Record Number: 12431

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Reading Experience:

Evidence:

Schoolroom for boy prisoners at Tothill Fields: 'At the time of our entry, the warder schoolmaster was hearing the boys read aloud from the Bible, the class standing in a line near the wall, each with a book in his hand. Some of the lads read quickly, and others boggled sadly over the words, as, for instance - "And into whatsoever 'ouse ye enter" - ("Look at it, boy! don't you see there's an h to the word?" cries the warder) - "And into whatsoever house ye enter fust" - ("How often am I to tell you that there's no such word as fust? Spell it") - "f-i-r-s-t", proceeds the lad, "say ye peace be unto this 'ouse" - (What! 'ouse again?") - "house", quickly adds the youngster. The next verse was read off rapidly and glibly enough, by one who seemed but half the age of the other...'

Century:

1850-1899

Date:

Between 1 Jan 1860 and 31 Dec 1862

Country:

England

Time

daytime

Place:

city: London
specific address: Tothill Fields Prison
other location: in the schoolroom

Type of Experience
(Reader):
 

silent aloud unknown
solitary in company unknown
single serial unknown

Type of Experience
(Listener):
 

passive reactive unknown
single serial unknown

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Reader / Listener / Reading Group:

Reading Group:

boys in prison

Age:

Child (0-17)

Gender:

Male

Date of Birth:

n/a

Socio-Economic Group:

Labourer (non-agricultural)

Occupation:

prisoners

Religion:

n/a

Country of Origin:

n/a

Country of Experience:

England

Listeners present if any:
e.g family, servants, friends

juvenile prisoners and schoolmaster

Additional Comments:

n/a

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Text Being Read:

Author:

[n/a]

Title:

Bible

Genre:

Bible

Form of Text:

Print: Book

Publication Details

n/a

Provenance

borrowed (institution library)
prison library

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Source Information:

Record ID:

12431

Source:

Print

Author:

Henry Mayhew

Editor:

n/a

Title:

The Criminal Prisons of London

Place of Publication:

London

Date of Publication:

1862

Vol:

n/a

Page:

430

Additional Comments:

n/a

Citation:

Henry Mayhew, The Criminal Prisons of London, (London, 1862), p. 430, http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/reading/UK/record_details.php?id=12431, accessed: 27 April 2024

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Additional Comments:

None