Archival/written
National Archives
A large proportion of prison records are held at National Archives. A comprehensive list of records can be found as part of the Research Guide 88 Sources for convicts and prisoners including the following relating to Nottinghamshire:
- Registers of County Prisons 1847-1866 [HO 23]
- Prison Registers and Returns 1838-1875 [HO 24]
- Criminal Registers, England and Wales 1805-1892 [HO 27]
- Calendars of Prisoners 1868-1971 [HO 140]
- Assize records (Midland Circuit) [ASSI 11, ASSI 12, ASSI 13, ASSI 15]
Nottinghamshire Archives
Police/Law courts
The Archives have a extensive range of material dating back to 1629. Examples include:
- Kirklington Parish account book which mentions parish armour [PR 1142]
- Felons association [DD 54/1-11]
- Watch and Ward [CA 1486] (1812)
- Nottingham City police – Administration [CA/CM/]; Crime [CA/PO/]
- Retford and Newark Police [CC/]
- Nottinghamshire County Police Force [C/QA/C/], [ CC/] and [CC/NP/]
- Nottinghamshire Combined Constabulary [CC/NC]
- Petty Sessions and Magistrates Courts registers [C/PS] (late 19th-late 20th centuries)
- Quarter Sessions minute books [C/QSM] (1603-1971)
- Calendars of prisoners [C/QSP] (1850-1971)
- City and county police records, incl annual reports and statistics, criminal photograph book, application books, constables' notebooks, fines receipt book, papers concerning the miners' strike, 1984-5, photographs and misc papers [Accessions 7380, 7460]
Prisons
- Southwell House of Correction [C/QAG 5] - includes dietaries
- Bagthorpe Prison/Nottingham Prison [SO/PN]
- Transportation agreements [C/QAG 3/3/]
- Returns of Felons [C/QDF/1]
- Returns of fines and convictions [C/QDF/2]
- Lists of debtors in County Gaol [C/QJD1-13]
- Lists of debtors – Gaol of the Honour of Peveril [CQJD/14-19]
- Indictments [C/QJI 1]
- Draft indictments [C/QJI 2/2]
- Orders of commitments to gaol [C/QSG]
Note: There are no records kept for HMPs Lowdham, Ranby or Whatton held at NA.
Galleries of Justice
There is an extensive library (Wolfson Study Centre) at the Galleries which has a number of collections including famous crimes and trials; the Rainer Foundation Archive on the founding society of the Probation Service and Reform; Criminal identification books as well as a library collection containing historical and contemporary books, and videos.