Abbey Gateway

Social History (Museum of St Albans)

1981.3885

Monochrome ink wash painting of St Albans Abbey Gateway viewed from the south with two figures standing on the road in the foreground. Not signed, no date. 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.

PX5609gateway.tif

St Albans Abbey, St Albans, Hertfordshire, UK

PWD Box 45.

28/06/2006