Shropshire Prison records

[Arwald]

I've been going over some notes and the death cert of my ancestor Thomas MENLOVE shows that he died in Salop Gaol in 1851 after gas leaked into his cell! Are there any records from Salop Gaol which might shed light on what he was doing there?

It looks like this wasn't his first run in with the law:

http://books.google.co.nz/books?id=KuLjXlExzGgC&pg=PA196&dq=thomas+menlove+petton&ei=zVdqS5GrLJ72kQT_7YCgDQ&cd=2#v=onepage&q=thomas%20menlove%20petton&f=false

A Thomas Menlove, farmer,  of Petton was involved in a lawsuit over a hay bail that caught fire and burnt a neighbouring property in 1835.  He was ruled liable in 1837. I hardly think that warrants still being in prison 24 years later though?

[Arwald]

Found him in prison on the 1851 census:

PRISONERS born in Shropshire who were present in the Institution on the night of 30th March 1851

Thomas MENLOVE, Debtor, M, 70, Farmer, b. SAL, Petton.

I wonder if this imprisonment is related to his 1837 conviction for one of his hay bails catching fire and burning his neighbours house? Maybe he couldn't pay the fine and they locked him up for 15 years until he died?