Northampton Borough Gaol Prison and House of Correction.

[seahall]

Hi Nadine.

I couldn't reply before . 

Anyway to your query.

It seems as though William and Elizabeth baptised
their children in the Baptist faith in Earls Barton.

Although Elizabeth's baptism is on the Northants Bap Index
in 1805 in Earls Barton C of E.

Therefore unless the books still survive for E. B. around 1796 upto
1820 I think you maybe still un-able to confirm.

Sandy

[longshanks]

You need to distinguish between county and borough facilities. There was a lock up under the old guildhall at the bottom of Abington Street up to about 1860, and overlapping or later later what is now Subway and previously Ingram's leather warehouse on Fish Street is supposed to be the site of the town gaol. There is a double basement to this building which in its previous incarnation provided the cells. George Row was the county premises courts and prison block, the one generally open at Heritage Weekend.  There were prison cells under the Guildhall for the Borough Court which succeeded the ones on Fish Street.

[seahall]

Thanks for the information longshanks.

I have maps of the cells and police areas under the Guildhall
(Northampton Borough) which lead into Abington Street.

Obviously Fish St would be ruled out as the facility as it is
not St Giles Square.

Which place do you think the lock up was at.

There was also Police cells in Angel Street, Northampton Council,
the building now being part of the County Council offices also.

There are 2 good books about the Northampton Police Force
origins in Northampton Library if there are still available with the
change-over.

Sandy

[behindthefrogs]

I think that you need to be careful not to confuse cells associated with a court or police station and a gaol where prisoners are taken after conviction.   These are often distinctly different places.

David

[seahall]

Ok David.

The initial request was about the "lock up" as we know.

I merely noted the other information as longshanks
mentioned other places.

Both of you have given good explanations, so I think I will leave
it to nadine to ask anything else she needs to know.

Sandy

[longshanks]

Guildhall Road was only created in the 1890s as an access to the Cattlemarket, by demolishing a house, so the lock up cannot have been on the corner of Guildhall Road and George Row; moreover George Row becomes part of St Giles Square here. The building west of Guildhall Road known as the Constable's House (now a restaurant) relates to the County Buildings, and its judiciary element, as does the house known as the Judges Lodgings adjoining east of the old court house, but the house between them, up until a decade ago a bank, but now a public house known as The Old Bank, is not connected with the prison. The County prison was behind the court house (now the Tourist Information Centre) extending down to Angel Street and west of the county offices and town museum fronting Guildhall Road. St Giles square extends from the corner of Wood Hill including the Guildhall on the north, and from George Row at the Court House to Guildhall Road on the south, whence it becomes Derngate. St Giles Square originally referred to the large houses here, but most of the north side was demolished to build the present guildhall, its western extension and more recent eastern extensions. The north side then continues as St Giles Street. As I say you need to distinguish whether it is the county or borough gaol concerned here. The County Court was held in the ruins of the castle until the 18th century, then moved to between George Row and Angel Street with cells, and is now on Mounts. The Borough Gaol and police station was on Fish Street, east of St Giles Square. Its precursor was a lock up under the pre-1860 Guildhall on the corner of Abington Street and Wood Hill, the site since lost to street widening; its successor was in the post-1860 Guildhall.  Hope this helps.

[ALSUK]

Hi Sandy,

Just came across this post while trying to look for information on the Guildhall Basement Cells.  Was wonder if the maps you have on the cells shows the one located in the basement?

Thanks,

AL

Thanks for the information longshanks.

I have maps of the cells and police areas under the Guildhall
(Northampton Borough) which lead into Abington Street.

Obviously Fish St would be ruled out as the facility as it is
not St Giles Square.

Which place do you think the lock up was at.

There was also Police cells in Angel Street, Northampton Council,
the building now being part of the County Council offices also.

There are 2 good books about the Northampton Police Force
origins in Northampton Library if there are still available with the
change-over.

Sandy

[seahall]

Hi Al.

Welcome to Rootschat. 

I am sorry it is quite a long time ago that I can not remember.

They were in the Northampton Local Sudies now called Discovery
so maybe a call to the Central Library may help.

Sandy

[ALSUK]

Hi Sandy,

Many thanks for your reply.  I will give them a try and see if they got anything.


AL.