rules and punishments
The Gaol's rules, often changed to conform to Parliament's views on prison conditions, were harsh and strictly practised. If prisoners misbehaved they risked losing provisions, being flogged or put into solitary confinement. The treadmill and hand crank were also used as punishments.
"12. - Every prisoner guilty of any of the following offences will subject himself to punishment:- Talking, shouting, cursing, swearing, singing, whistling, or attempting to communicate by signs..."

Rules of Ruthin Gaol Rules for Prisoners, circa 1850 (Denbighshire Record Office).
Sometimes discipline slipped. In 1848 the Inspector of Prisons reported that at Ruthin instead of rising at 6 am prisoners were in bed at 7.30 am, that the silence rule was not implemented, and that although smoking was forbidden "there was a smell of tobacco in one of the principal day-rooms". Daily prayers were not read and the governor failed to report a warder being attacked by a drunken prisoner. After the Inspector recommended his dismissal the governor resigned.

"The rod and whipping post at Wandsorth Prison."

(Criminal Prisons in London and Scenes of Prison Life by H. Mayhew and J. Binny, first published in 1862.)