Cumberland Prisons
 

Prisons within the County of Cumberland

Cumberland new gaol
At the last Quarter Sessions for the county of Cumberland, the county surveyor stated that if he had gone down to a solid foundation for the new prison it would have put the county to £5,000 additional expense, and as they were about to commence another part of the building he wished to know whether the county would rather have that portion erected in the same manner as the other portion, with a liability to crack, or would they go down to a solid foundation, with a certain cost of £1,700 additional. 

Mr.Spedding said he had understood from Mr.Reddin that one reason why the building had cracked was that the concrete had not had time to harden. The county surveyor said that was so; they had been obliged to build within a few days of the concrete being laid. Mr.Spedding suggested that arrangements should be made to give the concrete time to harden.The chairman said the gaol committee would see to it.
Source: The Builder 1868 Vol XXVI 31st October 1868 p809
Submitted by Alan Longbottom

Alterations at Carlisle Gaol
The alterations of Carlisle Gaol, in accordance with the requirements of the Prisons Act, are making rapid progress. There are 112 cells for males, arranged in two rows and in three stories. All the doors on each flat open into long corridors, which in the case of the upper stories are narrow galleries, so that the whole building is open from floor to roof with the galleries of the 1st and 2nd floors projecting on each side.The cells are all flagged and have arched roofs. In the day time each cell is lighted by a square window, strongly grated and guarded, and at night it is so illuminated by gas that the lighting apparatus is beyond the control of the prisoner. A cavity is made in the wall near each door, in which the gas-light will be placed. The inner side will be fitted with plate-glass, and on the outer side will be placed a good reflector to throw forward and diffuse the light in the cell. The water supply, like the gas, is also beyond the control of the prisoner. A brass water nozzle will project into each cell, and at a certain hour, at which the water will be turned on, the gong will sound for washing. The prisoner must then draw his supply. At certain times too, the supply for drinking will be turned on. In a cupboard will be conveniences, including a utensil upon the earth-closet principle, which has been substituted for the more costly system of water-closets for night use. The cost of water-closets, at first planned in each cell, would have been about 10 guineas each; whereas the whole of the furniture, under the plan adopted, will not, it is expected, cost more than £2 for each cell. Whether the one be as good as the other is another question. The whole building will be heated with Gill's stoves, and preparations are now being made for laying the flues.
Source:
Competition of the County Gaol at Carlisle
This new prison has been completed and has been certified by the Government Inspector. The old gaol has been transformed into one in which the separate system can be carried out in accordance with the requirements of the Prisons Act.

The male ward was the first completed. The female ward has now been finished. It is almost a counterpart of that set apart for male prisoners; the chief difference being that there are 52 cells instead of 112. These cells are similarly constructed and furnished, except that the gas-light, instead of being enclosed in an aperture of the wall beyond the control of the prisoner, is an ordinary bracket, so placed as to be near the prisoner's work. 

Part of the alterations to the prison consisted of the erection of a new treadmill and system of waterworks. The greater part of the work thus performed by the men is utilised in supplying the gaol with water, for which the prison is now no longer dependent upon the city supply. The water is pumped, from an artesian well by a set of three-throw pumps and then forced to a high cistern, whence it gravitates to all parts of the gaol. 

The old gaol, erected in 1824, cost £42,500, including £3,600 for the site. The alterations, which have been carried out under the directions and superintendence of Mr. Cory, county surveyor, have cost £16,000, including the governor's house, the treadmill, and waterworks. The newly arranged prison provides cells for 180 prisoners; in the old gaol there was only accommodation for 123.
Source: The Builder 1869 Vol XXVII pp934, 20th November 1869
Submitted by Alan Longbottom.



Parish of Alston
There is a County Police Station, with residence for one sergeant, together with a lock up for prisoners, and a room for magisterial and petty sessional business.

Page updated August 06, 2007 by Rossbret