Bridewell Palace was a residence of Henry VIII which later became a prison and poorhouse. It was located on the banks of the Fleet River in the City of London. The area is now known as Bridewell Place. The original palace had been built in the early 16th century and was a residence of Henry VIII from 1515-1523. In 1553, Henry's son Edward VI gave the palace to the City of London to operate as a prison, poorhouse, and eventually a school. Most of the palace was destroyed and subsequently rebuilt due to the Great Fire of London in 1666. In 1700, it was the first prison to employ a doctor. In 1855, the prison part of the school closed. The name Bridewell became a common name for the main prison of a city.

In London Labour and the London Poor edition: 

Phase 1

Statement of a Returned Convict. (Volume 3): "I carried on in this way for about 15 months, when I was grabbed for an attempt on a gentleman’s pocket by St. Paul’s Cathedral, on a grand charity procession day. I had two months in the Old Horse (Bridewell)."

Phase 2 

Statement of a Young Pickpocket. (Volume 1)