Facade and Floorplan of the House of Trade's Prison

Facade and floorplan of the building planned for a new prison for Seville's House of Trade.

The House of Trade acted as a tribunal with criminal and civil jurisdiction over navigation and trade with the Indies. This jurisdiction derived its authority directly from the monarchy, and acted as a court of first instance. It could appeal to the court known as the Audiencia de los Grados in Seville, or to the Consejo de Indias (Council of the Indies), depending on the severity of the crime. It had its own prison, as well as officials who were responsible for guarding and maintaining it.
At first, the prison was located alongside the House of Trade's other departments in the Royal Alcázar. However, over time, as the organization grew, so did its need for more space, and a new building was erected nearby. Work on this building began in 1611, and it is now part of the second site of the General Archives of the Indies, on Seville's Calle Santo Tomás. This facade and floorplan for the new prison, from 1606, shows the different rooms needed for its operation such as cells, an area exclusively for women, latrines, and a visiting area.