Treadmills
DOVER Gaol treadmill: The treadmill was in the old gaol in Dover's Market Square, near the Guildhall. Picture shows the old gaol, the small light coloured building set back, on right of the Guildhall. The stocks and pillory were sited on the right of the Square somewhere in front of the large building with rows of five windows. When the treadwheel was being 'worked' there was a sort of weather-vane on top of the gaol which turned round and was visible from the street. Unfortunately, the power from the treadwheel did not serve any practical purpose.
"Treadmills - close compartments in which prisoner remained for a quarter of an hour at a time, vigorously
treading down a wheel of 24 steps at a fixed rate. (after a period of rest, they resumed again). The men could get no firm tread as the steps sank away from under their feet and made it very tiring. The air became hot and difficult to breathe. ... Although stocks, pillory and roadside gibbets were no longer used the jails were very severe ... the treadmill, crank, oakum picking, and strict regimentation. Transportation only ceased to be an important method for major offenders in the early 1850s.. Where there was NO threat to PROPERTY, the criminal law was very lenient towards violence and sentences passed on those caught seem surprisingly light. Not until c.1865 were effective standards and treatment in gaol brought in and not until 1877 was a 'coherent national penal system' in place." (info from "The Victorian Underworld" by Kellow Chesney, 1970 - an excellent reference book on Victorian crime and punishment)
DOVER PROPOSAL for TREADWHEEL:
The Dover Telegraph 11 Aug 1849 back page col.3 has quite a lot of info about Treadmills:
Dover Town Council meeting "The question of erecting a treadwheel in the Borough was introduced by the Town Clerk. Mr ROBINSON, in proposing its erection (the estimated expense of which was £320 - an amount requiring about a halfpenny rate) observed that it was satisfied it was the best thing that could be done for decreasing the number of vagrants by whom Dover was infested.
Communications received:
1) from Maidstone prison (J.BONE): "prisoners in general dislike Treadwheel labour and it may therefore in some instances operate as a check to vagrants being troublesome in your town" " the power of our mill is applied to grinding corn... but I think for a small gaol a flywheel &c is better.."
2) from Governor of St Augustines Gaol, Canterbury (V.FENN): "my opinion is that prisoners generally and more particularly vagrants, dislike working at the treadwheel much more than they do simple imprisonment. The power of the treadwheel here is not applied to any purpose."
3) Sandwich Gaol (Thos ARIS, Governor): The treadwheels there have been and still are in use since erected in 1832 and 1841, and have had the effect of causing a considerable decrease in the number of committals yearly... much dreaded by the military prisoners and sensibly decreased their numbers. .... with vagrants almost inevitably committed for 14 days the low diet and labour at the treadwheel have been the means of almost driving them from this Liberty, only 9 committed to this prison in last 7 months.... a decrease in other classes of prisoners..."
Mr ROBINSON made other comments in favour of proposal at Dover. Mr BIRMINGHAM seconded and said it should be beneficial. Mr HART opposed the non-productive aspect as against the present "oakum picking" and proposed it was not expedient. The original proposal was carried.
K.