What Was Newgate Prison?

Newgate Prison was an infamous prison which operated in London for over 700 years. It has featured in a number of novels and films about British history, and conditions in the prison inspired many 19th century social reformers, who were justly horrified by the squalor of Newgate. The history of Newgate prison is turbulent, and during the years that it remained in operation, it held a wide range of Britons, from famous people like Thomas Malory, author of Le Morte d'Arthur, to debtors who were unable to settle their accounts.

The prison no longer stands today, but it was located on Newgate Street, in close proximity to the Roman Wall which once encircled London. The street and the prison were named for the nearest gate in the wall, although a clear explanation for the gate's name has been lost in history. Historians theorize that Newgate was named after an expansion of St. Paul's Church near Ludgate led to increased traffic, causing the city to create another gate for people who wanted to circumvent St. Paul's.

Originally, Newgate had a small prison house, which was expanded into a full prison in 1188 on the orders of Henry II. This prison was destroyed during the Great Fire of London in 1666, after which it was rebuilt again. In the 1780s, a series of violent riots ruined Newgate Prison again, and it was rebuilt just in time for the gallows of London to move to Newgate Prison in 1783. In the early 19th century, social reformers raised awareness about conditions in the prison, leading to some changes in the prison's structure. Ultimately, the prison was closed in 1902, and destroyed in 1904.

During its time as a prison, Newgate Prison held prisoners awaiting trial, people who had been convicted to death, and debtors, among others. The layout of Newgate Prison included an area for “common” prisoners, as well as more luxurious cells for people who could afford to pay for them. The prison provided no amenities beyond its cell walls, and conditions inside could be extremely grim, especially for those without help on the outside.

It is unfortunate that Newgate Prison was destroyed, since it played an important role in British history. The building which replaced it, the Old Bailey, is an important historical building itself, serving as one of the major criminal courts in England. Numerous depictions of Newgate Prison can be found in contemporary writing and art, fortunately, so the prison's sordid history is unlikely to disappear entirely.