Female Prison, York

The Female Prison is a stone building with symmetrical architecture and a portico entrance, fitting harmoniously into the historic structures surrounding the castle. The structure now forms part of York Castle Museum and displays how the building was designed and used.

The prison opened in 1780 as a dedicated facility for women and operated for more than a century in this role. Its use as a jail ended in 1934 when the city of York acquired the building.

The structure now functions as part of York Castle Museum, displaying exhibitions about social history and prison life from the Georgian period.

Access to parts of the building requires planning since some areas are currently not open to visitors. It is worth checking in advance which exhibition spaces are available and what you can see on the day of your visit.

A section of the building served as an execution site between 1868 and 1896, making it a place where justice was carried out in its harshest form. This darker chapter remains visible in the stories the museum tells about the building's past.

Location: City of York

GPS coordinates: 53.95550,-1.07824

Latest update: December 10, 2025 20:06