History

Ruthin Gaol was built in a number of phases. The first prison, of around 1654, was located towards the W of the complex, but was demolished long ago. In 1775, following penal reforms instigated by John Howard, a new prison, fronting Clwyd Street, was built by Joseph Turner, Architect, of Chester. This was extended slightly to the E in 1803-5. The prison is shown on a map of 1826, and appears to extend further W, towards the curtain wall. Following the Prison Reform Act of 1823, two further blocks at right-angles were constructed to the rear, around a central yard (1826-32); these were designed by Thomas Penson, Architect, mainly containing cells, but also a machine house with treadmill to the N range. A small block, later converted to a laundry, may have been built in the SW corner at this time. A major development occurred in 1866-8 following the Prisons Act of 1865; a large block, effectively a new prison, was constructed to the NE by Richard Lloyd Williams, County Surveyor, based on the plans of Pentonville Prison. At the same time the 1820-30s blocks were converted and modernised, the W block becoming the female wing. Men and women mixed only in the chapel, which was located above the machine house. In front of the Pentonville Wing, an infirmary was constructed c1880-90, which included a visitor box and reception. This replaced an earlier building on the site, positioned at a slight angle, of which little is known. The gaol closed in 1916, due to the costs of its maintenance, the prisoners transferred to Caernarfon or Shrewsbury. In 1926 the buildings were purchased by Denbighshire County Council and converted to offices and library facilities. During World War II, the former prison became a munitions factory. Floors were inserted between the galleries of the Pentonville Wing, a lift installed and the iron balustrading removed; a number of lean-to structures were constructed against the curtain wall. After the war, the buildings reverted to County Council use, the archives service established in 1971. A number of flat-roofed blocks were built around this time, but these were removed during a major restoration of the prison buildings in 2000-2. The site now includes a museum as well as the archives service and offices.

Exterior

Symmetrical 2-storey 5-window range, containing a wide 3-window gabled bay, slightly advanced to centre. Extension with similar detail added to the R. Constructed of roughly coursed stone with yellow sandstone dressings under a hipped slate roof; detail includes moulded sandstone eaves cornice, continuing to central advanced bay as string course to triangular pediment; leaded copings to gable. Windows are 4-pane horned sashes in square sandstone surrounds, but that to lower L is a 2-light wooden casement. Central entrance in a tall recessed round-arch of stone voussoirs. It includes a shallow stone doorcase with moulded cornice containing a central 6-panel door, the panels at mid-level glazed, flanked by 4-pane sidelights, with recessed panels beneath. Above, a 4-pane sash, as elsewhere. To pediment, a roundel in sandstone surround with inscription: 'The Magistrates sensible to the miserable state of the antient prison, in compassion to the unfortunate, caused this building to be erected in the year MDCCLXXV, Joseph Turner, Architect'. West end has alterations to openings: 4-pane sashes to L and R, the former moved slightly; at mid-level to R is a blocked window; upper storey has 3-light horned sash to L and 2-light casement to L of centre. Rear is of rougher coursed masonry with wide boarded eaves; to L end, a full-height canted bay with hipped swept roof, possibly added later. It has pairs of 12-pane hornless sashes to each storey, and single sashes to each canted face. To R, irregular openings: Boarded door in rendered surround, immediately R of which is a tall 12-pane horned sash at mid-level, probably a stair-light. Two windows to L of doorway, paired horned sashes except for 6-pane sash to upper R. To R of stair-light, 2 small windows, a boarded door and a blocked opening to each storey.
Addition to W end has2-gable to road, that to L narrower and slightly set back; continuous sandstone string course to pediments. Former doorway to far L, infilled with a 9-pane fixed window, with a small 16-pane horned sash immediately to its R; 4-pane sash to upper storey. Wider gabled bay has 2 x 4-pane sashes to each storey, symmetrically-placed. To pediment, a semi-circular opening with radial glazing bars, possibly a ventilator. E gable end has a catslide lean-to with no openings. Rear is 3-window, with tall 2-light casements to ground floor. Upper storey has 2-light casement to L, 16-pane horned sash to centre, and inserted double boarded doors to R, reached by a fire-escape staircase.

Chapel and Machine House Range: A long 2-storey range facing S constructed of large blocks of ashlar under a shallow hipped slate roof, with wide boarded eaves and plain sandstone eaves cornice. Upper storey has 4 x 2-light wooden casement windows, and a narrow iron-glazed window to R end. Against L end, and in angle with Female Wing, is a 1st floor walkway of c2000, a curved steel structure on a steel post, with full-height glazing. Ground floor has 2 narrow boarded and studded doors to R end, with plain overlights and large stone lintels. Small wooden casement to L of these, beyond which are 4 irregular iron-glazed windows. The rear elevation has rough irregular masonry to the base, possibly constructed by prisoners. Ground floor has boarded door R of centre, 2 iron-glazed windows to R, and a shallow round-arched light of stone voussoirs to L of centre. Upper storey is 4-widow with alternating tall iron windows and 2-light wooden casements. Adjoined by later Pentonville wing to far L. Canted NW angle with narrow boarded and studded door. The W end has a similar door with small-pane overlight reached by stone steps. Abuts Female Wing to R.

Female Wing: Narrow rectangular 3-storey range facing E into yard, constructed of large blocks of ashlar with a shallow hipped slate roof, with wide boarded eaves and dressed sandstone eaves cornice: brick stack to S end. East side has boarded door to L, shallow window to L of centre with cambered stone head and small-pane iron glazing, and similar blocked window to R. The upper storeys have very small windows with single wooden casements; 1st floor has 3 windows offset to L; 2nd floor has 6 windows. A curved steel and glass walkway, from the Machine House and Chapel Range, joins the R end at 1st floor level. North end has external full-height projection, possibly for a staircase, with a small-pane horned sash to its R at 1st floor level. West side is irregular 4-window: raised doorway to L with double panelled doors, L of which is a tall 4-pane horned sash to each storey, probably lighting stairs. Elsewhere, small iron-glazed windows, paired to L of centre at ground and 1st floor levels. Similar window to S end at 2nd floor level, above an adjoining 2-storey bay constructed of the same materials. Its W side has a wide infilled opening under a segmental brick arch; E side has opposing infilled opening with stone lintel. Evidence for alterations to S end.

Pentonville Wing: A large 4-storey 12-window range to NE of complex, constructed of snecked dressed stone under a slate roof with wide bracketed eaves, surmounted by a brick ventilation tower. Small square windows in stone surrounds, with chamfered heads and stone sills, containing small-pane iron glazing. The E side has larger windows to far L of 1st and 2nd floors, possibly stair-lights. Corresponding taller windows to R end of W side. The L pairs of windows to W side are closely-spaced; ground floor has boarded doors to L and L of centre. Skylights to roof pitch. The N gable end faced the prisoners' yard, with a tall central canted bay with flat moulded roof; tall lights with small-pane iron glazing spanning 1st to 3rd floors. At 1st floor level, to R canted face, a boarded door with stone steps bound by plain iron railings leading down to former exercise yard. To ground floor, to front of canted bay, double boarded doors with small-pane overlight under a stone lintel. To L of canted bay, a lintel marks the blocked doorway which led to the hanging scaffold, at 1st floor level. The S gable end is cut back to the L, having been constructed around the 1820s block. To centre of gable end, at 2nd and 3rd floor levels, are tall tripartite windows with small-pane iron glazing. Linking ranges to the infirmary adjoin beneath, probably obscuring the original entrance. Square brick ventilation tower with sandstone dressings, on a battered base. Pyramidal swept slate roof surmounted by a large square finial of decorative iron openwork, recently restored to its original position. Each face of the tower has a 5-light stone mullioned opening; deep sandstone eaves cornice with recessed quatrefoils; arcaded stone band to base.

The Infirmary: Attached to the S end of the Pentonville Wing via a short linking range. A tall 2-storey range with irregular fenestration, constructed of snecked stone, under a hipped slate roof, with truncated brick ridge stack and brick corner stack to SW; detail includes dressed quoins, boarded eaves and square sandstone surrounds to windows. The E side has 4-pane horned sashes, those to upper storey taller with overlights; the upper storey is 4-window, the ground floor 6-window with a small light to L end. The S end has a narrow boarded and studded door offset to R, inset under a stone lintel. Small square Pentonville-style window to upper storey with small-pane iron glazing. Angle buttress to SW, stub wall to SE, forming part of entrance to rear yard. West side of range has 2 former doorways to L and R, now infilled with 4-pane sashes; further 4-pane sash above the latter. Tall window to centre of upper storey with small-pane glazing. Remaining windows are irregular and at different levels, mainly Pentonville-style.

The short 2-storey linking range between the Penonville Wing and Infirmary provided a new main entrance. It is L-shaped, wrapping around the NW angle of the Infirmary; entrance facing S leading directly into Pentonville Wing, and abutting the Chapel and Machine House Range to L. Constructed of snecked stone under a slate roof, hipped to L end, with an angled buttress beneath, said to be on the alignment of an earlier building. Tall round-arched entrance of stone voussoirs, over a flight of stone steps leading up to an inset doorway with boarded door to R and tall small-pane iron window to L. Above entrance, a pair of narrow 8-pane sashes in sandstone surround. East side of linking range is set back from infirmary, with altered openings including an infilled doorway and window; upper storey has 2 small windows, iron-glazed to L and a 4-pane sash to R.

Interior

Front Range:
Interior included cells for different types of prisoners as well as the governor's accommodation. It is now offices but retains a number of original features. Panelled plaster ceilings, each large panel containing a foliate ceiling rose; moulded arches on capitals; flagstone floors. The W room has spine- and cross-beams which could be earlier. The wooden staircase to rear does not appear to be original. Some original cell doors are retained, including to ground floor, a 2-panel door with iron plate attached to opposite side, with strap hinges and studs. Former condemned cell upstairs, adjacent to governor's accommodation, with slate ceiling and floor, and heavy door with iron plate, studs and diagonal strap hinges, which opens outwards.
Chapel & Machine House Range:
It retains the well which fed a treadmill which pumped water to the Pentonville Wing. On the 1st floor is the former chapel, now archives reading room, with a door to each end leading to the Female Wing and Pentonville Wing, respectively.
Female Wing:
The range has small cells along the W side, orientated axially, with segmental vaulted brick ceilings. Galleries with cast iron balustrading, as Pentonville Wing, some reconstructed. Vaulted basement with fireplace, perhaps connected with heating; basement windows infilled with rubble.
Pentonville Wing:
The interior is lined by cells, 22 to each floor; those to 2nd and 3rd floors are reached by galleries; those to ground and 1st floors from slate flagstone floors; a central flight of brick stairs with iron railings linked the 2, but is now blocked; ceiling lights between floors. The individual cells have segmental vaulted brick roofs and brick floors, and boarded studded doors with decorative strap hinges, some replaced. Some good original detail, including vertical niches adjacent to cell doors, for the wardens to keep oil lamps after lights-off time; the original bell and cable signalling system; the ventilation system inside the walls. In the NE corner of the 1st floor is the condemned cell, which had an external doorway to the hanging scaffold. An original curved open iron staircase against the N gable end leads to the galleries. The galleries are supported on arched decorative brackets; the front railings with diagonal struts and circles, mainly reconstructed. The ceiling is open with large cast iron arched-braces; roof-lights are reconstructed, the originals having been removed in the 1940s.
Infirmary:
Inside the doorway to S gable end, is reception to the Archives Service, and a staircase to the L. From reception, a corridor along the W side of the range includes at least one niche containing a refrigerator (door missing), possibly used for storing medicines. The corridor leads N into the Pentonville Wing.

Reasons for Listing

Listed grade II* as an exceptional example in Wales of a complete late C18 prison, by a prominent regional architect, and including associated prison blocks of early -late C19 date, the whole of historical importance as illustrating developments in prison design. Group value with Curtain Wall of Old Gaol.

External Links

• Cadwr Listing
• Wikidata Q29481337

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Historic Environment Law: Planning, Listed Buildings, Monuments, Conservation Areas and Objects, Supplement 2014
• 
  Oxfordshire: North and West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  London 4: North: North v. 4 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  For the Record
• 
  Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990: Updated version
• 
  Sussex: East with Brighton and Hove (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)