The late 18th and early 19th centuries saw the building of new County Gaols throughout Britain to replace the small and often unsuitable jails and lock ups that were common place. The County Gaol for Cornwall stands in three acres adjacent to Berrycoombe Road in Bodmin (the county town). It was completed in 1779, built by French prisoners of war, working under the supervision of Sir John Call, J.P., … Read more
With special thanks to Monty Dart for her help with this article. 19 men and one woman were hanged within the precincts of Cardiff Gaol in the 20th century. Three men were hanged in public between 1832 and 1857 and a further two in private in the 19th century. The prison was built between 1827 and … Read more
Early Execution Sites There was originally one execution site for Carmarthen town and a separate one for the county of Carmarthenshire. Elinor Hadley and Joseph Jenkins were Carmarthen town hangings that were carried out on the common near Royal Oak Gate. Elinor Hadley Elinor Hadley was a single woman who, on the 2nd of March … Read more
Springfield Convict Prison, as it was originally known, in Chelmsford, Essex was constructed on six acres of land between 1822 and 1828 to the designs of Thomas Hopper, the County Surveyor. There was an octagonal shaped house for the governor and six wings radiating out for the inmates. In 1844 two wings were remodeled to accommodate prisoners … Read more
With special thanks to John Grainger for providing this article. Derby did not have a gaol until 1652 when the Cornmarket Gaol was erected slap bang in the centre of the town. Prior to that Derbyshire’s criminals were taken to Nottingham Castle. Following the part demolition of Derby’s last gaol in 1919, Vernon Street Gaol, convicted prisoners have been taken back to Nottingham, … Read more
