The Castle Museum, former Debtors' Prison, York
The Debtors' Prison was built between 1701-5 as a County Gaol. The architect is unknown but may have been William Wakefield of Huby. The side, rear and internal walls, are of brick and stone, the front wholly of stone. The original entances were on the first floor of the projecting wings, reached by flights of steps to where there are now the central windows. The left one lead to offices for the governor and then through to cells for felons, the one of the right leading to a chapel and then onto cells for debtors. One of the most famous inmates was the highwayman Dick Turpin who was tried in York and executed at the Knavesmire in 1735. Later executions were carried out in a walled yard to the rear. Later alterations included removing some of the cells to accommodate prison warders, after the building of new prison blocks on the castle site from 1835, and then for conversion to the Castle Museum from 1952. The steps on the right lead to the Assize Courts which still houses York Crown Court.
The Castle Museum, former Debtors' Prison, York
The Debtors' Prison was built between 1701-5 as a County Gaol. The architect is unknown but may have been William Wakefield of Huby. The side, rear and internal walls, are of brick and stone, the front wholly of stone. The original entances were on the first floor of the projecting wings, reached by flights of steps to where there are now the central windows. The left one lead to offices for the governor and then through to cells for felons, the one of the right leading to a chapel and then onto cells for debtors. One of the most famous inmates was the highwayman Dick Turpin who was tried in York and executed at the Knavesmire in 1735. Later executions were carried out in a walled yard to the rear. Later alterations included removing some of the cells to accommodate prison warders, after the building of new prison blocks on the castle site from 1835, and then for conversion to the Castle Museum from 1952. The steps on the right lead to the Assize Courts which still houses York Crown Court.