Wells, Charles Thomas: documents concerning insovency and imprisonment in the Fleet.

Papers relating to the insolvency and committal to the Debtors Prison of Charles Thomas Wells, tailor, of Newcastle Court, Strand, London.

The papers include balance sheets, schedule of possessions, creditors and debtors.

The Fleet Prison, situated off Farringdon Road in London, was built in 1197. It originally served as a place of imprisonment for persons condemned by the Court of the Star Chamber. With the abolition of this court in 1640 it became notable as a debtor's prison. It was destroyed three times: Peasant's Revolt (1381), the Great Fire (1666) and the Gordon Riots (1780). Fleet marriages were clandestine and irregular ceremonies performed at the prison by debtor clergymen. Although not illegal, the system was so abused that it was abolished in the reign of George II (1683 - 1760).

The prison usually contained about 300 prisoners and their families. Some inmates were forced to beg from their cells that overlooked the street, in order to pay their keep. Fleet Prison featured in The Rake's Progress by William Hogarth (1697 - 1764) and was described by Charles Dickens (1812 - 1870) in his novel The Pickwick Papers (1836). It was demolished in 1846, and its site is now occupied by Caronne House.

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