The Clink

The Clink originated as a private jail belonging to the Bishop of Winchester rather than the reigning monarch. Established in the twelfth century as part of the massive Winchester Palace complex, this prison served the Bishop's personal manor, known as the Liberty of the Clink. Because the Bishop held jurisdiction over this land, he possessed the unique authority to lock up anyone who failed to pay their dues or who held religious views that conflicted with his own. This power allowed the prison to operate as a grim, for-profit enterprise where the Bishop collected revenues from the very people he incarcerated.