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The Great Britain Guide

Chapels Β· South Wales

Monmouth County Gaol

In or near Dixton.

Paid admission

The County Gaol, situated in North Parade, Monmouth, Wales, was Monmouthshire's main prison when it was opened in 1790. It served as the county jail of Monmouthshire and criminals or those who fell fo

Monmouth phone box - geograph.org.uk - 3865459

John Winder β€” CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons licence

Plan your visit

Typical visit
20 min–45 min
Nearest railway station
Rookwood Β· 7.8 km
  • Paid entry

Getting there & planning your visit

To visit Monmouth County Gaol, the nearest railway station is Rookwood, located 7.8 km away. The postcode for sat-nav is NP25 3PE, and please note that entry is paid.

Directions on Google Maps β†’

About

The County Gaol, situated in North Parade, Monmouth, Wales, was Monmouthshire's main prison when it was opened in 1790. It served as the county jail of Monmouthshire and criminals or those who fell foul of the authorities were hanged here until the 1850s and some 3,000 people viewed the last hanging. The jail covered an area of about an acre, with a chapel, infirmary, living quarters and a treadmill. It was closed in 1869. In 1884 most of the building was demolished, and today nothing remains but the gatehouse which is a Grade II listed building. Within the gatehouse, there exists "a representation in coloured glass of the complete original buildings". It is one of 24 buildings on the Monmouth Heritage Trail.

Photo gallery

See it from the streetimagery from 2024

Imagery Β© Mapillary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0

Summary from the official site

The Savoy Theatre in Monmouth is a historic grade 2 listed building and one of the oldest working theatres in Wales. It offers a diverse program that includes feature films, live performances, and special cinema events.

Read more on the official property page.

Protected designations

  • Site of Special Scientific Interest: River Wye SSSI
  • Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty: Wye Valley

Designations sourced from Natural England open data under OGL v3.

From the Wikipedia article

The County Gaol, situated in North Parade, Monmouth, Wales, was Monmouthshire's main prison when it was opened in 1790. It served as the county jail of Monmouthshire and criminals or those who fell foul of the authorities were hanged here until the 1850s and some 3,000 people viewed the last hanging. The jail covered an area of about an acre, with a chapel, infirmary, living quarters and a treadmill. It was closed in 1869. In 1884 most of the building was demolished, and today nothing remains but the gatehouse which is a Grade II listed building. Within the gatehouse, there exists "a representation in coloured glass of the complete original buildings". It is one of 24 buildings on the Monmouth Heritage Trail.

Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.

Background

History

The gaol was designed by William Blackburn and constructed between 1788 and 1790. It was designed as a reformed gaol, following the principles of the first prison reformer John Howard. Generally, the prisoners' diet was poor in the extreme. Felons were allowed 1d of bread a day, but there was no allowance for debtors. John Howard, the penal reformer, noted that many debtors survived on 'water soup' – soup which consisted of bread boiled in water. The longer a prisoner spent in the gaol, the more food they were allowed, receiving such extras as an additional pint of oatmeal gruel for breakfast, 4ozs of cooked meat and 12ozs of potatoes twice a week and a pint of broth twice a week. This…

Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Coordinates
51.8170, -2.7136
Parish
Monmouth
Postcode
NP25 3PE
Parliamentary constituency
Monmouthshire
Phone
01600 772467
Established
1790
Nearest railway station
Rookwood β€” 7.8 km

Sources

Other places nearby

Nearby

North Parade HouseπŸ“· 3

Historic houses Β· South Wales

North Parade House

North Parade House β€” house in Monmouth, Wales.

FreeπŸ‘Άβ†— monmouth-savoy.co.uk
Inglis BridgeπŸ“· 3

Historic bridges Β· South Wales

Inglis Bridge

Inglis Bridge is a historic bridge in the United Kingdom.

FreeπŸ•β†— monmouth-savoy.co.uk
Monnow MillπŸ“· 3

Mills Β· South Wales

Monnow Mill

Monnow Mill β€” Grade II listed building in Monmouth. About 500m north of Monmouth Castle between the road and the river Monnow.

Parade House, MonmouthπŸ“· 3

Historic houses Β· South Wales

Parade House, Monmouth

Parade House, Monmouth β€” Grade II listed building in Monmouth. On the principal road leading north from Monmouth centre set between Monk Street and Hereford Road.

FreeπŸ‘Άβ†— monmouth-savoy.co.uk
Monmouth houses (36) - geograph.org.uk - 6937821πŸ“· 5

Open-air theatres Β· South Wales

Masonic Hall

Masonic Hall β€” a open-air theatre in wales south.

Keep dogs on short leads in Monmouth Cemetery - geograph.org.uk - 7992971πŸ“· 4

Cemeteries Β· South Wales

Monmouth Cemetery

Monmouth Cemetery is a cemetery located at Osbaston Road, Monmouth, Wales. It was available for burials between 1852 and 2012.

FreeπŸ•

Where to eat & stay near Monmouth County Gaol

Places to stay

Three storey house, Drybridge Street, Monmouth - geograph.org.uk - 6733147πŸ“· 5

Campsites Β· South Wales

Monnow Bridge Caravan Site

Monnow Bridge Caravan Site β€” a campsite in wales south.

Free car park direction sign, Cinderhill Street, Monmouth - geograph.org.uk - 6590179πŸ“· 5

Hotels Β· South Wales

The Riverside Hotel

The Riverside Hotel β€” a hotel in wales south.

Free↗ riversidehotelmonmouth.co.uk
Reddings Inclosure - geograph.org.uk - 2171686πŸ“· 5

Campsites Β· South Wales

Broadstone Park Camping and Fishery

Broadstone Park Camping and Fishery β€” a campsite in wales south.

Free↗ broadstonefisheries.com
21st century stone houses, Mitchel Troy, Monmouthshire - geograph.org.uk - 6794824πŸ“· 5

Campsites Β· South Wales

Glen Trothy C. & C. Park

Glen Trothy C. & C. Park β€” a campsite in wales south.

Slow at the northern approach to Rockfield - geograph.org.uk - 3551840πŸ“· 5

Campsites Β· South Wales

Rockfield Glamping

Rockfield Glamping β€” a campsite in wales south.

Symonds Yat - The Biblins - geograph.org.uk - 7569232πŸ“· 5

Campsites Β· South Wales

Biblins Youth Campsite

Biblins Youth Campsite β€” a campsite in wales south.

β†— biblins.org.uk

Places to eat & drink

Remains of the Dixton Gate - geograph.org.uk - 7750068πŸ“· 5

Historic pubs Β· South Wales

Old Nag's Head

Old Nag's Head in Wales South, United Kingdom.

Wiggies the Bakers, St Mary Street - geograph.org.uk - 5446360πŸ“· 5

Historic pubs Β· South Wales

Angel Hotel

Angel Hotel in Wales South, United Kingdom.

The Punch HouseπŸ“· 5

Historic pubs Β· South Wales

The Punch House

The Punch House β€” Historic pub β€” listed building or notable heritage status.

FreeπŸ•β†— thepunchhousemonmouth.co.uk
Trees recently in leaf, Wyebridge Street, Monmouth - geograph.org.uk - 8025389πŸ“· 6

Historic pubs Β· South Wales

Queens Head

Queens Head in Wales South, United Kingdom.

β†— queensheadmonmouth.co.uk
Monmouth buildings (35) - geograph.org.uk - 6934991πŸ“· 6

Historic pubs Β· South Wales

Druid's Head Inn

Druid's Head Inn in Wales South, United Kingdom.

Cornwall House, Monnow Street - geograph.org.uk - 8298364πŸ“· 5

Historic pubs Β· South Wales

The Vine Tree

The Vine Tree in Wales South, United Kingdom.

More places in this region

Bethania Welsh Baptist ChapelπŸ“· 3

Chapels Β· South Wales

Bethania Welsh Baptist Chapel

Bethania Welsh Baptist Chapel β€” Baptist chapel in Maesteg.

Free
Hirwaun Road, Aberdare - geograph.org.uk - 6051538πŸ“· 3

Chapels Β· South Wales

Bethel, Gadlys

Bethel, Gadlys β€” church in Trecynon, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales.

Freeβ™Ώβ†— cynonvalleymuseum.wales
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Chapels Β· South Wales

Bethel, Miskin

Bethel, Miskin β€” church in Rhondda Cynon Taf, UK.

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Bethesda English Baptist ChurchπŸ“· 3

Chapels Β· South Wales

Bethesda English Baptist Church

Bethesda English Baptist Church β€” Baptist chapel in Haverfordwest.

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Frequently asked questions

Where is Monmouth County Gaol?
Monmouth County Gaol is in South Wales, United Kingdom (postcode NP25 3PE), in the parish of Monmouth.
What is Monmouth County Gaol?
The County Gaol, situated in North Parade, Monmouth, Wales, was Monmouthshire's main prison when it was opened in 1790. It served as the county jail of Monmouthshire and criminals or those who fell fo
How do I get to Monmouth County Gaol?
The nearest railway station is Rookwood, about 7.8 km away. Drivers can use postcode NP25 3PE.
When was Monmouth County Gaol built?
Built or established in 1790.
Is Monmouth County Gaol a protected site?
Yes β€” Monmouth County Gaol is part of the River Wye SSSI Site of Special Scientific Interest and the Wye Valley National Landscape (AONB).
How do I get to Monmouth County Gaol?
The nearest railway station is Rookwood, about 7.8 km away. Drivers can navigate to postcode NP25 3PE.