| AdminHistory | There have been several prisons in Birmingham dating back to at least the thirteenth century. It is believed that there was a Bridewell house of correction in 1733, as it was replaced or rebuilt in that year, and in 1807 a gaol was built in Moor Street, which was enlarged in 1830. There was also a debtor’s prison in High Street until 1849. The Moor Street gaol proved inadequate and was only used for prisoners prior to and after conviction, with any prisoner required to serve a sentence being instead transferred to the County gaol at Warwick. This proved expensive and in 1845 it was decided to build a new borough prison, for which documents survive amongst the records of Winson Green Prison (see MS 1815) and the Birmingham Quarter Sessions (see QS/B/23-24).
The Gaol and Buildings Committee was formed in May 1844, as the Gaol Committee. It comprised of nine members including the Lord Mayor. Its function was to examine the plans and designs and monitor the building of the new borough gaol in Winson Green, and the first minute volume carries a good description of the new gaol (see BCC/1/AD/1/1). Later the committee also took over responsibility for Corporation buildings and especially the Kent Street baths and washrooms that were under construction in 1851. In December, 1851, the committee was disbanded, with the responsibility for the public baths going to the Baths and Wash-house Committee (see BCC/1/AL) and the buildings aspect was transferred to the newly established Estates and Buildings Committee (see BCC/1/AM). |