| Description | Until 1808, the city gaol was housed in the Northgate which was rebuilt in 1808-10 by the architect, Thomas Harrison. A new gaol and house of correction was built in 1807 on a site near the city walls. The sheriffs were responsible for the administration and control of the city gaol and house of correction until the Prison Act, 1823, transferred control to the justices of the peace, who had to report quarterly to the Home Secretary. The city gaol was closed in 1872 and its prisoners were transferred to the county gaols at Chester Castle and Knutsford. The records comprise registers of prisoners; prisoners' property; prisoners' visitors and letters; officers' daily report books; matrons' report books; surgeons' report and case books; chaplains' records including character books; a report book of visiting magistrates; records of provisions and supplies; general and labour accounts; letters and papers; printed regulations; circulars; and a prayer book for Chester city gaol.The records listed here relate to the administration of the Gaol and House of Correction under the control of the city magistrates from 1808 until the Gaol was closed on 25 March 1872. |
| Administrative History | The city gaol was housed in the Northgate until 1808 and from medieval times onwards, the Sheriff was the city official who was ultimately responsible for its administration and control. In 1808, prior to the building of the present Northgate in 1809, the City Gaol and House of Correction was moved to a new building erected in 1807 near the city walls on the site of what is now the Queen's School.
For a description of the new building see J. Hemingway, 1831, volume. 2. pp. 184-5. |