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100
Prisons.
The Vestry actively interested themselves for
well nigh two hundred years in the prison accommodation
in the parish. The older of the two establishments—the
Gate House*—was erected by an inferior officer
of the Abbey in the reign of Edward III. (1327). It was
conducted by a lessee of the Dean and Chapter as a
speculation, the proprietor being dependent on the
prisoners' fees, and was demolished owing to its ruinous
condition, in 1776. The inconvenience of the system of
maintenance by fees, and the exorbitant amounts charged
at times, elicited remonstrances from the Vestry as late as
1727. The Tothill Fields Bridewell was erected in 1622
by the local Justices as a House of Correction for offenders
within their jurisdiction. So long as its use was limited to
local purposes, the cost of maintenance was borne by the
local rates in the proportion of two-thirds by the parish of
St. Margaret, and the remaining third jointly between the
parishes of St. Martin-in-the-Fields and St. Clement
Danes.
An abridgement has been made of the agreement with
the first Keeper of the Prison. The original document may
be seen at the Town Hall:—
Articles of Agreement dated 25th January 1622/3
Between Alphonsus Fowle and 9 others "Governors
appointed for the House of Correction newlie erected
in Tuttle feilds," and Richard Betts of Westminster,
Hempdresser, lately appointed "Cheife Workemen in
the said House of Correccon."
Witnesseth that for £50 paid to Betts "as a stock to bee by him
emploied and laid out in hempe as well for himself and his servants
to worke upon as for the Prisoners to bee thither sent or committed,"
he the said Betts at his own charge and during the time he is
"Chiefe Workemr shall, & will "find & provide diett and lodging
for all such Prisoners as shalbee from time to time to him Comitted
being above the age of 12 years by anie of H.M. Justices of the
Peace for the Citie and liberties of Westmr," &c. That he shall
keep a Register Book to enter the names of such prisoners & the
term they are committed for; to safely keep the doors &c. of the
* For an interesting notice of this prison see Walcott's Memorials, pp.
273-278.