The recently released convict records on FMP have shown where my great granduncle was sent between conviction at the Old Bailey in 1848 and despatch to VDL in 1850. A London lad he was initially sent to Millbank Prison. After a few month he was sent to Wakefield Jail. After a few more months he was sent to Portland which had recently opened specifically for convicts. He finally embarked at Plymouth. My query is how were these prisoners transferred the long distance between these jails? Many were transferred from Wakefield to Portland on the same day. Did they have “prison vans” of some sort? I can remember reading in a Dickens novel (possibly Great Expectations) of two prisoners shackled on a regular stage coach but the numbers involved would seem to make this not possible on a regular basis. Does anyone know of a book on the subject? Any clues welcome. Thanks Dianna

On 01/07/2015 12:44 PM, Dianna O'Loughlin via wrote: > The recently released convict records on FMP have shown where my great granduncle was sent between conviction at the Old Bailey in 1848 and despatch to VDL in 1850. > A London lad he was initially sent to Millbank Prison. After a few month he was sent to Wakefield Jail. After a few more months he was sent to Portland which had recently opened specifically for convicts. > He finally embarked at Plymouth. > My query is how were these prisoners transferred the long distance between these jails? Many were transferred from Wakefield to Portland on the same day. > Did they have “prison vans” of some sort? I can remember reading in a Dickens novel (possibly Great Expectations) of two prisoners shackled on a regular stage coach but the numbers involved would seem to make this not possible on a regular basis. > Does anyone know of a book on the subject? Any clues welcome. > Thanks > Dianna > By this time, Wakefield was on the railway, but (I think) Southampton or Gosport was the nearest to Portland. Thence boat was probably the easiest route. Otherwise Dorchester and then overland. Wakefield to Dorset by rail would have entailed travelling via London. Possibly, if sufficient numbers were involved, for this same day shipment from Wakefield to Portland a special train would be employed. Kind regards, John Henley