HM Prison Crumlin Road, Victorian prison in North Belfast, Northern Ireland.
The prison spans ten acres and features black basalt rock construction, individual cells measuring 12 by 7 feet, and an underground tunnel to the courthouse.
Built in 1846 under Sir Charles Lanyon's design, the facility held men, women, and children who walked 11 miles in chains from Carrickfergus Prison.
The prison walls witnessed significant events during the Northern Ireland Troubles, holding both republican and loyalist prisoners throughout the conflict period.
Tours operate daily from 10:00 to 16:30, with access from Belfast city center via Metro Service buses 57 and 12B or a 20-minute walk from Yorkgate station.
The prison maintains its original execution chamber constructed in 1901, marking the transition from public hangings to private executions within the facility walls.
Location: Belfast
Inception: 1846
Official opening: 1846
Accessibility: Wheelchair limited access
Address: County Gaol, Crumlin Road, Belfast, Co Antrim BT14 6ST
Opening Hours: 10:00-16:30
Phone: +442890741500
Email: info@crumlinroadgaol.com
Website: https://crumlinroadgaol.com
GPS coordinates: 54.60900,-5.94200
Latest update: May 27, 2025 08:45
This collection brings together penal institutions that have marked the history of incarceration worldwide through their architecture, detention conditions, or roles in major historical events. From the Guantanamo Bay naval base in Cuba, established in 2002 for holding individuals suspected of terrorism, to high-security facilities like Red Onion in Wise County, Virginia, these sites document the evolution of penal systems across continents. Among the institutions transformed into memorial sites, Diyarbakır Prison in Turkey stands out for its conversion into a cultural center and museum since 2019. Its 24 dormitories spread over two floors, its cells, and corridors allow visitors to explore this chapter of Turkish penal history. In Argentina, Mendoza Prison, built in the early 20th century, reflects the prison practices of that era and the development of the regional judicial system. Other facilities remain operational and raise questions about prisoners' rights and incarceration conditions. Gldani Prison in Tbilisi caused national protests in 2012 after images exposing systemic abuses were released, leading to major reforms in the Georgian penal system. Ciudad Barrios Prison in El Salvador continues to function as a correctional center in the eastern region of the country. These sites, spread across multiple continents, provide documented insights into penal practices in various political and social contexts. From Rwanda to North Korea, passing through Colombia and the United States, they help understand the evolution of judicial and correctional systems while raising current issues related to detention and rehabilitation.
Northern Ireland tells its story through stones, cliffs, and memories. From the Giant's Causeway to Derry's walls, each place seems filled with stories where Celtic myths, medieval heritage, and traces of the modern world intertwine. Belfast, once an industrial hub turned cultural center, showcases its museums and markets to the breeze coming from the Irish Sea. The landscapes of County Antrim enchant with basalt columns, suspension bridges, and cliffs battered by waves. Further inland, stone circles, monasteries, and distilleries extend the journey into a territory where each site links nature and memory. Exploring Northern Ireland is like walking through centuries that are open to the sky, between the legends of Ulster's ancient kings and the contemporary echoes of a resilient land.
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First Presbyterian Church (non-subscribing) 41 Rosemary St. Belfast
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Belfast Charitable Institution (clifton House), Clifton St. Belfast
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Old Museum Buildings 7 College Square North Belfast
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