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The New Gaol (also sometimes known as The Old City Gaol) is in Cumberland Road, Spike Island,
In June 1816, the 'shocking state' of Newgate Gaol in Bristol resulted in an Act of Parliament to facilitate the building of a New Gaol in Bedminster, at a cost of £60,000.
The original New Gaol was designed by Henry Hake Seward and opened in 1820. In 1831, it was destroyed during the Bristol Riots and was rebuilt to designs by Richard Shackleton Pope, but was never properly completed until 1872. The gaol was closed in 1883 due to poor conditions and was largely demolished in 1898. In 1884, Horfield Prison was built to replace it.
In 1821, three days after his eighteenth birthday, John Horwood was the first person to be hanged at the Gaol for murdering Eliza Balsum by hurling a pebble at her which hit her on the right temple and she then tumbled into a brook.
online catalogue
, and plans including Ref. 17567/5
online catalogue
and 4312/76
online catalogue
are held at Bristol Archives.
Bristol
Bristol () is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, the most populous city in the region. Built around the River Avon, Bristol, River Avon, it is bordered by t ...
, England, near Bristol Harbour
Bristol Harbour is the harbour in the city of Bristol, England. The harbour covers an area of . It is the former natural tidal river River Avon, Bristol, Avon through the city but was made into its current form in 1809 when the tide was preven ...
.
History
In June 1816, the 'shocking state' of Newgate Gaol in Bristol resulted in an Act of Parliament to facilitate the building of a New Gaol in Bedminster, at a cost of £60,000.
The original New Gaol was designed by Henry Hake Seward and opened in 1820. In 1831, it was destroyed during the Bristol Riots and was rebuilt to designs by Richard Shackleton Pope, but was never properly completed until 1872. The gaol was closed in 1883 due to poor conditions and was largely demolished in 1898. In 1884, Horfield Prison was built to replace it.
In 1821, three days after his eighteenth birthday, John Horwood was the first person to be hanged at the Gaol for murdering Eliza Balsum by hurling a pebble at her which hit her on the right temple and she then tumbled into a brook.
English Heritage
English Heritage (officially the English Heritage Trust) is a charity that manages over 400 historic monuments, buildings and places. These include prehistoric sites, a battlefield, medieval castles, Roman forts, historic industrial sites, Lis ...
designated The Gaol entrance wall and gateway and the south-east perimeter wall as a Grade II listed building
In the United Kingdom, a listed building is a structure of particular architectural or historic interest deserving of special protection. Such buildings are placed on one of the four statutory lists maintained by Historic England in England, H ...
. It is now the centre-piece of a redevelopment project in this area of the city.
Archives
Papers related to the New Gaol (Ref. 17128)online catalogue
, and plans including Ref. 17567/5
online catalogue
and 4312/76
online catalogue
are held at Bristol Archives.
See also
*Grade II listed buildings in Bristol
There are many Grade II listed buildings in Bristol, United Kingdom.
In England and Wales the authority for listing is granted by the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 and is administered by English Heritage, an agency ...
References
{{reflist Grade II listed buildings in Bristol Government buildings completed in 1832 Buildings and structures completed in 1832 Buildings and structures demolished in 1898 Bristol Harbourside Prisons in Bristol Demolished prisons Defunct prisons in England