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London Metropolitan Archives

NEWGATE PRISON


IDENTITY STATEMENT

Reference code(s): CLA/035

Held at: London Metropolitan Archives

Title: NEWGATE PRISON

Date(s): 1423-1983

Level of description: Collection

Extent: 1 linear metre

Name of creator(s): Corporation of London

CONTEXT

Administrative/Biographical history:

Newgate Prison was founded by King Henry II in 1188 and was originally part of the gatehouse at Newgate. It was enlarged in 1236, rebuilt in 1423 with money donated by Lord Mayor Dick Whittington and burned down and was rebuilt in 1666. In 1399 Henry IV granted custody of the gates of London, with their attached prisons, to the citizens of London. Newgate ceased to be used as a prison in 1877. The building was demolished and the land used for an extension to the Old Bailey, opened in 1902.

Newgate was the most notorious of London's prisons. It was reserved for the worst of criminals, most of whom were under the death sentence. It was renowned for overcrowding, lack of air and water, and epidemics of gaol fever in which many prisoners and officials died.

CONTENT

Scope and content/abstract:

Records of Newgate Prison, 1423-1983, including lists of prisoners; committee minutes and reports; receipt books for prisoners' goods; lists of keepers; orders for payment; petitions; rules, orders and regulations; papers relating to the treatment of prisoners; visiting justices minute books; papers relating to maintenance and rebuilding and publications regarding the history of the prison.

ACCESS AND USE

Language/scripts of material: English

System of arrangement:

In sections according to catalogue.

Conditions governing access:

Available for general access.

Conditions governing reproduction:

Copyright: City of London

Physical characteristics:

Fit

Finding aids:

Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm

ARCHIVAL INFORMATION

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information:

Accruals:

Archival history:

Immediate source of acquisition:

Corporation of London Records Office.

ALLIED MATERIALS

Existence and location of originals:

Existence and location of copies:

Related material:

For Corporation of London records relating to prisons see: CLA/003: Holloway Prison, CLA/028: Wood Street Compter, CLA/029: Giltspur Street Compter, CLA/030: Poultry Compter, CLA/031: Southwark Compter, CLA/032: Prisons and Compters, CLA/033: Ludgate Prison, CLA/034: Whitecross Street Prison, CLA/035: Newgate Prison, COL/CA/PCA: Court of Aldermen Prisons Committee, COL/CC/FNG: Court of Common Council Gaol Expenses and Finance Committee, COL/CC/MIN: Court of Common Council Committees includes material relating to gaols and compters, COL/CC/NGC: Court of Common Council Newgate Gaol Committee, COL/CC/PCC: Court of Common Council Prisons Committee, COL/CC/SPO: Court of Common Council Special Prisons Committee, COL/PL: Plans, including plans of prisons and compters.

Publication note:

DESCRIPTION NOTES

Note:

Rules or conventions: Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Date(s) of descriptions: February 2009


INDEX ENTRIES
Subjects
Building maintenance | Building operations | Construction engineering
Imprisonment | Penal sanctions | Administration of justice
Prison administration | Administration | Organisation and management
Prisons | Penal sanctions | Administration of justice
Penal institutions

Personal names

Corporate names
Newgate Prison | Corporation of London

Places
City of London | London | England | UK | Western Europe | Europe
Hertfordshire | England | UK | Western Europe | Europe