the Rules of the King's Bench prison

the Rules of the King's Bench. An area of several square miles around the King’s Bench prison, where debtors were permitted to live outside the prison. Prisoners living in the Rules had the freedom to move about within the area, but not to go outside it. The Liberty of the Rules was especially desirable for tradesmen who had been committed for debt, since they could set up their business again. In the early part of the 18th century, this area was loosely defined:

The Marshal is chiefly enabled to pay his Rent, by permitting Prisoners, on Security, to live out of the Prison, any where within the Rules. The Streightness of the Prison, and it's Incapacity to contain the Numbers thereto usually committed, occasioned the Prisoners Application to the Court of King's-Bench, for more Room: Who took upon them to impower the Marshal to suffer his Prisoners to live out of the Walls of the Prson, he being answerable for their Forth-Coming; The Limits with which such Prisoners were allowed to be, were fix'd by the Court of King's-Bench, and that Space of Ground is called the Rules, and now deemed Part of the Prison: The Court of King's-Bench hath taken on them to enlarge the said Space, particularly in the Time when Sir John Prat, Knight, was Lord Chief Justice, the Court then declared, that it was in their Power to extend the Rules, in such Manner as they should think fit.

If this be Law, all England may be made one extended Prison.

—A report from the committee appointed to enquire into the state of the goals of this kingdom. Relating to the King's-Bench prison (Parliament. House of Commons, 1730), 8

 

Easter, 30 Geo. III. 1790.

Alteration of Rules, and Public Houses &c. excluded.

It is ordered by the Court, that from and after the first day of Trinity term next ... the rules of the King's Bench Prison shall be comprised within the bounds following, exclusive of the public houses hereinafter mentioned; that is to say, from Great Cumber Court in the parish of St. George the Martyr, in the county of Surrey, along the north side of Dirty Lane and Melancholy Walk, to Blackfriars Road, and along the western side of the said road to the Obelisk; and from thence along western side of the said road to the Obelisk; and from thence along the south-west side of the London Road round the direction post in the centre of the roads, near the public house known by the sign of the Elephant and Castle; and from thence along the eastern side of Newington Causeway to Great Cumber Court aforesaid: And it is also ordered, that the New Gaol, Southwark, and the highway, exclusive of the houses on each side of it, leading from the King's Bench Prison to the said New Gaol, shall be within and part of the said rules: And it is lastly ordered, that all taverns, victualling houses, alehouses, all wine vaults, and houses or places licensed to sell gin, or other spirituous liquors, shall be excluded out of and deemed no part of the said rules.