Belle Vue Gaol

Belle Vue Gaol (also known as Manchester City Gaol, Manchester Borough Gaol[1] or Gorton Gaol) was a Victorian prison in Gorton, Manchester, England. It operated between 1850 and 1888. It was notorious at the time for abysmal prisoner living conditions. It was demolished in 1892.[2]

A line drawing of a large Victorian building in the background. In the foreground there is a representation of a small inn called the Bowling Green.
Belle Vue Gaol c. 1870

Purpose

When the building of the gaol, located near Hyde Road, commenced circa 1845 it was intended to have been a short-term prison[3] housing male and female inmates who were serving sentences of no more than six months. However, there are prison records that show that there were a few prisoners, mainly military prisoners, usually deserters, who were imprisoned there for up to two years. There were also facilities for securing prisoners awaiting trial at the Assize Court (after July 1864) in Manchester and the Quarter Sessions located nearby.[4] The gaol was considered to be inadequate and as a result many other prisoners were sent to the New Bailey Prison in Salford.[2][5]

Notable Former Inmates

George Gissing, novelist[6]

References
  1. "Archive and local collections - Prison records | Manchester City Council". Archived from the original on 27 May 2023. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
  2. "Court and Prison Records". manchester.gov.uk. Manchester City Council. Prison Records. Archived from the original on 17 November 2009. Retrieved 17 October 2009.
  3. "Archive and local collections - Prison records | Manchester City Council". Archived from the original on 27 May 2023. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
  4. "Court and Prison Records". manchester.gov.uk. Manchester City Council. Quarter Sessions Courts. Archived from the original on 17 November 2009. Retrieved 17 October 2009.
  5. Lodge, Gerard. "Manchester and Salford Prison Records: Belle Vue". Manchester Family History Research. Archived from the original on 31 October 2009. Retrieved 17 October 2009.
  6. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 27 May 2023. Retrieved 17 June 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

53.463°N 2.195°W / 53.463; -2.195


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