The image below is a report from the newspaper, Cheshire Observer, 1883.

Interested to know which Bridewell the report is referring to and how many Birkenhead had.

From various sources so far, directories and census returns,

North End Bridewell, Bridge St, I think this one is also described as Watson St.

Abbey St, County Police Court.

Town Hall, Hamilton St, this will be the old Town Hall.

Bridewell is a (Prison or Reform School for petty Offenders)

Duncan Street, B'head, or would this be The Town Hall?

There was also a "bridewell" on the corner of Livingstone Street and Price Street, opposite Livi baths.

Thanks Pinz, Bandy.

Still looking into Duncan St, it wouldn't be the old town hall, image below, 1861, directory.

1916 directory describes Livingston St/Price St as, Birkenhead Borough Police Station.

What defines a Bridewell as opposed to a Police Station with cells?

For example, the 1881 census has, John Glass, Bridge St, Bridewell Keeper, (Prison)

There is no difference, the name Bridewell originates from an ex-royal lodgings in London near St Bridgets Well known locally as Brides Well. Some time in the 16th century the lodgings were given by royal consent to be used as a hospital and later converted to a prison. Since that time 'Bridewells' could be found in all major towns and cities.

Cheers Gee,

It appears, depending who does the recording, depends on what name they receive.

I'm under the impression the newspaper report is referring to the Bridewell in Hamilton St, attached to the Old Town Hall.

In 1878, £1030 was spent on the County Police Station, Bridge St/Waston St for new works and the Abbey St Courts Bridewell received plenty of inspections.

Wondering why the cartographer has chosen on the 1876 map to mark the building Bridewell and not Town Hall? assuming it was all one building.

It would appear that the main police station in each division was referred to genrally as the bridewell, though this is not a strict rule. The Birkenhead bridewell was the building in Brandon Street adjacent to the town hall. This used to be the main police station for F division.

Bridewell..Definition
http://liverpoolcitypolice.co.uk/#/main-bridewell/4552047916

argyle-street-bridewell

http://liverpoolcitypolice.co.uk/#/argyle-street-bridewell/4564426432

http://liverpoolcitypolice.co.uk/#/birkenhead-borough-police/4557316811

Nice one Zipper, it made for some intresting reading. To get rid of any confusion for some, the Argyle Street referred to is off Paradise Street in Liverpoool.I'm also wondering when the term bridewell went out of use as intimated by your attatchments as it was in use to my knowledge till at least the early 80's.

As you can see from the large scale 1875 plan below, Birkenhead's first 'Town Hall' actually consisted of two buildings; one comprised the municipal offices, courtroom and police station, the other the main bridewell with attached fire station.

Thanks Marty, for the map,

interesting, the initial newspaper report posted mentions Typhoid and stenches, and there we have a Urinal next to the cells.

Looks like a River St type urinal with 3 traps if you take the drawing literally, open to passing trade.