Photograph - Female Penitentiary No.6 Ham Lane Plymouth

[Bill93185]

Hello, My grandmother, Eliza Parish is listed in the 1881 household record of the "Female Penitentiary" at No.6 Ham Lane Plymouth, Charles The Martyr, Devon, England and looking for a photograph and/or street view on this establishment of that period. Any assistance would be really good. Thanks Bill

[StefanD99]

Hi, just in case you haven't seen this;
https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/side-by-side/#zoom=18&lat=50.37263&lon=-4.13479&layers=178&right=BingHyb

Stefan

[MonicaL]

Not Ham Lane but Ham Street which bordered the Penitentiary https://www.hippostcard.com/search?keywords=ham%20street%20PLYMOUTH%20Devon%20

Year not included on listing.

Monica

[Bill93185]

Hi there,
Thank you StefanD99  - what a great set of maps!! I had not seen anything like them. Still looking for a photograph for the Female Penitentiary.    Would they be called a "Prison" or a "Work house" etc when searching?

Thank you MonicaL  - for setting me straight on the street name. The sketch shows a very dim place to live.

I will keep looking.  Thanks and cheers from Australia

[MonicaL]

Some descriptive text here:

Plymouth  Penitentiary,
Hampton  House.  Ham  Street.
This  is  by  no  means  a  prison-like  institution — the  entrance  is  cheerful.  I  found
the  inmates  enjoying  themselves,  towards  the  close  of  a  summer's  day,  on  the  lawn  in
front  of  the  Matron's  window.  It  is  a  treat  in  which  they  are  often  indulged  to  have
tea  out  there.  There  is  room  for  thirty-six  inmates,  and  there  were  ten  vacancies.
Admission  is  free,  from  the  neighbourhood,  but  a  payment  of  £5  is  required  with
cases  sent  from  a  distance.  All  have  to  remain  eighteen  months  in  the  Home,  after
which  they  are  allowed  an  outfit  of  the  value  of  £2  to  £4,  according  to  their  behaviour.
Each  inmate  can  also  earn  a  penny  a  week  spending  money.  Laundry  work  is  taken
in,  and  is  a  source  of  income  ;  but  needle-work  is  not  done,  except  for  the  Institution.
The  Committee  meet  at  the  institution  once  a  week.  A  lady  conducts  a  service  there
on  Sunday  mornings,  a  clergyman  or  layman  on  Sunday  afternoons.  The  Matron
takes  some  six  or  seven  of  the  inmates  with  her  to  church  or  chapel  every  Sunday,
and  reads  to  all  of  them  on  Sunday  evenings,  she  also  conducts  service  daily  morning
and  evening....
https://archive.org/stream/seekingsaving1888chil/seekingsaving1888chil_djvu.txt

I would use the words "Hampton House" in your searches as this is how it is often referred to (such as Hampton House Female Penitentiary) See also a listing of it here www.childrenshomes.org.uk/list/MH2.shtml

I came across this https://web.plymouth.gov.uk/plymouthreconstruction/notice843.html  Not sure if this is the correct image but you could make enquiries?

Monica

[StefanD99]

Bill,
According to the map the building was also known as Hampton House. This was formerly a private residential property. Wikipedia states it was bought by Susan Pellew in 1804 and in 1811 by Rev. Robert Hawker, of the nearby Charles Church.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susan_Pellew
A couple of leads to follow in pursuit of a picture.
Plymouth Archives have a couple of architects drawings;
https://web.plymouth.gov.uk/archivescatalogue/?start=80&page=20&criteria=hampton%20house

(Monica posted while I was typing)

Stefan

[MonicaL]

This entry/photo on Facebook came up in a search www.facebook.com/TheOnlyWayIsPlymouth/photos/a.289882041130587/323360774449380/?type=3

Wondering if this is the original site?

Monica

[Bill93185]

Hello MonicaL
Thank you for all your assistance on my request. Your 3 links were very informative, I had no idea what was on the web until help is available.

I found another view. Not very clear.

Object number : C/E.745
Production date/period : 1950.09.04
Production place : Plymouth : Ebrington Street
General Description : The wall and plaque for the Plymouth, Devonport and Stonehouse Female Home, Ebrington Street.
Thanks Bill

[Bill93185]

Hello StefanD99
Thank you for all your assistance on my request. Your links were very informative.

Original photo found.

Thanks Bill