Aside from major city and county prisons, each town also would have had a structure for handling rulebreakers. The naming of these prisons is representative of the period in which they were first built or reflect some aspect of their design.
Borough Prisons were typically larger than town prisons and drew inmates from a number of different locales.
Bridewells were named after a Prison created in 1553 at St. Bride’s Well in London, formerly a palace of Henry VIII. Over time the name was shortened to Bridewell and came to refer to gaols of any size.
Compters are defined as prisons usually attached to city courts whose inmates mainly consist of debtors. The term is typically used for prisons in London, however there is at least one instance of a Compter in Reading.
Houses of Correction were created after the 1601 Elizabethan Poor Law, criminalising begging and vagrancy and establishing structures where they would be forced to work. By the 18th century they were also used to house pre-trial, any inmates.
Liberty Gaols were so called because the area in which the prison was held, had the ‘liberty’ of its use. This became contracted and was used invariably around the country, from Richmond to Peterborough to Ripon and Saint Albans.
Town Gaols, as the name suggests, existed for the use of towns. Unlike some of the major prisons, due to their relatively small size these would often be built within the town proper rather than on the outskirts where more space would be needed.
| Name | Alias | Location | Active |
| Aberdeen House of Correction | Correction Wynd | Aberdeen | 1637-1711 |
| Abergavenny Town Gaol | Abergavenny Town Prison | Abergavenny | |
| Abingdon Town Gaol | Abingdon Town Prison | Abingdon | |
| Aldborough Town Gaol | Aldborough Town Prison | Aldborough | |
| Alnwick House of Correction | Alnwick | ||
| Andover Borough Gaol | Andover Borough Prison | Andover | |
| Annan Town Gaol | Annan Town Prison | Annan | |
| Ashbourne House of Correction | Ashborne | Ashbourne | 1784-1828 |
| Aylesham Bridewell | Aylesham | ||
| Bala Bridewell | Bala | ||
| Banbury Town Gaol and Bridewell | Banbury Town Prison and Bridewell | Banbury | |
| Banff Town Gaol | Banff Town Prison | Banff | |
| Barking Gaol and House of Correction | Barking Prison and House of Correction | Barking | |
| Barnstaple Borough Gaol and Bridewell | Barnstaple Borough Prison and Bridewell | Barnstaple | |
| Basingstoke Bridewell | Basingstoke | ||
| Battle Town Gaol | Battle Town Prison | Battle | |
| Beaumaris Town Gaol | Beaumaris Town Prison | Beaumaris | |
| Beccles House of Correction | Beccles | ||
| Berkhamsted Bridewell | Berkhamsted | ||
| Beverley Borough Gaol | Beverley | 1810-1856 | |
| Beverley House of Correction | Beverley | 1611-1809 | |
| Beverley New Sessions House and House of Correction | Beverley | ||
| Beverley Town and Liberty Gaol | Beverley Town and Liberty Prison | Beverley | |
| Birmingham Aston Gaol | Bordesley Prison | Birmingham | |
| Birmingham Town Gaol | Birmingham Town Prison | Birmingham | |
| Blandford Town Gaol | Blandford Town Prison | Blandford | |
| Boston Town Gaol and Bridewell | Boston Town Prison and Bridewell | Boston | |
| Botesdale House of Correction | Bottesdale Bridewell | Botesdale | |
| Bradford Town Gaol | Bradford Town Prison | Bradford | |
| Brecon Town Gaol | Brecon Town Prison | Brecon | |
| Bridewell House of Correction | Bridewell | ||
| Bridgewater Town Gaol | Bridgewater Town Prison | Bridgewater | |
| Buckingham Town Gaol | Buckingham Town Prison | Buckingham | |
| Buntingford Bridewell | Buntingford | 1491-1843 | |
| Bury St. Edmund’s Town Bridewell | Bury | ||
| Cambridge Town Bridewell | Cambridge | ||
| Cambridge Town Gaol | Cambridge Town Prison | Cambridge | |
| Canterbury Gaol and House of Connection | Canterbury Prison and House of Connection | Canterbury | |
| Cardiff Town Gaol | Cardiff Town Prison | Cardiff | |
| Carmarthen Borough Gaol | Carmarthen Borough Prison | Carmarthen | |
| Castle-Town, Castle-Rushen | Castle-Town, | ||
| Chesterfield Bridewell | Chesterfield | ||
| Chesterfield Town Gaol | Chesterfield Town Prison | Chesterfield | |
| Colchester Borough Gaol and Bridewell | Colchester Borough Prison and Bridewell | Colchester | |
| Colchester, the Castle Bridewell | Colchester, | ||
| Croydon Town Gaol | Croydon Town Prison | Croydon | |
| Dartford Bridewell | Dartford | ||
| Deal Town Gaol | Deal Town Prison | Deal | |
| Dean House of Correction | Dean | ||
| Denbigh Town Gaol | Denbigh Town Prison | Denbigh | |
| Derby Town or Borough Gaol | Derby Town or Borough Prison | Derby | |
| Derry Gaol (Butcher Street) | Londonderry Gaol | Derry | 1620- |
| Derry Gaol (Ferryquay Street) | Londonderry Gaol | Derry | 1676- |
| Derry Gaol (Bishop Street) | Londonderry Gaol | Derry | 1791- |
| Derry Gaol (Street) | Londonderry Gaol | Derry | 1824-31/03/1953 |
| Dolgelly Bridewell | Dolgelly | ||
| Dolgelly North Gaol | Dolgelly North Prison | Dolgelly | |
| Doncaster Town Gaol | Doncaster Town Prison | Doncaster | |
| Dover Town Gaol and Bridewell | Dover Town Prison and Bridewell | Dover | |
| Dunbar Town Gaol | Dunbar Town Prison | Dunbar | |
| Dundee Town Gaol | Dundee Town Prison | Dundee | |
| Dymchurch Town Gaol and Bridewell | Dymchurch Town Prison and Bridewell | Dymchurch | |
| Edinburgh Holy-rood House | Edinburgh | ||
| Ely Bridewell | Ely | ||
| Evesham Borough Gaol | Evesham Borough Prison | Evesham | |
| Falmouth Town Gaol | Falmouth Town Prison | Falmouth | |
| Folkingham House of Correction | Folkingham | ||
| Gilt-Spur-Street Compter | Smithfield | ||
| Glasgow the Bridewell | Glasgow | ||
| Gosport Bridewell | Gosport | ||
| Grantham Gaol and House of Correction | Grantham Prison and House of Correction | Grantham | |
| Greenwich Gaol | Greenwich Prison | Greenwich | |
| Guildford Bridewell | Guildford | ||
| Halifax Low or Town Gaol for Debtor’s only | Halifax Low or Town Prison for Debtor’s only | Halifax | |
| Halifax Town Gaol | Halifax Town Prison | Halifax | |
| Halsted Bridewell | Halsted | ||
| Harwich Bridewell | Harwich | ||
| HarwichTown Gaol | HarwichTown Prison | HarwichTown | |
| Haverford-West town gaol and Bridewell | Haverford-West town Prison and Bridewell | Haverford-West | |
| Helston Town Gaol | Helston Town Prison | Helston | |
| Henley Town Gaol | Henley Town Prison | Henley | |
| Hexham Gaol | Hexham | 1333- | |
| High Wycombe Bridewell | High Wycombe | ||
| Hinckley Bridewell | Hinckley | ||
| Hitchin Bridewell | Hitchin | ||
| Hithe Town Gaol | Hithe Town Prison | Hithe | |
| Horseky House of Correction | Horseky | ||
| Hull Bridewell | Hull | ||
| Ipswich House of Correction | Ipswich | ||
| Ipswich Town and Borough Bridewell | Ipswich | ||
| Ipswich Town and Borough Gaol | Ipswich Town and Borough Prison | Ipswich | |
| Irven Town Gaol | Irven Town Prison | Irven | |
| Kendal Town Gaol and Birdewell | Kendal Town Prison and Birdewell | Kendal | |
| Kidderminster Town Gaol | Kidderminster Town Prison | Kidderminster | |
| Kilmarnock Town Gaol | Kilmarnock Town Prison | Kilmarnock | |
| Kingston-upon-Thames House of Correction | Kingston-upon-Thames | ||
| Kingston-upon-Thames Town Gaol | Kingston-upon-Thames Town Prison | Kingston-upon-Thames | |
| Kirkcudbright Town Gaol | Kirkcudbright Town Prison | Kirkcudbright | |
| Kirton Gaol | Kirton Prison | Kirton | |
| Knaresborough Castle Gaol for Debtors | Knaresborough Castle Prison for Debtors | Knaresborough | |
| Knaresborough Prison for Town Debtors | Knaresborough Prison for Town Debtors | Knaresborough | |
| Knaresborough Town Gaol for Felons | Knaresborough Town Prison for Felons | Knaresborough | |
| Lancaster Town Gaol | Lancaster Town Prison | Lancaster | |
| Launceston Bridewell | Launceston | ||
| Launceston Town Gaol | Launceston Town Prison | Launceston | |
| Leeds Town Gaol | Leeds Town Prison | Leeds | |
| Leicester Town Gaol | Leicester Town Prison | Leicester | |
| Leith Town Gaol | Leith Town Prison | Leith | |
| Lenton Gaol | Lenton Prison | Lenton | |
| Leominster Town Gaol | Leominster Town Prison | Leominster | |
| Lewes House of Correction for the East Division | Lewes County Gaol, Lewes Prison, HMP Lewes | Lewes | |
| Lewes Invalid Convict Prison | Lewes | ||
| Liverpool Borough Gaol | Liverpool Borough Prison | Liverpool | |
| Liverpool House of Correction | Liverpool | ||
| Liverpool New Borough Gaol and House of Correction | Liverpool New Borough Prison and House of Correction | Liverpool | |
| Louth House of Correction | Louth | ||
| Ludgate Gaol | Ludgate Prison | Ludgate | |
| Ludlow Town Gaol | Ludlow Town Prison | Ludlow | |
| Lydd Town Gaol | Lydd Town Prison | Lydd | |
| Lynn Regis Town Gaol and House of Correction | Lynn Regis Town Prison and House of Correction | Lynn | |
| Macclesfield Town Gaol | Macclesfield Town Prison | Macclesfield | |
| Market House Gaol | Newtownards | ||
| Maidstone House of Correction | Maidstone | ||
| Malton Town Gaol | Malton Town Prison | Malton | |
| Manchester New Bailey | Manchester | ||
| Marlborough Comity Bridewell and Town Gaol | Marlborough Comity Bridewell and Town Prison | Marlborough | |
| Melton Mowbray Bridewell | Melton | ||
| Monmouth Town Gaol | Monmouth Town Prison | Monmouth | |
| Montgomery House of Correction | Montgomery | ||
| Montrose Town Gaol | Montrose Town Prison | Montrose | |
| Morpeth Bridewell | Morpeth | ||
| Musselburgh Town Gaol | Musselburgh Town Prison | Musselburgh | |
| Nantwich Town Gaol | Nantwich Town Prison | Nantwich | |
| Newark-upon-Trent Town Gaol and Bridewell | Newark-upon-Trent Town Prison and Bridewell | Newark-upon-Trent | |
| Newbury Bridewell | Newbury | ||
| Newbury Corporation Gaol | Newbury Corporation Prison | Newbury | |
| Newcastle-upon-Tyne Bridewell | Newcastle-upon-Tyne | ||
| Newcastle-upon-Tyne Sessions Prison | Newcastle-upon-Tyne Sessions Prison | Newcastle-upon-Tyne | |
| Newcastle-upon-Tyne the Castle Garth | Newcastle-upon-Tyne | ||
| Newport Bridewell | Newport | ||
| Newport Bridewell and Town Gaol | Newport Bridewell and Town Prison | Isle of Wight | |
| Northallerton Bridewell | Northallerton | ||
| Northampton Town Gaol and Bridewell | Northampton Town Prison and Bridewell | Northampton | |
| Northlech House of Correction | Northlech | ||
| Norwich for Precincts of the Close | Norwich | ||
| Northleach House of Correction | The Old Prison | Northleach | 1792- |
| Nottingham House of Correction | Nottingham | ||
| Nottingham Town Gaol | Nottingham Town Prison | Nottingham | |
| Odiham Bridewell | Odiham | ||
| Okehampton Town Gaol | Okehampton Town Prison | Okehampton | |
| Orford Borough Gaol and Bridewell | Orford Borough Prison and Bridewell | Orford | |
| Paisley Town Gaol | Paisley Town Prison | Paisley | |
| Pembroke Gaol | Pembroke Prison | Pembroke | |
| Penrhyn Borough Gaol | Penrhyn Borough Prison | Penrhyn | |
| Penzance Borough Gaol | Penzance Borough Prison | Penzance | |
| Perth Town Gaol | Perth Town Prison | Perth | |
| Peterborough Bridewell | Peterborough | ||
| Peterborough Soke Liberty Gaol | Peterborough Soke Liberty Prison | Peterborough | |
| Plymouth Dock Gaol | Plymouth Dock Prison | Plymouth | |
| Plymouth Town Gaol | Plymouth Town Prison | Plymouth | |
| Pontefract Town Gaol | Pontefract Town Prison | Pontefract | |
| Poole Brideswell | Poole | ||
| Poole Town Gaol | Poole Town Prison | Poole | |
| Portsmouth Town Gaol | Portsmouth Town Prison | Portsmouth | |
| Preston House of Correction | Preston | ||
| Reading Town Bridewell | Reading | ||
| Reading Town Gaol or Compter | Reading Town Prison or Compter | Reading | |
| Renfrew Town Gaol | Renfrew Town Prison | Renfrew | |
| Richmond Corporation or Borough Gaol | Richmond Corporation or Borough Prison | Richmond | |
| Ripon Canon-Fee Court Gaol and House of Correction | Ripon Canon-Fee Court Prison and House of Correction | Ripon | |
| Ripon The Liberty Gaol | Ripon The Liberty Prison | Ripon | |
| Romney Town Gaol | Romney Town Prison | Romney | |
| Ruthin House of Correction | Ruthin | ||
| Rye Town Gaol | Rye Town Prison | Rye | |
| Saffron-Walden Town Gaol and Bridewell | Saffron-Walden Town Prison and Bridewell | Saffron-Walden | |
| Saint Alban’s Borough Gaol | Saint Alban’s Borough Prison | Saint Alban’s | |
| Saint Alban’s House of Correction | Saint Alban’s | ||
| Saint Alban’s Liberty Gaol | Saint Alban’s Liberty Prison | Saint Alban’s | |
| Sandwich Town Gaol and Bridewell | Sandwich Town Prison and Bridewell | Sandwich | |
| Scarborough Town Gaol | Scarborough Town Prison | Scarborough | |
| Selkirk Roxburghshire Town Gaol | Selkirk Roxburghshire Town Prison | Selkirk | |
| Sheffield Eccleshall Gaol | Sheffield Eccleshall Prison | Sheffield | |
| Sheffield Town Gaol | Sheffield Town Prison | Sheffield | |
| Shepton Mallet Bridewell | Shepton Mallett House of Correction, HMP Shepton Mallet, Shepton Mallet Prison, Shepton Mallet Gaol | Shepton-Mallet | 1610-2013 |
| Shrewsbury Bridewell | Shrewsbury | ||
| Shrewsbury Felons Gaol | Shrewsbury Felons Prison | Shrewsbury | |
| Southampton Town Gaol for Debtor’s only | Southampton Town Prison for Debtor’s only | Southampton | |
| Southwark Borough Compter | Southwark | ||
| Spalding Bridewell for Holland Division | Spalding | ||
| St. George’s Fields Bridewell | London | ||
| Stamford Town Gaol | Stamford Town Prison | Stamford | |
| Stirling Town Gaol | Stirling Town Prison | Stirling | |
| Stockport Town Gaol | Stockport Town Prison | Stockport | |
| Sudbury Borough Gaol and Bridewell | Sudbury Borough Prison and Bridewell | Sudbury | |
| Swaffham Bridewell | Swaffham | ||
| Swansea Town Gaol | Swansea Town Prison | Swansea | |
| Thetford Town Gaol | Thetford Town Prison | Thetford | |
| Tideswell House of Correction | Tideswell | ||
| Tiverton Town Bridewell | Tiverton | ||
| Tiverton Town Gaol | Tiverton Town Prison | Tiverton | |
| Tothill Fields Bridewell | Tothill Fields Prison, Westminster Bridewell | Westminster | 1618-1884 |
| Tower Hamlets, Welldose Square Gaol | Tower Hamlets, Welldose Square Prison | London | |
| Truro Town Gaol | Truro Town Prison | Truro | |
| Tynemouth House of Correction | Tynemouth | ||
| Wakefield House of Correction | Wakefield | ||
| Wakefield Town Gaol | Wakefield Town Prison | Wakefield | |
| Wallingford Borough Prison | Wallingford | ||
| Walsall Town Gaol | Walsall Town Prison | Walsall | |
| Walsingham Town Gaol | Walsingham Town Prison | Walsingham | |
| Warrington Town Bridewell | Warrington | ||
| Wellington Gaol | Wellington Prison | Wellington | |
| Wells Town Gaol | Wells Town Prison | Wells Town | |
| Whitehaven House of Correction | Whitehaven | ||
| White Lion Gaol | The Sheriff’s Prison, The Gaol at the White Lyon | Southwark | |
| Wirksworth Bridewell | Wirksworth | ||
| Wisbech Town Gaol and Bridewell | Wisbech Town Prison and Bridewell | Wisbech | |
| Wolverhampton Bridewell | Wolverhampton | ||
| Woodbridge Bridewell | Woodbridge | ||
| Worcester Castle Gaol and Bridewell | Worcester Castle Prison and Bridewell | Worcester | |
| Wrexham Denbighshire North House of Correction | Wrexham | ||
| Yarmouth Town Bridewell | Yarmouth | ||
| Yarmouth Town Gaol | Yarmouth Town Prison | Yarmouth | |
| York St. Peters Gaol | York St. Peters Prison | York |
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