Queens Bench Prison, Southwark

[Alan7636]

I am urgently in need of help in tracing the whereabouts of certain records.

On the 30th November 1842 the infamous Fleet Prison in Farringdon Street finally closed its doors and the remaining 70 prisoners were removed to the Queens Bench Prison situated in Borough, Southwark.

Does anyone know if records of the Queens Bench prison exist and where they are kept? I am particularly interested in the period November 1842 to 1848 and of the inmates that were being held there.

Any assistance would be gratefully appreciated.

Alan   

[dawnsh]

Have you contacted Southwark Local Studies?

http://www.southwark.gov.uk/info/200161/local_history_library

After that my next suggestion would be the London Metropolitan Archives.

Dawn

[Valda]

Hi

I think between us we've now covered all the possible record offices in an ever rising list of importance


Try The National Archives as well

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/looking-for-person/bankrupts.htm?WT.lp=rg-3184

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/displaycataloguedetails.asp?CATID=788&CATLN=2&FullDetails=True

Queen's Prison - was the renamed King's Bench prison (1842) but I don't think it ever had a Bench in it's name. Records survive between 1842-1862 when it became a military prison


Regards

Valda

[Alan7636]

Many thanks for to you both for your replies to my query.

The name Queens Bench Prison seems to have been a throw back to its predecessor the King Bench Prison. Many Victorian publications and maps I have consulted refer to it as Queens Bench Prison whereas the modern day books etc certainly leave out the word Bench. 

I think the best option open to me is a visit to Kew for whilst the person I am researching was not a Bankrupt but incarcerated for contempt of court, they may well have the information I require.

Once again many thanks for your help.

Alan 

[Valda]

Hi

The prisons Kings Bench and Queen's was mainly used for debtors or for people who had been convicted of libel, so contempt of court would fit with that sort of clientele. I think the Queen's Bench name probably happened with the change in 1837 and the death of William IV and Queen Victoria ascending the throne. At that point I suppose it must have been the Queen's Bench prison, but it was definitely renamed in 1842 and the Bench was dropped. After 1862 it became Southwark convict prison.

Regards

Valda

[fallingonabruise]

bookmarking this as my gg grandfather was in here a few times in the 18 40/50s and i would love to find any documents about his time there