The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction. Volume 10, No. 271, September 1, 1827

A vivid snapshot of early‑19th‑century penal reform, this work chronicles the birth of Norwich’s new gaol. After the old jail proved unsafe, city magistrates launched a public design competition, eventually selecting Mr. Brown’s plan. Built between 1824 and 1827 at a cost of £23,000, the brick‑walled complex encloses nearly two acres and was intended to house 120 inmates along with the necessary staff.

The description walks the listener through the prison’s layout: fortified bastions at each corner, a porter’s room, baths, and a linen‑purifying oven at the entrance, as well as separate wings for debtors, felons, men, women, and children. Innovative features such as tread‑wheels powering a millhouse, dedicated infirmaries, and a chapel linked to the governor’s residence reveal the era’s blend of discipline and emerging humanitarian concerns. The account offers a detailed, almost architectural tour of a facility designed to embody the new standards of order and classification.