 William Henry Gibbs
(1832 - 1892)
(Pictured with his daughter)
William Henry Gibbs was born at Cern Abbas,
Dorset in South West England. He led a fascinating life and managed to handwrite
his story. The book was passed down to Ray Watts by his father. Now Ray has
meticulously transcribed his great Grandfathers writings and has given me
permission to publish this interesting work for us all to read.
Apart from his life, Williams Gibbs words include details of prison life and a meeting with the famous
hangman Calcraft, as well as certain infamous prisoners.
The book also describes his life as a bakers boy in Dorset, his training as a
'snob' (shoe mender), his life in London as a groom, joining the army and going
to Canada in the Rifles and then his return to England to take up his life as an
infirmary warder.
He refers to St.Crisben (the patron saint of cobblers) and a St. Crisben day
when they took the day off work and got drunk!
Ray Watts says: "My Dad lived in Southwark between the Wars and he
used to tell me about Southwark and particularly the association with
Dickens locations (Little Dorrit etc.). I also have associated stuff
from Gibbs, like his rent book, a self portrait done on prison menu card
and a photograph (Glass lithograph type).
My Mum was from Clerkenwell and after the War they moved to a prefab
in Islington (Sheen Grove, now a part of Barnards Park) just off of
Richmond Avenue. My two brothers and myself went to Thornhill Primary
School and on to Barnsbury Secondary in Holloway and Camden Road. My Dad
passed this on to me, because I showed the most interest (even though I
was the youngest of three boys).
I have done some research about the prison and Southwark. Dad used to
work at Barclay Perkins brewery on Southwark Bridge.
The book is in good nick, but it will deteriorate and I wanted to
transcribe it to preserve it."
Horsemonger Lane Gaol
Horsemonger Lane Prison was built between 1791 and 1799 to a design by George
Gwilt the Elder. This was once the largest prisons in the county of Surrey, and
was adjacent to the court building Sessions House.
Horsemonger Lane remained Surrey’s principal prison and place of execution up
to its closure in 1878. It was a common gaol with a capacity of around 300
inmates. In total 131 men and four women were executed there between 1800 and
1877. The gallows were constructed on the flat roof of the prison's gatehouse.
By 1859, the gaol was no longer known as 'Horsemonger Lane' following the
road's change of name to Union Road (today called Harper Road). It was renamed
Surrey County Gaol.
The prison was demolished in 1881 and the site is today a public park,
Newington Gardens, adjacent to the present Inner London Crown Court, opened in
January 1921.
In 1849,
Charles Dickens attended the public hangings outside the Gaol of husband and
wife Frederick and Maria Manning, who had killed a friend for his money and
buried him under the kitchen floor. Dickens wrote to The Times condemning
such public spectacles.
Dickens later based the character of Hortense in Bleak House on Maria
Manning, while Mrs Chivery's tobacco shop in Little Dorrit is located on
Horsemonger Lane.
Executions at Horsemonger Lane are also mentioned in Sarah Waters'
novel Fingersmith. |