The restrictions of prison life and confinement could often take a heavy toll and in some instances even result in prisoners taking their own lives. Although a relatively uncommon occurrence, there were numerous cases of suicide at Newcastle Gaol in its fairly short history. One particularly notable case was that of Alexander Ingram in 1911.

“His designs secure all the important points in prison discipline, security, classification, and inspection, and completely guard against the possibility of combination.”

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.