England, Devon, Plymouth Prison Records, 1821-1919
Plymouth Prison was built in 1849. The prison housed both male and female prisoners for a range of offences including desertion from prison, embezzlement, sodomy, drunkenness, murder, and prostitution, to name a few. By the late nineteenth century, the penal system had been studied and legislation such as the Prison Act 1898 had passed, which lead to public opinion shifting to the idea that a prison should be used to reform prisoners. Work was no longer used as punishment but to be productive. It was believed that a prisoner could reform and leave prison a better person. This index is published in cooperation with FindMyPast. For more information on the collection visit https://search.findmypast.com/search-world-Records/devon-plymouth-prison-records-1832-1919
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England, Devon, Plymouth Prison Records
What is in This Collection?
From the National Archives, "Plymouth Prison was built in 1849, on a site at Greenbank, adjacent to the Workhouse. It housed 81 male and female prisoners in 1897 and had apartments for officers, visiting and solitary cells, convalescent rooms and airing grounds. The prison was closed in March 1930 and all prisoners were transferred to Exeter Prison." Additional records and/or images may be added to this collection in the future.
What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records:
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Collection Content
Sample Images
Register, 1903
Register, 1888
Coverage Table
For details on these records see The National Archives, Records of Plymouth Prision.
| Record series name, dates | Record Series |
|---|---|
| Register of male prisoners, 1867-1926 | 3040/1 - 3040/6 |
| Register of female prisoners, 1915-1922 | 3040/7 |
| Index of male and female prisioners, 1911-1929 | 3040/8 - 3040/9 |
| Calendar of prisoners, Boroughs of Devonport and Plymouth Quarter Sessions, 1898-1909 | 3040/10 |
| Calendar of prisoners, Borough of Devonport, Plymouth, Tiverton, Bideford, Barnstaple, Exeter and Penzance Quarter Sessions, 1906-1907 | 3040/11 |
| Register of Plymouth Prison officers (includes male and female officers and refers to their employment at various prisons, late 19th cent-c1926 | 3040/12 |
| Visiting Committee minutes, 1878-1926 | 3040/13 - 3040/14 |
| Visiting Committee inspection reports, 1878-1928 | 3040/15 - 3040/16 |
| Prison inspectors reports, 1892-1930 | 3040/17-3040/18 |
| Letter book of John Simm, Governor of Plymouth Prison, 1863-1878 | 3040/19 |
| Demand book, 1926-1929 | 3040/20 |
| Assize and Sessions book (Plymouth Crown Court), 1986-1987 | 3040/21 |
Collection Details
Location of Original Records
Plymouth and West Devon Record Office
"England, Devon, Plymouth Prison Records, 1821-1919." Database. FamilySearch. httsp://FamilySearch.org : 15 June 2024. Records extracted by FamilySearch. Images digitized by FindMyPast. Plymouth and West Devon Record Office, England.
