Bridewell Chapel, London Genealogy

London Bridewell Chapel ancestry, family history, and genealogy research page. Guide to parish registers, transcripts, census records, birth records, marriage records, and death records.

History
Bridewell Hospital Chapel.

'This precinct, or area surrounding a place of worship, contained the Bridewell Chapel and Bridewell Royal Hospital. Bridewell Chapel was united with St Bride, Fleet Street in 1864.'

'Bridewell Chapel, is an antient, and was formerly a Royal Chapel; for this spacious Court was antiently the Royal Palace of King John, in 1210, and other Kings of England, where the Parliaments sate; and here King Henry Eighth most magnificently entertained the Emperor Charles the Fifth, King of Spain, and his own Nephew, Anno 1522; but King Edward, the 6th gave it to the City of London, to be an Hospital, or Workhouse for Loyterers and lazy Persons. This Chapel, as well as that of the Fleet, belong to the Verge of the Parish of St. Bridget. Prayers and Sermons only on Sundays, at 10 and 2 of the Clock.'

There was a prison at Bridewell from the late 1600s to 1855. Many felons tranported to the American colonies in the eighteenth century were held at Bridewell Prison as they awaited their ships' departures.

Census records

 * Inhabitants of London in 1638 - Bridewell Precinctat British History Online.

Websites

 * London FamilySearch Centre Catalogue
 * Bridewell Prison and Hospital (London Lives)
 * Records of non-parochial Anglican churches and chapels, Anglican Churches, Chapels and Parishes, Guildhall Library Manuscripts Section.