Worcestershire Prisons
 

Worcester City Gaol
Worcester County Gaol

H.M.Prison, Worcester

Castle Street, Worcester
Captain Robert A. Leggett, Governor.
Edwin Hyde, Medical Officer
Miss Elizabeth Sweetland, Matron
William Taylor, Clerk.
G.B. Gibson, Chief Warder.
Source: 1896 Kelly's Directory

Worcester Gaol enlargement
The works consequent on the amalgamation of the county and city prisons have been commenced, and will occuupy 12 months in completion. Mr Rowe's estimate of the entire cost, including purchase of cottages and land in Easy Row, was £10,000. The six cottages to be removed at the north west angle of the row cost about £1,400, and Messrs Wood and Sons' estimate for their portion of the new works was some £5,000 in round numbers. To set against this expenditure, there is the sum received for the site of the old city gaol, so that the total outlay will be under £8,000 The new works will be a continuation and extension of the north west radiating wing of the old county gaol, and the new boundary wall will extend to the highway in Easy Row, in length, enclosing the space occupied by the six cottages and their gardens. This wall will be of brick, and is to be 23 ft. high, having on its top two courses of loose brick, surmounted by a stone coping. At its north west end will be an entrance doorway, under a pointed arch, of sufficient width and height to admit of the prison van being driven in an out, for the removal of prisoners without exposure to spectators. The space enclosed by this outer range of buildings forms a large airing ground, in the centre of which will be erected the new block of prisoners' cells. The new block will consist of a basement and three tiers of cells above, the cells being 48 in number. In the basement will be the warming and ventilating apparatus (by Haden of Trowbridge) also baths, washing places, and store rooms. The first tier of cells is approached from a central corridor, and the other two tiers by galleries; each cell to be separately supplied with water, gas, means of ventilation, water closet, and all the other appliances to correspond with the most modern arranged cells in the old building. The corridor of the new building, being in a straight line with that of he old, will be under the same inspection and control of the officers.
Source: The Builder 1868 Vol XXVI 17th October 1868 p767
Submitted by Alan Longbottom

Extension of Worcester Prison
The amalgamation of the city and county prisons rendered necessary an extension of the accommodation previously furnished by the county gaol. 

For the purposes of this extension it was decided to purchase certain property upon the west side of the old prison, and to erect on the site thus obtained an additional wing, at the cost of the city, sufficient to meet all requirements. Plans were accordingly prepared by Mr. H. Rowem the city architect, and tenders advertised for, the one sent in by Messrs Wood & Son of this city, being ultimately accepted.

The work was begun in September last. The new wing is just ready for the roof. It comprises, upon the basement, capacious stores for the goods manufactured in the prison, with every facility for loading the same. There are also baths and washing-places, where the prisoners on their arrival after receiving sentence, are required to perform the most thorough ablutions before taking up their residence in the scrupulously clean and healthful apartments assigned to them. 

Here too is the apparatus for the heating and ventilation of the prison, which is upon Haden's principle. The whole is arched over with brickwork, and above, in two stories or tiers, are the cells of the prisoners, 48 in number. They will be well lighted, warmed and ventilated, each cell having a separate flue communicating with the central ventilating shaft. The pure air is admitted at the top of the cell, and the impure forced through an outlet in the lower part of the cell wall. This, says our authority, the local - Herald - is, found in practice to work much better than the reverse principle commonly adopted, as the dust from the prisoners work is thus carried downwards and prevented from mingling with the air which he is compelled to breathe. The entire atmosphere of the cell is changed once in every seven minutes. Very few rooms of private houses, says the - Herald - would bear comparison with these cells in the matter of pure atmosphere. Each cell, moreover, has its separate and ample water supply.

The new block or wing of the prison measures about 70 ft. by 44 ft. the external walls of which are of great thickness, and very strongly built, whilst along every other course of bricks are two rows of strong iron bonding, which will prove particularly troublesome to any adventurous captive who may endeavour to pick his way through the walls. Surrounding this new wing is a spacious exercise-yard for the prisoners, enclosed by a lofty boundary wall 21 feet high. This wall on the inner side is perfectly perpendicular, without buttresses or breaks of any kind. The heavy coping stones have been placed upon two courses of loose bricks, and though regarded as being safe and firm if undisturbed will immediately yield to the force of a man's weight, as every prisoner will doubtless be duly informed. On the outside the wall is built in steps, being thickest at the base, which, however, does not seem to manifest the same sort of consideration for confederates which the perpendicular interior and coping stones show for prisoners. The new gateway has been constructed in this portion of the prison. It is a double one, so that after the ponderous outer doors have been passed by the prison van there are still massive iron gates which bar further progress. The van will thus pass into the intervening space, and the doors on the one side will be securely closed before the gates on the opposite side are opened.
Source: The Builder 1869 Vol XXVII pp563 17th July 1869
Submitted by Alan Longbottom.

Worcester City Gaol and House of Correction

Table 26 Officers Salaries etc