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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 15 December 2009
Contesting Bridewell
An artist whose name we do not know painted the moment when the king scribbled his signature on Bridewell's charter. The king sits in the centre of the portrait with his ministers on one side of the throne and a number of leading Londoners kneeling on the other side. These citizens seem steely faced, perhaps the grim state of the streets that brought them here in the first place is still on their minds. But they are also thankful. The king has an awkward half-smile, and a couple of his ministers look pleased. This was a hopeful moment, after all.
Bridewell was a comfort for the bulk of Londoners who felt glad that it was working for their good. They liked to be linked to its civic role and gave money to further its work. Bridewell soon became a by-word for control, but the opening of a brand new prison was not always welcomed by everyone, no matter how deep the need. Bridewell altered physical and mental landscapes for good. It now needed to be assimilated and opinions ranged from out-and-out support to deep loathing. We know much about the trials and tribulations of patients and prisoners, but people on the outside still seem mute. Yet it is clear that their opinions were naggingly unpredictable. What else might be expected from people whose first port of call when they felt under the weather was more often than not an ‘irregular’ healer?
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