Plymouth, Penitentiaries

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The Encyclopaedia of Plymouth History

PENITENTIARIES

Updated: 10 October 2011

The oldest such institution in Plymouth was the Plymouth, Stonehouse and Devonport Penitentiary and Female Home, situated in Ham Lane, off Ebrington Street.

It was founded in 1832 and the inmates were employed in washing and in al the business of a laundry, together with needlework and every kind of household work. The proceeds of their work paid the expenses of the establishment.

In 1878 the Reverend H Marriott and Mr H T Heywood were the secretaries, Doctor C A Hingston was the physician, Mr J H Eccles, the surgeon, Miss A Trist the matron and Miss M Coaker the sub-matron.

The sign on the corner of Ebrington Streetand Hampton Street announcing the wherabouts of the Female Penetentiary.

The sign on the corner of Ebrington Street and Hampton Street announcing the whereabouts of the Female Penitentiary.
Author's collection.

The Female Home for Unfortunate Women, which was founded in 1861 and located at number 1 Hill Street, Plymouth, was a separate establishment. It was sometimes referred to as a "Female Refuge". A widow by the name of Mrs Ann P Cooper, aged 42, was the Matron in 1861, looking after women from 14 to 38-years-old. Sometime before 1890 this establishment was amalgamated with the Plymouth, Stonehouse and Devonport Penitentiary mentioned above.

In 1859 a House of Mercy was founded at Devonport by the Reverend Mawson but when he left in 1863 to become a missionary in the Sandwich Islands, the institution was moved to the House of Peace at 157 North Road, Plymouth. This was run by the Devonport Society, which was founded under the rules of the Church Penitentiary Association. It had accommodation for 64 inmates.

Miss Turnbull was the superioress in 1878, with Sister Rose Alston as the resident sister-n-charge. Mr George Norrington was the secretary and treasurer.

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