BerksFHS
Reading Gaool

Some notes by Jean Debney in response to a question raised on the BerksFHS Discussion Group. [Feb 2002]

It is likely that some information about Reading Gaol will be found in the Quarter Sessions records of the county of Berkshire (but probably not in the QS records for Reading Borough).  The best class to look at first would be the QS Order Books.

Also check the QS Rolls which contain the various loose documents produced for and by each Session (ie. Every quarter: Epiphany /January, Easter, Midsummer / c.Jun and Michaelmas / c.Sep/Oct). Amongst the various papers are printed lists of prisoners in the various county gaols with names, ages, crime committed, when and where convicted, length of sentence - plus other interesting personal comments. 

I believe there are also some books of photographs from the later 19th century.  I haven't looked at these but keep promising myself that I will 'one day'! (See also the article 'Light in dark places: photographs of prisoners in Reading Gaol' by Elizabeth Hughes in the Dec 1999 issue of the Berkshire Family Historian

Until 1888 the magistrates in the QS were responsible not only for trying criminal cases (ie. Dealing with cases of law order) but also with county administration and other matters on behalf of Parliament, for whom it acted as an intermediary in imposing taxation, etc.

In this respect the county magistrates in QS were also responsible for any prisons within their area.

[After 1888 the QS was split into the 'Quarter Sessions' for law and order, and the county or borough councils for local administration under the auspices of the County or Town Clerk.  Post 1972, the QS became the 'Crown Court']

There are some police records in the BRO regarding the Reading Force - they are also one of the many classes of records among those of the QS.

Note provided by Cliff Debney [Dec 2003]

There is a book on Reading Goal "The Story of a Prison" by Peter Southerton first published in 1975 by Osprey Publishing, ISBN 0 85045 260 0.  The author was a Probation Officer since retired and died; a very gentle man. The book is in our Reference Library

An Officer at Reading Gaol has the task of collating and updating the relevant history to the gaol.

One thing that always amazes him is the fact that so little is known about the gaol by the every day public and he hopes that will change soon.

He is in contact with the Reading museum and hopes to soon do a display within the museum of artefacts and historical data in relation to the gaol.
Being the chief locksmith at the gaol he was able to go where no one else tends to go!! The earliest Graffiti in the gaol is 1868 by a Samual Goodall who painted the roof lights.

The prison has had 12 different roles through it's life and the one time that has given more trouble to research is 1943-1945 when the Canadian Army ran the gaol. Soon the CVA (Canadian Veteran Association) will publish a paper on this.

updated 28^th January 2004