Old Gaol, Hexham
Old Gaol, Hexham
LocationHallgate, Hexham
Coordinates54°58′17″N 2°06′00″W / 54.9713°N 2.0999°W / 54.9713; -2.0999
Builtc.1332
Architectural style(s)Medieval style
Listed Building – Grade I
Official nameThe Manor Office
Designated2 October 1951
Reference no.1281526
Hexham Old Gaol is located in Northumberland
Hexham Old Gaol
Shown in Northumberland

The Old Gaol, also known as the Manor Office, is a custodial building in Hallgate in Hexham, Northumberland, England. The building, which now operates as a museum, is a Grade I listed building.[1]

History

The gaol was commissioned by the Archbishop of York, William Melton. It was designed in the Medieval style, built in rubble masonry and was completed in January 1332.[2]

The design involved a three-storey rectangular building facing onto Hallgate. On the ground floor, there was originally a doorway on the left: this was subsequently replaced by a bi-partite mullioned window with cusped heads, and a new arched doorway with an architrave was inserted in the centre. The upper floors were originally largely blind: new fenestration was later added to these floors: on the first floor, additions included two pairs of lancet windows on the right and a single lancet window on the left, while on the second floor, additions included a bi-partite mullioned window with cusped heads on the right and two small single windows on the left. The building was surmounted by heavily corbeled eaves. Internally, the principal rooms were the two vaulted cells in the basement. The spaces on the other floors were largely for the administration of the prison.[3]

The building held prisoners from Hexhamshire and, in the 16th century, also from the English Middle March: the prisoners were held in the gaol on a temporary basis awaiting their trial in the courtroom in the nearby Moot Hall.[4] The building remains one of the oldest purpose-built prisons in England.[5][6]

During the Hexham Riot in 1761, when a crowd protesting about changes in the criteria for serving in the militia, rioters were fired upon by troops from the North Yorkshire Militia in the Market Place. Some 45 protesters were killed, and many others were incarcerated in the gaol.[7][8] After the prisoners had been transferred to Morpeth Gaol, the prison closed in 1820.[9] It was then converted for use as a bank and a solicitor's office.[9]

The old gaol became the home of the 2nd Northumberland Rifle Volunteers when it was formed in 1860 and remained in use as such until Hencotes drill hall was completed in 1891.[9][10] During the Second World War, it served as a fire lookout tower.[9] The building reopened as a museum in 1980. Topics covered include archaeology, archives, costume and textiles, law and order, music, photography, social history, weapons and war. The collections include 15th and 16th century arms and armour, and objects of local historical interest.[11] The Border Library holds the "Butler Collection", which is a series of books, recordings and music relating to the culture of the Borders, assembled by the former Chairman of the Northumbria Tourist Board, William Butler.[12]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Historic England. "The Manor Office (1281526)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  2. ↑ "Hexham Moot Hall and Old Gaol". Gatehouse Gazetteer. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  3. ↑ "Cross Section". Tynedale Heritage. Archived from the original on 24 January 2009. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  4. ↑ Historic England. "The Moot Hall (1042577)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  5. ↑ "Hexham Old Gaol". Culture24. Archived from the original on 22 October 2017.
  6. ↑ Reuter, Timothy (1992). Warriors and Churchmen in the High Middle Ages Essays Presented to Karl Leyser. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 212. ISBN 978-0826426758.
  7. ↑ "Hexham Riot". Archived from the original on 21 October 2008. Retrieved 10 November 2008.
  8. ↑ "Hexham Old Gaol". Museums Northumberland. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  9. 1 2 3 4 "The Old Gaol: outline history". Tynedale Heritage. Archived from the original on 24 January 2009. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  10. ↑ Westlake, Ray (2010). Tracing the Rifle Volunteers: A Guide for Military and Family Historians. Pen and Sword Books. p. 192. ISBN 978-1848842113.
  11. ↑ "Hexham Old Gaol". Visit Northumberland. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  12. ↑ "Butler, William, (fl 1960-1981), Director of Northumbria Tourist Board". National Archives. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
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