Clink Prison

The Clink Prison Museum

The Clink Today

Dating back to 1144, The Clink Prison is therefore one of England’s oldest and most notorious prisons. Positioned in the heart of modern-day Southwark and built on the original site, The Clink Prison Museum presents the scandalous truth of Old Bankside through a hands-on educational experience. There are opportunities to view archaeological artefacts, experience the sights, sounds and smells of the prison, handle torture devices, and to view and hear all about the tales of torment and many misfortunes of the inmates of the infamous Clink Prison.

We can’t wait for you to visit this site as part of our Pilgrimage and Thanksgiving tour packages.

History

What initially began as a small operation controlled by the Bishop of Winchester grew over time into a sprawling den of misery where London's most wretched would be dumped. As I n 1127 Henry I granted the Bishop of Winchester an estate to be known as 'The Liberty of the See of Winchester in the Clink in the Borough of Southwark'. With the grant came a set of privileges including the right of sanctuary and the right to hold an independent court. In practise this gave the Bishop sweeping powers, including the right to try and sentence wrongdoers in his own court. Among those most affected by the Bishop's court were the many 'stewhouses' (brothels) on Bankside, where the prostitutes and their customers could be fined or sentenced for a variety of offences. In addition, the right of sanctuary in the Bishop's estate meant that Bankside attracted a variety of unsavory characters from the City of London across the river. The Clink certainly did not lack for prisoners.

The early history of the Clink does not seem to have been marked by any particular mistreatment of prisoners, though conditions were not salutory! By the 13th century, however, the practice of torture and mistreatment of prisoners seems to have become much more common throughout England. An oubliette, or deep hole, was installed in the cellar of the Clink, and special stocks and a cuckling stool were installed. This later instrument was like a long, cantilevered pole, which dunked prisoners into a small stream beside the prison. As the prison's reputation grew, it earned its signature nickname of The Clink. This was because of the rattling noise the prisoners chains made as they walked and the term has now become popular slang for prisons all over the world.

Spanning for over 600 years, it witnessed a remarkable amount of social and political change in England, and thus housed a multitude of sinners throughout its existence, including debtors, heretics, drunkards, harlots, and later religious adversaries. Positioned in the heart of modern day Southwark, the prison was situated in an area that has long been associated with more raucous, vivacious and unruly behaviour; it was the louder, ruder and wickeder neighbour to The City, and a place where Londoners sought entertainment.

Famous Criminals and Pilgrim Ties

The London district of Bankside, with The Clink Prison Museum at its heart, is the essential first step for all US visitors making their own pilgrimage to trace the steps of those first Mayflower settlers in the 400th anniversary year of 2020. For here, in London’s oldest neighbourhood, they will discover the untold prequel to the world famous story of the Mayflower Pilgrims; Southwark at the time was governed by the Bishop of Winchester and was far more liberal than the City of London on the other side of the river. It was a natural home for anyone whose ideas, interests or profession lay on the edge of the law – or beyond it.

It was here, for example, that the Globe Theatre was built in 1599, beyond the reach of the London authorities, and where Shakespeare’s plays The Tempest, King Lear and Twelfth Night – all three connected to the Pilgrims – were first played. While much has changed over 400 years, the Southwark Pilgrims would still recognise The George Inn and The Anchor Tavern, which they certainly would have visited there was no Seventeenth Century temperance movement so, like them, you too can enjoy a refreshing pint of traditional ale!

During its remarkably long span, besides the usual drunken vagrants, vagabonds and other seemingly petty criminals, The Clink also housed more historically significant criminals. Famous examples include Sir Thomas Wyatt The Younger (son of the Renaissance poet of the same name), who rebelled against Queen ‘Bloody’ Mary I; John Rogers, the man responsible for translating the Bible into English from Latin during the reign of the aforementioned Roman Catholic Queen; Royalist supporters during the English Civil War, and Puritans who went on to become the first Pilgrim Fathers, settlers of the New World in what is now Plymouth, Massachusetts in the United States.

Sources Used:

https://www.clink.co.uk

https://www.clink.co.uk/mayflower.html

https://www.mylondon.news/news/nostalgia/gruesome-history-londons-most-notorious-20703415

https://www.britainexpress.com/attractions.htm?attraction=928