Historic tourist attraction set for refurbishment

Richard Evans, local democracy reporter

An historic 18th Century prison and tourist attraction is set to be refurbished.

Denbighshire County Council has applied to its own planning department, seeking listed building consent to refurbish The Old Gaol on Clwyd Street.

The Old Gaol Building is the first part of the Ruthin Gaol site that visitors are presented with from the main street.

It was built in 1775 of stone construction with a traditional slate roof and forms two storeys.

Pentonville style prison

The Gaol holds particular significance as it is the only purpose-built Pentonville style prison open to the public as a heritage attraction, offering a valuable illustration of developments in prison design.

If Denbighshire is granted permission, the council will refurbish the building’s lobby and front entrance, including new glazed openings to the cafe and exhibition/shop.

The council also plan to open up and refurbish the existing kitchen to serve a new cafe.

The plans also include a new external door to the building’s rear.

The attraction allows people to explore the building and learn about life in the Victorian prison and see how prisoners lived their daily lives, including the last men to be hanged at the site.

Visitors can find out about what prisoners ate, how they worked, and the punishments they suffered.

The planning application will likely be debated at a future Denbighshire planning committee meeting at Ruthin’s County Hall HQ.