Lincoln Gaol Flashcards
Incarceration of criminals for long periods was unusual before the 18th century - what institutions in the 16th century introduced the idea of imprisoning with view of reforming?
Houses of correction and Bridewells that reformed through hard work (however they were small and only existed in a few places
What were gaols mainly used for in the 18th century?
Temporarily hold criminals before being punished or people who were awaiting trial
What was the issue with 18th century prisons and debtors?
-gaolers charged criminals as they were unpaid
-in some places they had to mix cells with violent prisoners
-did not get the debtors out of the debt they owed
How many people were in prisons in the middle of the 18th century? Was this high? Why?
-4,000
-low
-most were transported
What three changes put huge pressure on the old system of gaols and Bridewells in the 18th century?
-America won independence in 1776 so no longer accepted transportation
-despite most crimes being under the bloody code, most judges preferred to send criminals to gaol rather than execute them
-urbanisation=more crime
Why had conditions in prisons never been a concern prior to the 18th century?
-There were never many people in them and if they were they didn’t stay long
-sudden pressure on the system highlighted the flaws
Describe the conditions in 18th century gaols
-no rules about how prisons should be run
-existing buildings weren’t fit for purpose and lacked proper sanitation
-some were a single room that all prisoners were kept in
-disease like typhus was rife
In late 18th century gaols, how many prisoners died each year?
25%
How was John Howard linked to Lincoln gaol?
-in his book The State Of Prisons in 1777, he details what he found in each prison that he visited in England and Wales
-including the gaol in Lincoln castle
What problems did Howard highlight in the prison system?
-levels of illness and death among prisoners
-corruption of those in charge of prison
-lack of separation of prisoners by gender or severity of offence
-lack of security
What did Howard want all prisons to have?
-medical treatment
-better food + sanitation
-gaolers paid
-religious teachers could have access to prisoners
Who created a prison design that addressed many of Howard’s concerns? What was it called?
-Bentham
-panopticon
How did the panopticon prison work?
Organised prisoners around a central area to allow prison guards to observe them more easily
When was the panopticon invented and when did it become very influential?
-1790s
-after 1820s
In what way was Fry an influential prison reformer?
Her evidence to parliament was important in the 1823 gaols act which tried to improve conditions
Which criminals from Lincoln’s Georgian prison were transported to Australia?
-1824 - Mrs Mary Burton was sentenced to 14 years of transportation for burglary. She waited a year in Lincoln Prison before being sent to Australia from Portsmouth
-1831 - Priscilla Woodford had her death sentence for involvement in swing riots reduced to transportation where she married another convict
How many criminals from Lincoln were sent to Australia?
1,200
Why was Lincoln Castle the ideal place for a prison?
Castles have high walls and gates
In the 18th century, where were the two places in Lincoln Castle where prisoners were kept?
-The County Gaol (or Old Gaol)
-Cobb Hall (a tower in the castle walls)
When did Howard visit Lincoln gaol?
1770s
What did Howard criticise about Lincoln gaol?
-lack of decent sanitation
-mixing of criminals and debtors and men and women
As a result of Howard’s criticism, a new prison was constructed - when and what was it called?
-1787
-Georgian Prison
Who designed the Georgian Prison?
William Lumby (went on to become keeper of the castle)
How were the debtors treated compared to criminals in the Georgian Prison?
-debtors were treated much more leniently
-they had rooms at the front looking over the castle grounds
-criminals were in a simpler (now demolished) building at the back of the exercise yard called the Felon’s Wing
When the Georgian Prison was built, where did the gaoler live and what were the gaolers like?
-they lives in an apartment at the top of the building with his family
-they were still able to financially exploit they position (as they weren’t paid)
-use prisoners as free labourers, charged prisoners for bedding/food, sold ale to prisoners
When was a new debtors yard added to the prison complex?
-1820
-prior to this debtors could take their exercise anywhere in the castle grounds
What did the new 1820s exersise yards include?
-ash privies (toilet seats over a hole with ash to take away the smell)
Archaeology has suggested that by….there were concerns about safety of the Georgian building surrounding subsidence. Why?
-1835
-pits were dug around the corner of the building
When was the Victorian Prison built?
1847
The Felon’s wing was demolished because of which act? What was it replaced by
-The 1839 prisons act
-Crown Wing (Victorian prison)
Who designed the Victorian Prison?
William Nicholson
After it was built what was the Victorian Prison used for?
-male, female and child prisoners were held before their trials
-criminals waiting to be executed or transferred to other prisons
Describe the layout of the Victorian Prison
H-shaped, enclosed exercise yards in between wings
What was the Georgian Prison used for after the Victorian Prison was built?
-debtors and guard rooms
After the Victorian Prison was built, the guards got bigger rooms in the Georgian Prison. Describe their rooms.
-big fireplaces
-dado rails and cornicing to show status
-large bay window to watch prisoners in the exersise yard
What prison system was the Victorian prison at Lincoln designed for? Explain what this entailed
-Separate system
-prisoners were kept separate to contemplate their errors
-only allowed to speak to the prison chaplain
-separate exercise yards
