History & Heritage

The Old Gaol

The vast frontage of the Old Jail dominates the Square of the town. The Old Gaol was built in 1745 and was designed by a German - Richard Cassells, who also designed Powerscourt House. Until recent times forty cells could be seen. Incarceration could be employed to deal with those found guilty of swearing false oaths, stealing horse or sheep and the usual felonies. It was often the first port of call before transfer to Kilmainham Jail in Dublin or to the Colonies.

It is reputed to have had the only hang woman ever recorded serving here and she was known as Lady Betty. She probably plied her trade coming up to the time of the 1798 Rebellion. The gallows position can still be pointed out at one of the windows on the third storey. The hanging spectacle was a public affair which drew large crowds.

Often conditions in the Jail were so severe especially in winter with cold walls, no glazing in the cell windows, disease and poor food that morality rates were high. At various stages throughout its history its various uses included a leprosy hospital (Lazeretto), a debtors prison, and latterly a mental asylum until the Ballinasloe Asylum opened circu 1840. Issac Weld tells us something about conditions when it was a mental institution; “There were females in solitary cells, with iron clasps around their bodies, and fastened with chains to the walls, sitting with straw heaped up around them to conceal their nakedness”.

The last Governor of the Old Jail, Michael Shera put funding towards building the Presbyterian Church which is located close by and is now the County Museum and Tourist Office. In 1808 Edward Jones was a Jailer and his descendent  John Jones, who had family connections with the Shera family retired from business in Castle Street in 1909 and commenced to live there calling it Tudor House. It was lived in by various families to the present time and now houses a number of commercial businesses and apartments and called Stone Court.

A very fine photograph was taken in 1903 by Robert French of the Lawrence firm, who specialised in the photography of postcards. It gives a very informative view of the appearance of the Jail, The Square with Fair Day in full swing, children drawing water from the pump and the part of the Square where the Post Office was erected in 1912. .
Photos go to Gallery section of website.

Further Reading Sources:

Downloads

Old Jail Sketch

Davys Family Record

Ireland's Own Magazine

Issac Weld

Issac Weld

Gallery