Howard, John

People > Howard, John

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Extract from John Howard's
'State of the Prisons in England and Wales',
1777, relating to County Gaol, Bedford

 

GAOLER,  Thomas Howard
Salary, none.
Fees, Debtors, Felons 0: 17: 4
Tranfports, If only one 6: if two 5 each: all above two, 4 each.
Licence, for Beer.

PRISONERS
Allowance, Debtors, two quartern-loaves a week each.
Felons, two halfpeck-loaves a week each.
Garnifh, Debtors, 0: 5 : 0

CHAPLAIN, Rev. Mr. Llyod
Duty Sunday and Thursday
Salary, 20

SURGEON, Mr. Gadfby.
Salary, 12 for the Gaol and Bridewell

In this Prifon there is a day-room for Debtors, whish is ufed as a Chapel, and three or four lodging rooms: for Felons, two day-rooms, one for men, the other for women, without fire places: two dungeons, down eleven fteps, and often very damp.  The ftraw, for which the County allows the Gaoler 5 a year, is not on the floors, but on the frames or bedfteads.  On application, the Juftices allow in winter coals both to Felons and Debtors.  The court-yard is common to both, and fmall.  No apartments for the Gaoler.

CLAUSES of the Act againft Spirituous Liquors are not hung up.  When I was Sheriff, I was culpably ignorant of that Act.  No Infirmary.  About twenty years ago the Gaol-Fever was in this Prifon: fome died there, and many in the town; among whom was Mr. Daniel the Surgeon, who attended the Prifoners.  His Succeffor, Mr. Gadfby, judicioufly changed the medicines from Sudorifics (generally ufed before) to Bark and Cordials: and a Sail-Ventilator being foon after put up, the Gaol has been free from the Fever almoft ever fince.

FEES on a printed paper, figned by the late Gaoler, as follows:

ALL Perfons that come to this place, either by warrant, commitment, or verbally; muft pay before difcharg'd, fifteen shillings and four pence, to the Gaoler, and two fhillings to the Turnkey.
T. RICHARDSON

COUNTY BRIDEWELL AT BEDFORD

CONSISTS of three rooms on the ground-floor : no fire-place: a fmall court-yard: no water acceffible to the Prifoners - Keeper's Salary 30: No Fees.

1776,  Feb 13, Prifoners 3

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