Abbott's priory

obsolete A nickname for London's King's Bench Prison, referring to Charles Abbott, 1st Baron Tenterden, who served as Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench in the early 19th century. Many a knave has been thrown in Abbott's priory for less than the crime of which you have been accused, my young fellow. You're much safer in Abbott's Priory—people around here used to take the law into their own hands, something that few criminals survived. I did my time in Abbott's priory, and I'm a free man now!

See also:

bench warmer
benchwarmer
warmer
warmers
grab some bench
cost
keep (someone or something) under (one's) control
bring (someone or something) under (one's) control
bring under control
bring/get/keep something under control

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