Was there a prison in Marlborough around 1798?

[LizzieL]

John Annetts (bapt Inkpen, Berks 7 sep 1777) married Mary Stocker at Chilton Foliat, Wilts on 10 Jul 1798. A note included with the transcription on Ancestry says: John is of Inkpen, Berks but under confinement in St Peters, Marlborough.

Does that mean he was in prison in Marlborough? If so would he have been let out to marry? Or would "under confinement" mean something else?

[youngtug]

There was a prison, probably in  St, Peters parish. This may be of interest;
 http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/wilts/vol12/pp199-229

[philipsearching]

There was a prison, probably in  St, Peters parish. This may be of interest;
 http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/wilts/vol12/pp199-229

I was looking at that very page!
I couldn't see an obvious reference to a named prison but, as there were magistrates and constables, there must have been somwhere in the parish to lock people up - although it may not have been large.

Have you checked for baptisms to the wife (before the marriage) or to the couple (within a few months after the marriage).  It is possible that John Annetts had to answer a bastardy claim in court and was confined to prevent him running back to Berkshire before the marriage.  (pure speculation, but it would make a great story).  Alternatively he could have attended the local fair and committed an offence.

Philip

[Bookbox]

The record for 10 July 1798 as seen on Ancestry (transcription only) is not a marriage but a reading of the banns, naming the parishes of both spouses. You may need to look elsewhere for the date of any marriage.

[youngtug]

There was a prison, probably in  St, Peters parish. This may be of interest;
 http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/wilts/vol12/pp199-229

I was looking at that very page!
I couldn't see an obvious reference to a named prison but, as there were magistrates and constables, there must have been somwhere in the parish to lock people up - although it may not have been large.

Philip

Missed this bit? ;

The right of the burgesses to have a prison was implicit in the terms of the 1204 charter. One was mentioned in 1281, in 1561 when the mayor committed a felon to it, and in 1575 when it was repaired. (fn. 420) A gaol was expressly granted to the corporation in 1576. (fn. 421) It was beneath the guildhall in 1625. (fn. 422) Extra and temporary accommodation may have been provided for prisoners at county sessions in the earlier 17th century. (fn. 423) Prisons or blindhouses were incorporated in the town halls of c. 1630, 1654–5, and 1792–3. (fn. 424) In the late 19th century the prison accommodated prisoners awaiting trial at county quarter sessions; the lower part had gone out of use by 1867, but the upper part was used until the new town hall was built in 1901–2. (fn. 425) The doorway of the 18th-century blindhouse was built into the town hall of 1901–2, which incorporated cells. (fn. 426)
And;

The bridewell was rebuilt within the borough on the east side of Hermitage Lane in 1709. (fn. 435) In 1781 it was wrongly described as in Preshute. (fn. 436) That building was repaired and enlarged in 1723 (fn. 437) and rebuilt in 1787. (fn. 438) In 1825 and later it was used mainly for confining prisoners before trial. (fn. 439) Agricultural rioters were detained there in 1830. (fn. 440) There was no debtor, only criminals, in its 15 cells, 12 for men and 3 for women, in 1836. A chaplain was employed and a surgeon visited thrice weekly. The placing of chains on the doors 'to afford somewhat of the appearance of a prison' was suggested in 1842. (fn. 441) The number of prisoners confined there during 1843 was 312

[philipsearching]

Missed this bit?

No - I was looking for a reference to a prison in St Peter's.  I should have worded it better!
Philip

[youngtug]

Don't we all!  The Bridwell was in St, Peters, it's that end of town. The college expanded and incorporated the building it seems.

[youngtug]

A thought, the workhouse was in St, Peters parish.

[frogspawn4]

Hi

I have found this item which locates the Bridewell in Marlborough.

Taken from "The Church of England-Charles Edwin Ponting"

"Besides his diocesan work, Ponting also acted as surveyor to Marlborough College from 1889 to 1921. In 1908 he designed the new College gymnasium which was built on the foundations of the Marlborough bridewell. Some of the cell windows can still be seen at the front of the building, and, if one looks carefully, it is possible to detect the slight bulge in the side walls where Ponting’s additions bond with the original bridewell"

If you google 'gymnasium Marlborough College' there is a picture of the outside as it is now.

Jay