town prison Birmingham

[tinav40]

I discovered my g g grandfather was in prison in 1841.
Just came across him by accident in the London gazette for 1837. Luckily he was in prison for debt as I was worrying we may have a Jack the Ripper in the family. My point is I was looking for info on The town prison Birmingham. I've been goggling but had no luck. Any suggestions

[tinav40]

Whoops I've also been googling

[Tati]

Looking at the 1841 census it seems to have been a very small place - there are about 45 prisoners only

[TonyR]

Hi all, feeling bored so did some digging.  I don't have 1841 so perhaps someone can look for street names next to prison to pinpoint which one it was from following.  Regards, TonyR.

http://www.midlandshistoricaldata.org/Psearch/dent_contents.pdf

Dent's Old & New Birmingham, 1880 mentions the 'Old Prison of Birmingham Peck Lane'.  This on page 109 of what looks like pay to view.

http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/westley.bcc
This 1789 reprint of William Westley's 1731 plan of Birmingham

Scroll down to ‘Unfamiliar Streets’ where it mentions the Froggary and ‘Peck Lane’ having disappeared when New Street Railway Station was built.

Go back up to map & click on ‘larger version’ see if you can find Peck Lane between Pinfold St & New St although no sign of prison.

http://www.bgfl.org/bgfl/custom/resources_ftp/client_ftp/teacher/history/jm_jones/jmj_maps_1/page35.htm

Scroll down to ‘The Streets Commissioners’ – last line mentions  ‘Commission H.Q., court and prison, built in Moor Street 1801’.  Moor St can be found directly down from Peck Lane on map above.

http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=22973

Scroll down to ‘The Streets Commissioners’ where it mentions ‘Public Office in Moor Street, completed in 1807’ but no prison.

Further down page is ‘COURTS, POLICE, AND GAOLS’ where in 7th paragraph it mentions a reference in 1733 to a ‘dungeon’ somewhere near Pinfold St (remember Peck Lane runs off this) &  also that this building was probably replaced in 1807 by the gaol attached to the new Public Office in Moor Street.

[Tati]

Hi Tony,

In 1841, it's a registration district of its own so doesn't show a street name. It's in Birmingham St Peter. The Prison Keeper is a George Redfern.

 

[TonyR]

http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/GenerateContent?CONTENT_ITEM_ID=67663&CONTENT_ITEM_TYPE=0&MENU_ID=13150

has St Peters church just above "Note The Boundary" in writing at bottom and just to right is Moor St. so must have been that prison.  TonyR.

[tinav40]

Thanks Tony and Tati
Haven't had a proper look but it looks good. Really appreciated.
 It was a small prison but going by my records he must have been there for at least 4 years. Can't imagine what it was like. He was only about 20 too.
Tina

[TonyR]

Final thoughts - on previous link http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=22973 Scroll down to  ‘COURTS, POLICE, AND GAOLS’ where again in 7th paragraph it mentions "Until 1849 there was also a prison for debtors in the High Street, (fn. 96) but the Moor Street gaol, though enlarged in 1830, (fn. 97) was inadequate and between 1837 and 1849 was used only for prisoners immediately before trial and immediately after conviction. Between committal and trial, and to serve their sentences, prisoners were sent to the county gaol at Warwick".

So Tina if you are sure it was for debt & he served 4 years it would seem more likely to be the Debtors Prison in High St.  On the map http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/GenerateContent?CONTENT_ITEM_ID=67663&CONTENT_ITEM_TYPE=0&MENU_ID=13150 High St is to the left of & a continuation of Dale End, so still likely to be in St Peters district.  TonyR.

[tinav40]

Hi Tony
Yes definitely for Debt. The London Gazette reads.
THE COURT FOR RELIEF OF INSOLVENT DEBTORS.
The matters of the petitions and schedules of the prisoners etc.........
Then a list of all the people that are appearing in court at the same time.
Tina