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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => London & Middlesex Lookup Requests => London and Middlesex => England => London & Middlesex Completed Lookup Requests => Topic started by: eustace on Friday 25 June 10 08:46 BST (UK)
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On the web there is an etching of a one person cell in the old Newgate Prison in 1891. Somehow I have the impression that prisoners in Newgate were kept in large rooms.
Does anyone know if prisoners would have been in small cells in 1830 ?
Eustace
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The plan of the older Newgate shows some cells for 'the refractory', and of course there were the 'condemned' cells. I expect the later Newgate used a similar design. I should think that all prisons anywhere would always have some individual cells because of the need to isolate dangerous prisoners.
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There is a 'London walk' that had one of it's stops at the Viaduct Pub opposite the Old Bailey. The landlord took us down in to his cellars where one of the original cell's still exist, as part of the walk.
Jennifer
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Hi
A contemporary description of Newgate 1836
http://charlesdickenspage.com/visit_newgate.html
some images of the cells
http://www.ph.ucla.edu/epi/snow/1859map/newgate_prison_a2.html
'The Viaduct Tavern, which dates from 1875 (not 1869 as is claimed inside). It is the City’s only surviving Victorian Gin Palace and has a wonderfully ornate interior that includes a beaten copper ceiling and a series of paintings on canvas with depictions of representations of the commerce and business of the city around. The claim that the pubs cellars are the old cells of Newgate Prison (which used to stand on the opposite side of the road) should be taken with a large pinch of salt as they are in fact a combination of Coal cellars and wine vaults!'
Regards
Valda
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Thank you Chasbaz, Jennifer and Valda for your helpful replies.
Eustace