Monument record 10315 - City Gaol and House of Correction (Bedward Row)

A new combined gaol and house of correction, replacing the previous Northgate Gaol, was built in 1807 and opened in 1808 (4). It seems that the goal at the Northgate had been damaged during the construction of the canal, leading to the construction of these new facilities (5). The site, enclosed by a high wall, fronted the later City Walls Road between Linenhall to the south and the infirmary to the north. The brick buildings were designed by Thomas Harrison and had the gaol on the west with the house of correction on the east, linked by a chapel serving both. The entrance was on the western side, and contained the gallows, which had been used until 1867 (1, 4).

The prisoner’s Act of 1823 required alterations to the building that were completed in 1825; twenty seven separate cells, six workrooms, and two schoolrooms were made out of the existing accommodation (4). Hemmingway wrote ‘the precincts of the prisons were considerably enlarged, by an extension of the boundary wall towards the east; on the newly enclosed ground eight work shops have been erected for the prisoners sentenced to hard labour, and on the north of the area, a lodge for the turnkey, with two lockups, one for males the other for females’ (4). Lodges to the east and west were demolished and the site extended east so as to clear a space around the older buildings and prevent escapes.

In 1871 the gaol was condemned, largely because of overcrowding, closing in 1872 with the inmates removed to the county gaols (4). In 1874 the buildings were demolished and the Queen’s School (CHER 10394) was later built on the site.

Brick and stone foundations of the house of correction were identified during excavation and watching brief for an extension to the gymasium of Queens school in 2014, (6)

<1> Chester Archaeology, 1992, An Archaeological Evaluation on the Site of a Proposed Extension to the Queen's School, Chester, March 1992, R2096 (Client Report). SCH4104.

<2> Chester City Council Archaeology Service, 1992, Chester Archaeology Service Newsletter (Newsletter). SCH6006.

<3> Chester City Council Archaeology Service, 1993, Annual Review 1992-1993 (Newsletter). SCH6049.

<4> Lewis C.P & Thacker A.T. (eds), 2005, Victoria County History - A History of the County of Chester: Volume Vii, The City of Chester - The City of Chester, Culture, Buildings, Institutions (Book). SCH6522.

<5> L - P Archaeology, 2002, Archaeological Watching Brief of Land at the Queen's School, Chester, R2439 (Client Report). SCH4405.

<6> Aeon Archaeology, 2014, Archaeological Evaluation test Pits and Watching Brief, the Queen's School, City Walls Road, Chester August 2014, R3687 (Client Report). SCH7717.