'Abbey Gateway and Grammar School, St Albans', 1874.

Social History (Museum of St Albans)

1982.2161

Steel engraving in sepia ink, published by Rock & Co., London, No.6757, 15 October, 1874. St Albans Abbey Gateway from the south viewed from Abbey Mill Lane to the south with pedestrians and a horse and cart in the road. The Abbey Gateway is the only building that remains of the monastery buildings of the Abbey of St Albans. Built in 1365, it was used for many years as a prison. It ceased to be the town gaol in 1867 when a purpose built prison was built on Grimston Road, near the station. It now forms part of St Albans School. In the Gatehouse Prison, offenders were given bread but there was no heating. Passing strangers often heard a pleading voice from within begging them to put alms into an old shoe, which the prisoners let down by string from a window, to enable them to have a fire. Apparently prisoners could escape from the prison by climbing out of a window and jumping on to a tree.

1874

PX8683abbeyGateway.tif

Amy Cooke

4) Verulamium Archive Room

St Albans Abbey Gateway, Abbey Mill Lane, St Albans, Hertfordshire, UK.

PWD Box 42 (green).

07/03/2007