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Coldbath Fields House of Correction
The Coldbath Fields Prison site, now occupied by the Mount Pleasant Postal service sorting office
Coldbath fields house of correction was built during the reign of King James I, with the oldest portion of the prison being built in 1794 on swamp land, that was enlarged from time to time. The ground that was covered by this prison now houses the Mount Pleasant Postal Service. You can get some idea of the giant size of this prison as the Mount Pleasant Sorting Office stands on the exact site of Coldbath Fields prison. The prison lasted from 1794 - 1889, and was well known for its harsh conditions. As described by Coleridge in The Devil's thoughts: 'As he went through Coldbath Fields, he saw a solitary cell; and the Devil was pleased,
for it gave him a hint for improving his prisons in hell.' The name of cold bath came from a spring discovered in 1697 by a Mr Baynes, who declared his bath of cold water cured colds, created appetites, and was good with the digestion system. The whole of this area contained many springs and wells such as nearby Sadlers Wells and Clekenwell.
The baths stood in the fields that is now covered by Coldbath Square.
Coldbath Square only the name lives on
An old character of Coldbath Square was a Mrs Lewson known affectionately as Lady Lewson, who lived in this square for ninety years. She seldom left her house or saw visitors. She never washed herself thinking that water brought on colds. She only drank tea out of her favourite cup, and at eighty seven she cut two new teeth, she was in remarkably good health until her near neighbour died. Shocked by her sudden death, Mrs Lewson became convinced she would die soon and she became weak and refused any medical help. She died in her home at Coldbath Square on the 28th May 1816, her age it was calculated was 116 years old. She was buried in Bunhill fields.
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