Watercolor

Old Jail, Islington

Mid to late 19th century / Foster, Sarah Haven (1827-1900)

VP018_OldJail_Islington_6in.jpg

"The first jail in Portsmouth was built in 1699 on Congress street, near the entrance of Fleet street, on the glebe land, but the exact spot is not known. It was a strong log house, 30 by 14 ft. square. In 1759 another was built on the southern corner of Warren and Chestnut streets, constructed of oak timber hewn square and covered with iron bars, and lined with plank. This stronghold was burnt in the fire of 1781, when Woodbury Langdon’s house was destroyed. The flames from the burning jail were so intensely hot that the firemen could only work a few minutes at a time while engaged in saving Col. Whipple’s house. In 1782 the old wooden jail on Islington street was built, and fifty years later the stone jail adjoining it. Both buildings were used until the new jail on State street was built, which was first used in 1891."

Excerpted from The Portsmouth Guide Book, 1896, by Sarah Haven Foster.

Inscription reads, "Old jail Islington St., 1782."

~ Foster, Sarah Haven (1827-1900), “Old Jail, Islington,” Portsmouth Public Library's Online Archives, accessed March 29, 2024, https://portsmouthexhibits.org/items/show/858.

Full Item Record

Dublin Core

Title

Old Jail, Islington

Subject

Portsmouth (N.H.)
Historic buildings
Watercolors (paintings)

Description

"The first jail in Portsmouth was built in 1699 on Congress street, near the entrance of Fleet street, on the glebe land, but the exact spot is not known. It was a strong log house, 30 by 14 ft. square. In 1759 another was built on the southern corner of Warren and Chestnut streets, constructed of oak timber hewn square and covered with iron bars, and lined with plank. This stronghold was burnt in the fire of 1781, when Woodbury Langdon’s house was destroyed. The flames from the burning jail were so intensely hot that the firemen could only work a few minutes at a time while engaged in saving Col. Whipple’s house. In 1782 the old wooden jail on Islington street was built, and fifty years later the stone jail adjoining it. Both buildings were used until the new jail on State street was built, which was first used in 1891."

Excerpted from The Portsmouth Guide Book, 1896, by Sarah Haven Foster.

Inscription reads, "Old jail Islington St., 1782."

Creator

Foster, Sarah Haven (1827-1900)

Source

Sarah Haven Foster Views of Portsmouth

Publisher

Portsmouth Public Library, Special Collections

Date

Mid to late 19th century

Format

Jpg derived from Tif

Language

eng

Type

StillImage

Identifier

PPL-AA1989.60.18

Watercolor Item Type Metadata

Provenance

Gift of Mary A. Foster, 1901