The Treadmill, House of Correction - Brighton

Although the main Gaol for Sussex was based at Horsham, there was for a time, a House of Correction in Brighton. I do not know of the location of this house and would be grateful of any further information regarding this establishment.

 

The treadmill is thus described in Encyclopedia Brittanica (11th edition): -

 

 

"..... a penal appliance introduced by Sir William Cubbitt in 1818 intended by him as a means of employing criminals usefully. It was a large hollow cylinder of wood on an iron frame, round the circumference of which were a series of steps about 7: in. apart. The criminal, steadying himself by hand-rails on either side, trod on these, his weight causing the mill to revolve and compelling him to take each step in turn

 

In the brutalizing system formerly in vogue the necessary assistance was obtained by weights, thus condemning the offender to useless toil and defeating the inventor's object. The tread-mill, however, was subsequently utilised for grinding corn, pumping water and other prison purposes. The speed of the wheel was regulated by a brake. Usually it revolved at the rate of 32 ft. per minute. The prisoner worked for six hours each day, three hours at a time. He was on the wheel for 15 minutes, and then rested for five minutes.

 

Thus in the course of his day's work he climbed 8,640feet. Isolation of prisoners at their work was obtained by screens of wood on each side of the mill, converting the working space into a separate compartment. Each prisoner was medically examined before going to the mill."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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