“A paradise of thieves”
Discover the lost history of Newcastle’s Gaol.
Execution.
Learn the terrible history of hangings at the gaol.
Reburied or Removed?
The mystery of the missing bodies of executed prisoners.
Memories.
The last letters of executed men and other extraordinary personal stories that history forgot.
Newcastle Gaol was closed and demolished in 1925, but in the nineteenth century it was a huge imposing structure in the city.
This website, supported by the Catherine Cookson Foundation and Newcastle University, seeks to recover some of the lost history of this institution, once so central to Newcastle’s cultural, legal and penal history.
Bringing the gaol to life
The Newcastle Gaol resources are designed to be impactful. This video provides a brief historical overview of the gaol and highlights the work of the project team to date on recovering that history and the impact projects that have come from it. This project was nominated for one of Newcastle University’s Engagement and Place Awards.
Meet the Inmates
Find out the fascinating and often tragic tales of Newcastle Gaol’s inmates.
Although commonly referred to as Newcastle Gaol, during its short history the gaol was known by many different names both officially and colloquially.
These included Newcastle Upon Tyne Borough Gaol and House of Correction, Newcastle Upon Tyne Borough Gaol, Newcastle-upon-Tyne Prison, HMP Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Carliol Square Gaol and Carliol Street Prison.
“A Nest Of Villainy.”
read about the conditions of life in the gaol
Life Inside - Blog
Life Inside is a blog about the many remarkable figures and stories in Newcastle Gaol’s short history. Here are some of the latest blogs for you to enjoy.
