The Old Court

It is believed that Ruthin's first prison was located in the old court, where the Natwest Bank stands today. It was built around 1404, after Owain Glyndŵr had attacked the town and destroyed almost everything.

Richard Gwyn, one of the Welsh Catholic Martyrs, was imprisoned there for the last four years of his life before being transferred to Wrexham to be executed in 1584. Most executions were carried out on St Peter's Square, and part of the gallows can still be seen on the north-west side of the Old Court.

Ruthin's first 'House of Correction' was built in 1654, after Denbighshire Justices received an order. It was situated at the bottom of Clwyd Street, where the old buildings are today, and the first master was Harry Davies. The building was extended in 1699.

Changes after the 1774 Bills

Two government bills were passed in 1774 after John Howard's research into prison conditions; the first was to improve hygiene and appoint a doctor in every prison. The second was to abolish the custom that every prisoner had to pay the Gaoler on his release. Denbighshire Justices decided to build a new prison. By April 1774 the new prison plans had been drawn up by Joseph Turner, an architect from Chester. Work began in January 1775. The inscription above the door read “The magistrates, sensible of the miserable state of the ancient prison, in compassion to the unfortunate, caused this building to be erected in the year MDCCLXXV”

Prison life was hard and harsh. In a report on the prison's conditions on 3 March 1788, it was noted - "County Gaol at Ruthun - No proper separation of the sexes. The debtors pay no chamber rent, and have the county allowance of two shillings a week, yet do not keep their rooms clean. One of the articles in the rules of 1785, is, that all prisoners committed for felony shall have irons put on their legs at the discretion of the keeper, and the same not be altered without the order of a justice of the peace'; even women are not excepted." At the time the prison was home to twelve debtors, two felons and seven other prisoners. The Master's salary was £70.

Expansion

In 1802, the prison had four cells for felons and nine for debtors. The original architect, Joseph Turner from Chester, was asked to extend the building, but as he was old and unwell, he could not supervise the work, and because of this there were problems with the building.

The building was once again extended in 1812 in order to add single cells, day rooms, women's cells and an exercise space. Six single cells for women were added between 1824 and 1825, and more cells in 1837, allowing 58 prisoners to be kept under lock and key.

New rules were drawn up concerning prison design, cells, hard labour, solitary confinement, prison food and administration when the Prison Act 1865 was passed. As Ruthin Gaol did not meet the standards in the Act, Ruthin Gaol Committee was formed in January 1866. It was decided to build a new four-storey wing based on Pentonville Prison in London to hold a hundred prisoners.

Change of Role

On 1 April 1878, the prison's name and role changed from Ruthin County Gaol to Her Majesty's Prison Ruthin, and it served Denbighshire, Flintshire and Meirionethshire. More changes were made to the prison's women's section, and the prison gained a good reputation. By 1904 there were 81 men and 6 women imprisoned there. Prisoners were held here until it was closed by the Prisons Commission in 1916 and 13 wardens were moved to Shrewsbury Prison.

In 1926 Denbighshire County Council bought the buildings from the Prison Commissioners and adapted them for use as offices and a library. During the Second World War it was used as a munitions factory! In recent years the prison was adapted and modernised as a tourist attraction and today it is the home of Denbighshire Records Office.