County Gaol and Dr Robert's Clock Tower

Plaque numbers 15 , 16 and 90 can be found at this location.

Plaque Number 15

County Gaol

Plaque Location

This plaque can be found on the east side of thre Clock Tower next to the River Avon in Fisherton Street.
The O/S grid position is SU 14211 East 29950 North.

Plaque Text

This wall formed a part of the County Gaol erected 1569 demolished 1823. The river was the City boundary until 1835.

Note: The wall probably dates from 1783 when Quarter Sessions authorised the construction of 24 new cells.

Plaque Photograph

Further Plaque Details

The history of Salisbury’s gaols is complex –at one time there were no fewer than three. John Chandler’s history of Salisbury and its people (Endless Street) has the following words on the Old County Gaol:

‘Like the Cathedral the gaol was one of the administrative buildings which Salisbury inherited from Old Sarum. From the middle of the twelfth century until about 1500 the county gaol was in Old Sarum Castle, but for the last eighty years of its life it had a rival somewhere in Fisherton Anger on the outskirts of Salisbury, and after 1500 this became the county’s principal prison. There was also a prison within the city limits which belonged to the Bishop as lord of the city. It existed in 1246, but seems to have been transferred to the newly-built Bishop’s Guildhall in the early fourteenth century, where it remained until 1785. Meanwhile the county magistrates decided in 1568 that they would build a new gaol. The first site they chose was at East Harnham, just across the river from the Bishop’s palace. A hasty letter from ‘Yo’r poore frende’, the Bishop, scotched this suggestion, and a site next to Fisherton Bridge was purchased. The present clock tower between the bridge and the Infirmary incorporates some of the masonry from a later rebuilding of this gaol. As a result of delays caused by resentful ratepayers unaccustomed to so large an item of capital expenditure, Fisherton Gaol took ten years to complete. Old Sarum was plundered for stone, and a new two storey building was erected, seventeen by nine metres, with seven small barred windows, inside a retaining wall seven metres high. For over two centuries this building was repaired and modified, altered and extended, and continued to serve as the county gaol until the beginning of the nineteenth century.

Old Fisherton Gaol was an unpleasant place. A report of 1807 describes some of its faults. The brick floors were worn and the walls needed whitewashing. The building was dirty and the ground floor cells very damp. These cells had wooden bedsteads, but upstairs the prisoners had no bedsteads at all. Four of the cells had been used in the past five years for the storage of ammunition. There was no bath or tub, no oven for fumigating clothes and no medical examination of prisoners on entering the gaol. The prisoners were fed 1 ¾ lbs of bread per day. There was no work for them to do and they were only let out of their cells into a small yard for an hour each day.’

In response to the 1807 report, the county justices invited estimates for enlarging the goal and expanding onto adjacent land which was to be bought. Little progress was made with this scheme in the face of opposition from the City authorities backed by popular feeling against a larger gaol on this site. In 1817 agreement was reached to build on a new site at the junction of the Devizes and Wilton Roads (see plaque 59).

At the same time as attempts were being made to expand the gaol on the old site, its neighbour, Salisbury Infirmary, had also been growing and needed more space. In 1822 the new gaol on the Devizes/Wilton Road site was completed and the Infirmary Governors bought the old gaol site for £1750. For a short time some of the old goal buildings were used as part of the infirmary. Most of them were however demolished by 1843.

Plaque Number 16

County Gaol

Plaque Location

This plaque can be found on the west side of the Clock Tower next to the River Avon in Fisherton Street.
It is on the opposite side to that where plaque 15 is.
The O/S grid position is SU 14204 East 29952 North.

Plaque Text

This plaque has no text but only a picture of chains and rings; denoting a gaol.

Further Plaque Details

See plaques 15 and 59 for some details about Salisbury's gaols.

Plaque Photograph

Plaque Number 90

Dr Robert's Clock Tower

Plaque Location

This plaque can be found on the clock tower beneath the clock but above the old gaol next to the river Avon at the start of Fisherton Street.
The O/S grid position is SU ????? East ????? North.

Plaque Text

This
Clock Tower
built in the year 1892-3
was presented to the City
by Dr. Roberts.
who erected the same in memory
of Arabella his beloved wife
the daughter of
Robert Hahnam Kelham Esq
of Bleasby Hall, Notts

William Marlow Mayor 1891-
Arthur Whitehead Mayor 1892
Mr Charles Powling Town Clerk

Plaque Photograph

Further Plaque Details

Dr John Roberts M.D. (1821-1906)

John Roberts, who presented the clock tower to the City, was a native of North Wales, a son of Cornelius Roberts of Dolauen. He was educated at Trinity College Dublin and Edinburgh University, where he qualified as doctor of medicine in 1845, and came to Salisbury in 1854 to join the medical team at the Infirmary. In 1857 the infirmary chaplain (the Reverend T.S. Smith) reported that Dr Roberts had recommended that patients be provided with ‘sea air and change to restore them to complete health’, a recommendation which led to the setting up of a convalescent home at Charmouth. The following year he contributed to the Lancet on his work in Salisbury. He became a member of the Royal College of Physicians in 1861. In 1874 he was appointed honorary consulting physician, a post he was to hold until the end of his life, while at the same time building up an extensive private practice in the city. In 1875 his address was shown as the Close Gate, High Street.

To quote from his obituary; ‘during those days he devoted a great deal of time and energy to the poor, setting apart certain hours of the day for the giving of free advice. It was mainly due to his efforts that the Salisbury and South Wilts Dispensary was founded ….. he allowed the dispensary to use his premises at a nominal rent, this being returned as a subscription. The large hall at the School of Art* was built by him and presented to the Institution’. He was a strong supporter of the campaign to erect a statue to Henry Fawcett (see plaque 26). Dr Roberts last appeared in the Medical Directory in 1906, where he is shown as retired and credited with a number of publications. He died of pneumonia on 31 October 1906 at the age of 85 and was survived by his second wife. His philanthropy seems to have been recognised in the city: on 17 November the Salisbury Education Committee commented that ‘in view of his patronage and pecuniary aid to the Dispensary, Infirmary and School of Art, Dr Roberts had benefitted them perhaps as no other citizen had done’.

* This was housed in the Literary and Scientific Institution building in New Street. The hall was apparently called the Roberts Room, but the connection has now been lost.

The Tower

John Roberts’ first wife, Arabella, in whose memory the clock tower was built, died on 23 January 1892. On 6 February the Town Clerk reported that Dr Roberts had written suggesting that ‘an illuminated clock would be both useful and ornamental to Salisbury’ and offering to pay for both ‘ a turret and clock mechanism’. Salisbury Town Council decided to investigate suitable sites. On 12 March ‘a citizen’ wrote to the Salisbury and Winchester Journal noting the controversy generated by the search and arguing that the most suitable site was ‘the east corner lawn in front of the Infirmary’ because: -

‘the large open space around would give a bold relief to the tower, and it would be to the bridge a miniature Big Ben of Westminster, a beacon timekeeper to the citizens and visitors.’

Meanwhile, the arguments raged on. The Journal reported on 26 March that the City Lands Committee had met 3 times, and the sites examined had included St Thomas’ Church, the market square, the junctions of the Canal, Catherine, Milford and Queen Streets (where poles had been erected to assess the clock’s likely visibility), and the roof of the Council House, none of which were considered sufficiently useful and/or ornamental. At length, the Council decided on the Infirmary site, provided that the Infirmary Governors agreed.

On 8 October it was reported that the Governors had agreed to sell 800 square feet of land as a site for the tower for the nominal sum of £5. A design competition had been held (first prize £60) and a contract had been let for the building of the tower at a cost of £400. Later that month the Council accepted the tender of Messrs John Smith and Sons of Derby for the clock. The tendered price was £78.

It was forecast that the tower would be completed by January 1893. Not for the last time (perhaps) a council officers’ forecast proved to be too optimistic, and on 6 May 1893 the Journal reported that complaints had been made about delays in the building work, there were rumours money had run out and it had become ‘a laughing stock’. On 3 June the Town Clerk reported that the clock ‘is being tested, and will be set in motion 3 weeks hence’. Dr Roberts had however been consulted and did not want a handing over ceremony to take place, and so (it seems) completion of the tower went unmarked.

Remarkably, the firm (Smith of Derby) which installed the illuminated clock mechanism with four faces was still responsible for maintenance when, in December 1970, it replaced the original gravity mechanism with a more modern movement at a cost of £210. The original clock mechanism was sold to a customer in Providence, USA. In 1997, the new mechanism was completely refurbished and updated to include automatic adjustment for British Summer Time. At the same time the tower itself was restored, the main contractors for this work being R Moulding and Co of South Newton. Smith of Derby continues to be responsible for maintaining the clock, and so this firm has now been providing a service to the City for over 100 years.

The Tower as reported by the Salisbury Journal

This piece was found in the Salisbury Journal newspaper dated 17th June 1893.

THE SALISBURY CLOCK TOWER The removal of the scaffolding from the upper part of the clock tower, which is now approaching completion at Fisherton-bridge, enables an observer to judge more fully of the merits of the structure and of the wisdom shown in the choice of site. If some disappointment in the result in both cases. it is not the fault of Dr. Roberts, whose generosity in making a gift of the clock tower to the city every one must recognise, and who is not responsible for the selection of either the design or the site. As regards the former we cannot but think that the clock tower would have gained greatly if it had been a few feet higher. It seems to us to be lacking in elegance of proportion and to present a somewhat squat appearance. As for the site, we cannot but think that the objections that were made to it in advance have been justified by results. The clock tower is out of keeping with its surroundings, and the first impression of the passer-by who sees it rising above the fragment of the old gaol wall by the bridge in that of astonishment at finding it in such a place. It is a pity that an open space could not have been found for it, for it would have looked much better there. One thing, however, must be said in favour of the site that has been chosen -- the clock tower will prove very serviceable to people who are hurrying to catch a train. The tower would have gained, in our opinion, by the elimination of the species of roof by which it is surmounted. While compelled, however, to express the opinion that Dr. Roberts' generosity has not been turned tot he best possible account, we fully recognise that the hearty thanks of the city are due to him fir his liberality and public spirit, and that, whatever opinion may be formed of the merits of the clock tower, there can only be an unanimous expression of gratitude to its donor. The tower has now been so far completed that the clock is kept going, although it has not been yet illuminated at night. The gas is laid on ready for the purpose, and the mechanism of the clock will automatically raise and lower the light. The tower has been built by Mr. E. Hale, of Salisbury from designs in the Gothic style by Mr. E. Webb, of Cardiff, selected in a competition for which the Corporation offered £25 as a prize. The height to the centre of the dial is 45ft., and to the top of the vane 66ft. The main structure is built of Tisbury stone, with bands at intervals of blue lias limestone, and slightly relieved with carving around the dial on the parapet. Surrounding the tower are pinnacles at each corner, and in the centre a lead roof on which the vane is fixed. On each side there are two lancer windows to light the inside of the tower. At the foot there is to be placed a tablet with the city arms and the inscription :- This clock tower, commenced in the year 1892, and finally completed in the year 1893, was presented to the city by Dr. Roberts who erected the same in memory of Arabella, his beloved wife, daughter of Robert Kelham, Esq., of Bleasby Hall, Notts.       Wm. MARLOW,           Mayor 1891-92.       ARTHUR WHITEHEAD, Mayor 1892-93.       Wm.CHAS POWNING, Town Clerk. The fragment of wall which was formerly the corner of the ancient gaol of the city will be left standing exactly as before, with the exception of a doorway being constructed in it to enter the tower, and one corner being made good to render the front uniform. There is a wrought iron balustrade at the top of the wall, inside which there is a foundation of concrete. The clock, which is a non-striking one with four dials, each 5ft. in diameter, was supplied by Messers. Smith and Sons, of Derby. The clock and tower will cost the whole of the £600 given by Dr. Roberts for the work. Mr. A. C. Bothams, the city surveyor, has efficiently superintended the erection as clerk of the works.

Acknowledgements

The Salisbury and Winchester Journal for 30 January, 6 February, 12 March, 26 March, 8 October 1892, 6 May, 3 and 17 June 1893, and 3 and 17 November 1906

The Bulletin issue 554 - Salisbury District Council 4 July 1997 (via the Wiltshire ephemera collection, Salisbury Library local studies collection ISBN W000029932, FIS004)

Kelly’s Directory of Wiltshire -1875

A history of Salisbury Infirmary – Charles Haskins, 1922

Endless Street – a history of Salisbury and its people John Chandler -Hobnob Press

A peculiar kind of lodging house: life and death in Fisherton Gaol, 1800 – 1850 Trevor Wright, Sarum Chronicle issue eight – 2008.

Special thanks are due to the staff of Salisbury local studies library and of the Swindon and Wiltshire History Centre at Chippenham, to Ben Davis of the British Medical Association and to Nicholas Smith and Barbara Parkins of Smith of Derby.

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