he might of perished before relief could come. His provisions were given to him through the centre bars of the small iron grating (five inches apart), and so the Keeper had no occasion to come near the prison. Hoskin had a bed supplied by his friends, or his must have slept upon the scanty pittance of straw on the floor !
The Gaoler has for many years received from the butchers in the hundred of Penwith, at Christmas Market, one shilling each for every bullock killed. The amount at Christmas 1802 was as follows :
| l. s. d. | |
| Marazion Penzance Redruth St. Ives 10s. St. Just 9s Hundred-Pound Manor-Pound per annum |
0. 6 . 0 1. 8. 0 1. 10. 0 0. 19. 0 1. 0. 0 0. 14. 0 |
| Total | 5. 17. 0 |
The Bailiff may choose any place for his prison where he can
hire a room the cheapest. At my visit in 1806 I was glad to find
this prison turned into a milk-cellar.
The Gaoler informs me, by letter dated January 1808, that he is not likely to have any more prisoners, "because executions is now issued against the goods, instead of the person of the debtor*."
* An example worthy of imitation.
