Prison Museums

The UK and other European countries are blessed with many museums featuring some aspect of imprisonment. This page lists some of the best prison museums, and features reviews and photographs from some I have visited. In April 2007, I managed to fit several into one trip, from Yorkshire to Nottingham via Lincoln.

Ruthin Gaol: A prison museum in North Wales, with access to the ground floor and part of the first floor of the Victorian "Pentonville" wing.
Nottingham Galleries of Justice: The court house, police station and prison (dating back to the middle ages) have been converted into the UK's largest museum dedicated to judicial and penal history.
Ripon Law and Order Museums: Ripon has three law and order museums open to the public - the Courthouse, Workhouse and Prison & Police museum.
Lincoln Castle and Prison: A Victorian prison cell block, a preserved "separate system" chapel, and mediaval dungeons in the castle are all open to the public.
Cork City Gaol: Almost one full Victorian cell block and it's landings can be visited, and the museum also has life-sized figures of guards and prisoners.
York Castle Museum: Features original cells, reconstructed Victorian streets (including police station rooms) and some antique restraints.
Beaumaris Gaol: Some of my pictures
Lancaster Castle: Weblog post about visiting the court rooms and prison.

Other Prisons

The Clink, London

Tower of London

Parkhurst Heritage Museum, Isle of Wight

Inveraray Jail, Scotland

Judge's Lodging, Wales

Bodmin Jail, Cornwall

Little Dean Jail