1795: The Rules of the King’s Bench Prison

Declaring the extent of the Rules of the King’s Bench Prison, 1795.

Easter Term. 35 Geo. III. 1795.

Upon reading a petition signed by several of the prisoners confined for debt in the King’s Bench prison; and upon hearing the report of the coroner and attorney of this court respecting the said prison and the rules thereof;

It is Ordered, That from and after the first day of Trinity term next, so much of the rule made on Friday next after fifteen days of Easter, in the thirtieth year of his present Majesty’s reign as establishes the rules of the said prison, be, and the same is hereby repealed:

And it is further Ordered, That from and after the said first day of Trinity term next, the rules of the King’s Bench prison shall be comprised within the bounds following; exclusive of the public houses hereinafter mentioned; that is to say, from Great Cumber Court in the parish of Saint George the Martyr in the county of Surry, along the north side of Great Suffolk Street, as far as the Star brewhouse; and from thence along the north-west side of Gilbert’s Lane to the Blackfriars Road, and across the said Road along the north-west side of Webber Street, to the Halfway House; and from thence along the western side of Barron’s Buildings and Saint George’s Row, to the Westminster Road; and then across the said road, and along the western side of Saint George’s Mall, and from the pastry cook’s at the west end thereof, directly across to the lamp-post on the footpath near the watch-house facing the Dog and Duck, and along the said footpath from the said lamp-post, to another lamp-post on the eastern side of the said Road facing Keys’s Nursery; and then along the whole of the said Road leading by Prospect Place to the Elephant and Castle; and from thence along the eastern side of Newington Causeway to Great Cumber Court aforesaid:

And it is also Ordered, That the House of Correction for the county of Surry, the New Gaol Southwark, and the Gaol now building for the county of Surry, and the highways (exclusive of the houses on each side thereof) leading from the King’s Bench prison to the said gaols respectively, shall be within and part of the said rules:

And it is lastly Ordered, That all taverns, victualling houses, alehouses, wine vaults, houses or places licenced to sell gin or other spirituous liquors, and all places licenced for public entertainments, shall be excluded out of and deemed no part of the said rules.

Source: Rules and Orders on the Plea Side of the Court of King’s Bench, 1795.