The Clink facts for kids
The Clink was a famous prison in Southwark, England. It was open for a very long time, from the 12th century until 1780. This prison was special because it belonged to the Bishop of Winchester, not the King or Queen. The Bishop was a powerful church leader who owned the local area called the "Liberty of the Clink."
Because the Bishop owned this area, he collected money from people living there. If someone didn't pay, he could send them to The Clink. He could also imprison people who had different religious beliefs. The prison was right next to the Bishop's home in London, called Winchester Palace. Many people believe The Clink was one of the oldest prisons for both men and women in England.
No one is completely sure where the name "The Clink" came from. It might have sounded like the noise of the prison doors closing or the chains worn by prisoners. Today, "the clink" is a common slang word for any prison or jail cell.
Contents
What Was The Clink?
The Clink prison had a very long and interesting past. It was around for hundreds of years, seeing many changes in England.
A Prison with a Long History
There was a prison on this site in some form since the year 860. Back then, it was probably just one small cell in a college for priests. By 1076, church leaders had different ways to punish people. These included being kept alone, or given only bread and water in silence.
The Bishop of Winchester lived far away in Hampshire. He decided to build a chapel and a large house, Winchester Palace, in Southwark. This was so he could be close to his important government work in London. The prison was built sometime after he bought the land between 1144 and 1149.
The Bishop's Power
The prison was made up of several buildings within the Bishop's large estate. It held people from the local area who had broken rules. Some prisoners were important people because the Bishop of Winchester was a senior member of the king's government. He was often the Lord Chancellor. His church court could also put people on trial for religious offenses.
Life Inside the Prison
The people who ran the prison, called gaolers, were not paid much. So, they found other ways to make money. This meant that prisoners with money or friends outside had a better time. Gaolers would charge extra for rooms, beds, blankets, candles, and fuel. Food and drinks were sold at double the normal price.
Prisoners could also pay to have lighter chains or even have them removed. For a fee, some were allowed to leave the prison to beg or work. Poorer prisoners had to beg through grates that led to the street. They would sell their belongings, even their clothes, just to buy food. It was a very unfair system.
The Prison's End
Over time, the types of prisoners held at The Clink changed. The prison also faced challenges that led to its eventual closure.
From Heretics to Debtors
In 1450, rioters attacked Winchester House. They were protesting unfair rules and saw church leaders as tax collectors. They killed some people and freed prisoners from The Clink before burning it down. The rebellion was stopped, and Winchester House was rebuilt, including a new prison.
At first, most prisoners had broken local rules. But by the 1500s, it mainly held people with different religious views. These were people who disagreed with the bishops. Famous Protestant figures like John Bradford and John Hooper were held there. In later years, it mostly became a debtors' prison, holding people who couldn't pay their debts.
The Final Years
In 1649, Winchester House was sold to a property developer. It was then divided into shops and homes. The prison slowly fell into disrepair. By 1707, some of its punishment tools were no longer used because they cost too much to maintain. By 1732, there were only two prisoners recorded.
In 1745, a temporary prison had to be used because The Clink was too old and broken. However, by 1776, it was still taking in debtors. The Clink was finally burned down in 1780 during the Gordon Riots. It was never rebuilt after that.
The Clink Today
Today, you can visit The Clink Prison Museum. It is located on Clink Street in Southwark, near where the original prison stood. The museum tries to show visitors what life was like inside the old prison.
Famous People Held at The Clink
Many people were held in The Clink over its long history. Here are a few notable individuals:
- Father Laurence Vaux (1581–1585) ~ a priest and writer.
- William Alabaster (1597) ~ a poet and playwright.
- Father John Gerard, S.J. (1594–1597)
- Father John Jones OFM (1596–1598)
- Father George Blackwell (1607–1613)
- Matthew Wilson, also known as Edward Knott (1629–1633) ~ a Jesuit writer.
- John Lothropp ~ a religious leader.
- Anne Askew ~ a Protestant writer and martyr.
See Also
- List of prisons in the United Kingdom
- The Clink (restaurant)
