"Gate of St Albans Abbey, Hertfordshire."

Social History (Museum of St Albans)

1994.279

"Gate of St Albans Abbey, Hertfordshire." View of St Albans Abbey Gateway with two figures in the foreground. "J.Newton direxit" (referring to a master who directs of a group of engravers). Published June 23rd 1787 by S.Hooper. 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.

1787

PX3962_1994_279.tif

CD 504

Amy Cooke

3) MoStA Archive Room

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

PWD box 68 (grey).

01/03/2006