The Giltspur Street Compter was a
compter or small
prison, designed by English architect and surveyor
George Dance the Younger, mainly used to hold
debtors.
It was in
Giltspur Street,
Smithfield, close to
Newgate
Newgate was one of the historic seven gates of the London Wall around the City of London and one of the six which date back to Roman times. Newgate lay on the west side of the wall and the road issuing from it headed over the River Fleet to Mid ...
, in the
City of London, between 1791 and 1853.
The Compter was adjacent to Christ's Hospital Boys' School (1553-1902). Its construction began in 1787,
and was ready for occupation in 1791. In 1815 it took some prisoners from the nearby
Poultry Compter prior to its closure. The Giltspur Street prison was itself closed in 1853 and demolished in 1854, the site being later occupied by the King Edward Buildings Royal Mail Sorting Office.
Inmates
In 1831,
Robert Wedderburn (radical) was arrested and sent to Giltspur Street Compter as he continued to campaign for
freedom of speech
Freedom of speech is a principle that supports the freedom of an individual or a community to articulate their opinions and ideas without fear of retaliation, censorship, or legal sanction. The right to freedom of expression has been recogni ...
,
antislavery and
working-class
The working class (or labouring class) comprises those engaged in manual-labour occupations or industrial work, who are remunerated via waged or salaried contracts. Working-class occupations (see also " Designation of workers by collar colou ...
revolution.
References
Defunct prisons in London
Former buildings and structures in the City of London
Debtors' prisons
1791 establishments in England
1853 disestablishments in England
Demolished prisons
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