Newgate Prison

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Image:Old Newgate.jpg Image:West View of Newgate by George Shepherd (1784-1862).jpg Image:Newgate - cell and galleries from The Queen's London - a Pictorial and Descriptive Record of the Streets, Buildings, Parks and Scenery of the Great Metropolis, 1896.JPG Newgate Prison was a prison situated in central London between 1188 and 1902.

The first prison at Newgate was built in 1188 on the orders of Henry II. It was significantly enlarged in 1236. It was used for a number of purposes including imprisoning people awaiting execution (although it was not always secure: burglar Jack Sheppard escaped from the prison three times before he went to the gallows in 1724).

The original prison was demolished and a new one (designed by George Dance - he also designed the adjacent court-house) was constructed on the site between 1770 and 1778. It was attacked by rioting mobs during the Gordon Riots in 1780: the prison was set on fire, many prisoners died during the blaze and approximately 300 escaped to temporary freedom.

It was rebuilt two years later (1782), to an Architecture Terrible design intended to discourage law-breaking. The building was laid out around a central courtyard, and was divided into two sections: a 'Common' area for poor prisoners and a 'State area' for those able to afford more comfortable accommodation. Each section was further sub-divided to accommodate felons and debtors.

In 1783 the site of London's gallows was moved from Tyburn to Newgate, and public executions outside the prison - by this time, London's main prison - drew large crowds. One could visit the prison by obtaining a permit from the Lord Mayor of London or a sheriff. The condemned were kept in narrow sombre cells separated from Newgate Street by a thick wall and receiving only a dim light from the inner courtyard. The gallows were constructed outside a window in Newgate Street.

During the early 19th century, the prison also attracted the attention of the social reformer Elizabeth Fry. She was particularly concerned at the conditions in which women prisoners (and their children) were held. After she presented evidence to the House of Commons, improvements were made. In 1858 the interior was rebuilt with individual cells.

From 1868 public executions were discontinued and executions were carried out on a gallows inside Newgate. In 1902 the prison was demolished and the Old Bailey court now stands upon its site.

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