yet satisfied, for scarcely had the century closed when it was found
that the great outlay that had been incurred was useless, and that
the establishment was altogether insecure; William Davis, the gaoler,
complaining of the escape of certain prisoners; and a "watchman or
guard" was decided on. After an unprecedented opposition on the score
of expense, and a protracted scene of strife and contention among the
magistracy, the Court of Quarter Sessions at length resolved, in the
year 1808 (but not till Lord Chief Baron Macdonald had threatened the
county with a heavy fine), to build a new gaol in Salt Lane, at a
cost of £18,000. The details of these transactions will be found in
"Worcestershire in the Nineteenth Century," recently published, the
author of which informs us that on the Sunday during or immediately
following the Assizes, which used to be known as Assize Sunday, and
kept as a great fair, the keepers at the (old) county gaol were
accustomed to show the prisoners through the bars to the curious crowd,
and collect money in a boot for pointing out those who were sentenced
to be hanged! In 1814 the prisoners were removed to the new gaol; and
at the very next Sessions, Mr. Wells, attorney, was requested to apply
to Mr. Sandys, the architect, relative to the escape of some prisoners
therefrom!! From that time to the present this ill-fated building has
seemed destined to an endless sinking of capital, for the trial of new
experiments and for remedying the stupidity of bygone architects and
committees. About £18,000 was spent on it a dozen years ago, and now
(1856) nearly £20,000 has been voted for the same purpose.
The Poor.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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