Sessions House for Middlesex

25th March 1786

Minutes of the Committee appointed to take into Consideration the
Extraordinary Expences brought upon this County by the great increase of
Vagrants

Present

William Bleamire< no role > Esqr. in the Chair
John Barnfather< no role > Esqr
Thomas Gordon< no role > Esqr
John Staples< no role > Esqr
Nathaniel Conant< no role > Esqr
George Mercer< no role > Esqr

Read the Minutes of the last Meeting

Mr Rogers (the Surveyor ) attending pursuant to the Order of the
Committee at their last Meeting laid before them the plans of New Prison , The
Keepers House the Tap house and Ground adjoining thereto-The Committee
informed Mr. Rogers that the Court had Resolved that the Tap house should
be laid into the Keepers house and that a Window or other proper Opening should
be made therefrom to look into the Prison and desired him to point out the
most proper mode of carrying the said Alteration into Execution and
Mr. Rogers informed the Committee that the most proper way of making the
intended Alteration would be to enlarge the Tap house over the Passage to the
present Keepers house in the One pair of Stairs floor next to the Mens Yard
and to make An Opening in the Boundary Wall of the Mens Yard for a
Window with a Strong Iron Grating before the same." Resolved this Commen
de agree with Mr. Rogers as to the mode of making the above aleration

Took into further Consideration the request of Mr. Bond the present
Tenant of the Tap house at New Prison for permission to retain in his possessive
after the shall have quitted the Tap the use of the Cellars belonging to the same

Moved That in Consideration the said Cellars
immediately adjoin to the Walls of the said Prison That it would
be highly inexpedient and detrimental to the safety of the
Prison to at any person have the possession of the said Cellars
except the Keeper of the said Prison-which being Seconded
was carried in the Affirmative