Ruthin Gaol facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ruthin Gaol |
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Carchar Rhuthun, Ruthin
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| General information | |
| Town or city | Ruthin, Denbighshire |
| Country | Wales |
| Coordinates | 53°06′59″N 3°18′37″W / 53.116474°N 3.310352°W |
| Construction started | 1654 |
| Completed | 1654 |
| Technical details | |
| Structural system | stone |
Ruthin Gaol (which means Carchar Rhuthun in Welsh) is a historic prison building in Ruthin, Denbighshire, Wales. It was built in a style similar to London's Pentonville Prison. This old prison stopped being used for prisoners in 1916. The people who were held there and the guards moved to Shrewsbury Prison.
After that, the local council bought the buildings in 1926. They used parts of the gaol for offices, storing old records, and even the town library. During the Second World War, the prison buildings were used to make important supplies for the war. Later, it became the main office for the Denbighshire Library Service. In 2004, Ruthin Gaol was carefully fixed up and opened again as a museum. Now, you can visit and learn about its interesting past!
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The Gaol's Long History
The very first building used as a place to hold people in Ruthin was called a Bridewell. It was built in 1654 near the river. This early building was a place where people who didn't have jobs were sent to work.
Later, a man named John Howard looked into how prisons were run. He wanted to make them much better. Because of his ideas, the local leaders in Denbighshire decided to build a new, improved prison in Ruthin. Work on this new prison started in 1775.
Growing Bigger and Better
By 1802, the prison had four cells for regular prisoners. It also had nine rooms for people who owed money and couldn't pay their debts. The prison kept growing, and by 1837, it could hold up to 37 people.
In 1865, new rules were made for how prisons should be designed. Ruthin Gaol needed to be updated to meet these new standards. So, plans were made for a big, new four-storey part. This new section was built in the style of London's famous Pentonville Prison. It cost about £12,000 to build and could hold up to 100 prisoners. On April 1, 1878, Ruthin County Gaol officially became HM Prison Ruthin. It was responsible for prisoners from three nearby counties: Denbighshire, Flintshire, and Merionethshire.
Tales of Escape: Coch Bach y Bala
One of the most talked-about people held at Ruthin Gaol was John Jones, also known as Coch Bach y Bala. He was known for taking things that didn't belong to him and hunting illegally. He spent many years in prisons across Wales and England.
John Jones managed to escape from Ruthin Gaol not once, but twice! His first escape was on November 30, 1879. He and three other prisoners simply walked out while the staff were eating supper. A reward of £5 was offered to find him, and he was caught on January 3 of the next year.
His second escape was even more daring! On September 30, 1913, he dug a tunnel out of his cell. Then, he used a rope he made from his bedsheets to climb over the roof of the chapel and kitchen. Finally, he got over the prison wall. After seven days of hiding, he was found.
Ruthin Gaol on TV
The old Ruthin Gaol has even been featured on television! The show Most Haunted: Midsummer Murders filmed an episode there. The team explored the old gaol and the town library to investigate a mystery from the Victorian era.
Images for kids
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Ruthin Gaol, a historic building in Wales
