BRIDEWELL

A house of correction for offenders is commonly so called in England. The name is derived from the locality of the ancient London house of correction, which was an hospital, founded Iw Edward VI. on the site of St. Bride's well, in Black Friars, a well known object of pilgrimage in Roman Catholic times. The original Bridewell is under the control of the lord mayor, and used as a receptacle for vagrants, place of punishment for apprentices, ., within the jurisdiction v)f the city. [s. 180]