Life Inside
Although it only had a short-lived history the gaol played host to many fascinating and tragic stories. Life Inside is a repository for some of these remarkable moments and also a collection of short and engaging articles on life in and around the gaol. These have been put together by the principal team and a selection of local experts and students.
Prisons, Panopticons and Dobson’s Plans
“His designs secure all the important points in prison discipline, security, classification, and inspection, and completely guard against the possibility of combination.”
Jobbery at the Gaol
The gaol that John Dobson designed was a solid, modern, prison based on the latest trends for penal construction in the early nineteenth century. However, what was fit for purpose in 1828 required modification as the century progressed. By 1856, the gaol had approximately twice as many prisoners as it was designed for, and a significant number of these were women (400 in 1859-60). Building work was needed to alter the prison to suit changing circumstances.