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162
Justices for the City & Libty of Westmr at their Genl Quarter
Sessions towards the repairing of Bridewell by order of Quarter
Sessions made at Westmr at Midsomer last the Sume of Tenn
Pounds & Four Shillings And also the sume of Nineteen
Shillings & Two Pence to Mrs. Redding for keeping one Landy.
Resolved that it be represented to the Justices of this parish the
Hardship the Inhabitants of this Parish is put unto towards
the repairing of Bridewell (over & above the other Parishes)
at the next Quarter Sessions to be Holden at Westminster.
22 July, 1713. That the Churchwardens pay to Mr. Elderton
Keeper of Bridewell the Sume of £18 15s. 6d. pursuant to an
Order of Quarter Sessions being the proportion laid on this
pariah towards repairing the same.
No mention is made in the Vestry minutes of the date of
the demolition of the prison, but a painted inscription on a
board affixed to the north east wall of the Sessions House,
in the Broad Sanctuary, above a stone doorway supplies the
information:—
Taken from the Gateway of the old Tothill Fields prison Westminster,
Anno Domini 1836.
Another board affixed immediately under the stone lintel
of the above mentioned doorway bears the inscription:—
Gateway lock and key of the principal entrance to the old Tothill
Fields Prison Anno 1665.
Removed 1836. Erected here 1884.
Another place of detention, the parish "cage" or roundhouse,
cast further responsibilities upon the Vestry:—
23rd October, 1727. The Church Wardens having represented to the
Vestry that by reason of their being but one Roundhouse for the
Confinement of persons taken up in the Night time, it often happens
that ye Peace Officers when they have prisoners of both
sexes, are obliged to carry one of them to ye Gatehouse to the
great Expence of many poor people by the Exorbitant Fees there.
And that there is room with a Small Expence to erect another Prison
or Roundhouse out of the Bonehouse which will be very fit for
that purpose.
Ordd that the Church Wardens do cause such Room to be partitioned
of with a Brick Wall from ye said Bonehouse and otherwise
strengthend and made a fit place of Security and the charge
shall be Allowed on their Account.
After the constitution of the parish of St. John the Evangelist
the expenses were levied upon the two parishes