Old City Gaol, Bristol, Grade II listed prison structure in Spike Island, Bristol, England
The Old City Gaol is a stone prison building located on Cumberland Road near Bristol Harbour. The structure displays early 19th century architectural design with gates, walls, and interior spaces built according to plans by Richard Shackleton Pope.
The prison was built in 1832 following the Bristol Riots and replaced an earlier jail facility. It remained in operation until 1883, when authorities shut it down because of deteriorating conditions.
The structure became a landmark of urban control and remains part of Bristol's physical landscape. Its solid walls and gates are woven into how locals and visitors understand the city's development over time.
The old gates and walls are visible from Cumberland Road and can be viewed from the outside. The Bristol Archives hold documents and plans if you want to learn more about the site.
John Horwood became the first person executed here in 1821, and his skeleton was later kept at Bristol University for medical study. This unusual link between justice and scientific research represents a rare practice from that era.
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