Newgate Prison

Newgate Prison

Originally a Gaol over the New Gate of London, it underwent many alterations.

Proposed enlargement of Newgate The public will learn, with extreme surprise, that it is intended by the City authorities to enlarge Newgate to nearly double its present size. During the whole lifetime of a generation, the prison of Newgate has been condemned as a public nuisance by every intelligent man; and now, when its presence has become more unbearable than ever, the "statesmanship" of Guildhall proposes to enlarge it. Newgate Street is already almost crowded to impassability during business hours, whilst Ludgate Hill, its confined neighbour, is in a condition of traffic congestion the greater portion of every day. Yet, "Newgate" itself is able to be extended. Newgate, which, with the Old Bailey, may be taken as the obstructive barrier between the two great arterial thoroughfares, ought to have been carted out of the public way half a century ago.Common-sense, at this time of day, might have suggested a "clean sweep" to give more elbow-room to the public. The Holborn viaduct, one of the historic building works of modern London, is being constructed at a cost of something over one million sterling; Middle-row has been cleared away at an expenditure of more than £50,000, to give full effect to the western approach of the new high-level road-way; whilst the Eastern end of the same roadway is doomed to open out upon - what ? The felon's door, from which the condemned wretch steps forth to be hanged. Then, there is the new meat-market, raising its cheerful looking faces in Smithfield. Its main north and south roadway will pass at right-angles to the viaduct, directly over the spot where the gallows stands. Yet, Newgate must be enlarged ! The admirer of the viaduct, when going City-wise, will have something to "season" his admiration with, when he finds the eastern terminal faced by the gloomy corner of the old prison. In 1857, when the interior of Newgate was reconstructed at an outlay of between £12,000 and £15,000, loud were the cries against either the expenditure of the money, or the continuance of the prison. The cries died out, as such soul-less wailings had often done before, and Newgate still stands, awaiting a yet further enlargement! It is proposed to take in the best part of Warwick Square, some of Tylor's Market - which many people think is part of Newgate Market - and some courts and alleys adjacent. If this is done, of course the present proprietors of the required premises will have to be bought out handsomely. As they are mostly publishers, or connected with the commercial department of literature in some shape or other, they cannot be "improved" out of the way without money. Then there will be the freeholders to settle with, and, after that, the old buildings to be pulled down and the new ones put up. Rumour ascribes the project to Mr. Hardy, but the Home Secretary would hardly of himself be hardy enough for that. It was stated, years ago, on very creditable authority, that the space occupied for each prisoner was equivalent to more than £150 per annum ground-rent. It must be remembered that the site is within a stone's throw of the General Post Office, and within pistol-shot of the Bank of England and the Royal Exchange, the very heart of the City. The frontage of the prison in the Old Bailey is 300 ft. with a back extension line of 192 ft. The net area is, however, much less, being only 124 ft by 46 ft for prisoners' use. In the reconstruction already mentioned, 130 modern cells were built, and accommodation can be given to nearly 200 prisoners; but the average is hardy ever over 100, sometimes not more than 40 at once. The grim walls which we see on passing every day, are not a century old, having been built by George Dance, the then City architect, between the years 1776 and 1782, the Gordon riots having destroyed the old prison. Newgate has been a prison since the 13th century, and the time has come when it ought to be removed for the purpose of public convenience. Were Newgate-prison and Newgate Market gone, there would then be ample room for the glories of the Row to expand.Source: The Builder 1868 Vol XXVI p073. 1st February 1868

Newgate Gaol was demolished in 1902, and the Central Criminal Court (Old Bailey) was built on the site.