Brampton Jail facts for kids
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| Location | Brampton, Ontario, Canada |
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| Coordinates | 43°41′07″N 79°45′26″W / 43.68516°N 79.75712°W |
| Status | Closed |
| Security class | Maximum |
| Capacity | 30 |
| Opened | 1867 |
| Closed | 1977 |
| Managed by | Region of Peel |
The Brampton Jail, also known as the Peel County Jail, was a historic building in Brampton, Ontario, Canada. It stood at the corner of Wellington and Main Streets. Built in 1867, this jail operated for over a century before closing its doors in 1977. Today, the building is part of the Peel Art Gallery, Museum and Archives. It now holds parts of the museum's collections and all its storage. It also houses the reading room and storage for the Regional archives.
Contents
Life Inside the Jail
The Brampton Jail was originally built to hold about 30 people. However, it often held more than 60 men and women at once. They were crowded into small cells, each only about one meter by two meters. This overcrowding happened because there weren't enough places to help people who were poor or had no home.
Challenges for Inmates
Sometimes, people who were sick or struggling were sent to the jail. For example, in 1882, a sick man was brought to the jail because he had no home. The jail staff did not provide him with medical care. Sadly, he died at the jail shortly after arriving. This shows how difficult conditions could be for people in need during that time.
The Jail's New Purpose
After closing in 1977, the Brampton Jail building found a new life. It became an important part of the Peel Art Gallery, Museum and Archives. This transformation allowed the historic building to continue serving the community.
A Place for History and Art
Today, the old jail helps preserve local history. It stores many valuable items from the museum's collection. It also provides a space for people to research local history in the archives' reading room. This means the building, once a place of confinement, now helps us learn about the past.
