Belle Vue Gaol Explained
Belle Vue Gaol (also known as Manchester City Gaol, Manchester Borough Gaol[1] or Gorton Gaol) was a Victorian prison in Gorton, Manchester, England. It operated between 1850 and 1888. It was notorious at the time for abysmal prisoner living conditions. It was demolished in 1892.
Purpose
When the building of the gaol, located near Hyde Road, commenced circa 1845 it was intended to have been a short-term prison[2] housing male and female inmates who were serving sentences of no more than six months. However, there are prison records that show that there were a few prisoners, mainly military prisoners, usually deserters, who were imprisoned there for up to two years. There were also facilities for securing prisoners awaiting trial at the Assize Court (after July 1864) in Manchester and the Quarter Sessions located nearby.[3] The gaol was considered to be inadequate and as a result many other prisoners were sent to the New Bailey Prison in Salford.[4] [5]
Notable Former Inmates
George Gissing, novelist[6]
External links
53.463°N -2.195°W
Notes and References
- Web site: Archive and local collections - Prison records | Manchester City Council . 17 June 2023 . 27 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230527215010/https://www.manchester.gov.uk/directory_record/212407/prison_records . live .
- Web site: Archive and local collections - Prison records | Manchester City Council . 17 June 2023 . 27 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230527215010/https://www.manchester.gov.uk/directory_record/212407/prison_records . live .
- Web site: Court and Prison Records. Manchester City Council. 17 October 2009. manchester.gov.uk. Quarter Sessions Courts. https://web.archive.org/web/20091117184734/http://www.manchester.gov.uk/info/448/archives_and_local_studies/3808/court_and_prison_records/4. 2009-11-17. dead.
- Web site: Court and Prison Records. Manchester City Council. 17 October 2009. manchester.gov.uk. Prison Records. https://web.archive.org/web/20091117184744/http://www.manchester.gov.uk/info/448/archives_and_local_studies/3808/court_and_prison_records/8. 2009-11-17. dead.
- Web site: Manchester and Salford Prison Records: Belle Vue. Lodge. Gerard. Manchester Family History Research. 17 October 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20091031072000/http://manchester-family-history-research.co.uk/new_page_4.htm. 2009-10-31. dead.
- Web site: Archived copy . 17 June 2023 . 27 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230527220009/https://archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/search/archives/4ebf02c4-9f23-3d2a-a759-50677054086c . live .
