Hastings Borough Council: registers of prisoners at Hastings Gaol

Hastings' first common gaol formed part of the old court hall by the side of the Bourne Stream in the heart of the old town. It was not until 1775 that a room was provided within the building 'convenient for a person to lodge in order to prevent prisoners making their escapes as has lately been the case'. The gaol was, however, still not satisfactory, but it took three reports by the grand jury that it was 'delapidated and greatly in decay' before the corporation made plans for rebuilding. The new gaol was close to the same site, in Bourne Street, and again overhanging the Bourne Stream. The building was started in 1818 and cost around £800. Inmates included those imprisoned for offences dealt with at the Hastings quarter sessions and those kept there pending transfer to the assize court at Lewes. By 1829 the gaol had again to be enlarged. Another story was added, making a tall, narrow building, and a yard beside it. Prisoners lived on the first and second stories, the ground floor being for the keepr and his wife. In 1833 HM Inspector of Prisons demanded that the gaol be either rebuilt or only used as a lock-up, with convicted prisoners being sent to Lewes. In February 1842 the old gaoler, George Colbrand, retired aged 71 years. The new gaoler was James Wellerd, a butcher, appointed at £45 per year, his wife, Mary, was matron at £10. The gaol had a poor security record and in 1856 Wellerd was murdered by two escaping prisoners. As a consequence the gaol was closed and prisoners transferred to Lewes gaol. The building then became a police station, being completely rebuilt towards the end of the century. Bourne Street disappeared in 1962 when a new road was built to ease congestion within the old town.

<p>For microfilm see XA 78/12; for records concerning the re-building of the gaol, 1819-1833 see HAS ****.</p>