Old Gaol, prison in County Roscommon

The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.

What is recorded here

Read the whole record

On top of a broad hill within Roscommon town. A tower of two storeys but of unknown function is marked here on a map of 1736 by Francis Plunket (copy in Roscommon County Museum). The jail was reputedly designed by Richard Cassels, was built by 1745, and had the distinction of employing a hangwoman, lady Betty. It closed as a jail c. 1819 when the new jail (RO039-043003-) was built. From 1820 until 1833 it became an asylum (Weld 1832, 423-5). Thereafter it served as a market house, but by 1918 it had been converted into a dwelling called Tudor House. In 1985 most of the cell block, which had three storeys, was demolished, and only the administrative block of four storeys attached to its S survives. Excavation (97E0419) revealed no evidence of an earlier structure but the outline of the cell block (ext. dims c. 14m N-S; 10.5m E-W) with 8 cells (dims c. 2.5m x 2.5m) in all, four on either side of a N-S corridor (Wth 1.3m) was uncovered. There was a latrine chute at N with a drain running off to the NW. (Higgins 1998a) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 24 August 2010

From the National Monuments Service (Archaeological Survey of Ireland) record RO039-043013

Places near here

Photo credits

Gordon Hatton, Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0
National Inventory of Architectural Heritage
AmandaMcCrann, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Maker not stated on source page, www.cruiselinehistory.com
Maker not stated on source page, www.thejournal.ie
Irishrover1980, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Maker not stated on source page, www.flickr.com
Golfing in Ireland; photographer not stated, Source publisher

prison/jail3 yd

Explorer Tom Prison or jail in Ballypheasan makes a sound at night that sounds exactly like a librarian shushing a very loud ghost…

Roscommon Post OfficePost office · 36 yd

Explorer Tom Roscommon Post Office in Ardnanagh is bright red and looks like it’s trying to hide from all the boring limestone…

Bank of IrelandMarket house · 78 yd

Explorer Tom Bank of Ireland in Ardnanagh is stuck in a feud with the next family over who owns the best view from the square. It’s…

Doctor John Harrison Memorial HallChurch/chapel · 81 yd

Explorer Tom Doctor John Harrison Memorial Hall in Ardnanagh is a former Presbyterian church that had a bit of a feud with the next…

The ManseManse · 93 yd

Explorer Tom The Manse in Ardnanagh holds the world record for 'Most Polished Stone Gates.' Seriously, I timed myself; my shoes…

Roscommon Methodist ChurchChurch/chapel · 263 yd

Explorer Tom Roscommon Methodist Church in Ardnanagh has been through so many name changes and redesigns that it’s basically a…

manse271 yd

Explorer Tom The manse in Ardnanagh is sitting right next to a church, looking like it's waiting for a miracle that never quite…

Memorial stone in BallypheasanMemorial stone · 330 yd

Explorer Tom Memorial stone in Ballypheasan is where the Gunnings and Flemings are stuck together like glue, arguing about whose…

CastleCastle, Anglo-Norman masonry castle · 480 yd

Explorer Tom Castle in Cloonbrackna is the shortcut that isn't a shortcut, because you get lost halfway and end up back where you…

Roscommon CastleCastle · 481 yd

Explorer Tom Roscommon Castle in County Roscommon would explain the 1800s to a teenager by saying, 'Imagine your mum's house, but…

TombTomb, unclassified · 847 yd

Explorer Tom Tomb in Ballypheasan is just two panels from another tomb, now missing entirely, which is a bit like losing half your…

Roscommon Golf ClubGolf course · 1727 yd

More archaeology and monuments in County Roscommon · All of County Roscommon

Add to this placeAdd a picture Add a detailed tip Add a story

Explore the map1,095,414 places to discover