This door originally came from the old Newgate Prison. The prison was
situated on the corner of Old Bailey and Newgate Street. The door is
thought to be from the governor's office, where prison officers defended
themselves against the violent protests of the Gordon Riots in 1780. There
are slots in the door through which rifles could be aimed.
Dark and crowded
There had been a prison at Newgate since Roman times. The prison was
destroyed by fire several times. Different designs were used whenever the
building was rebuilt. The gaol was often over-crowded and had a reputation
for terrible disease, suffering and squalor.
Newgate destroyed
In 1877 the prison suffered another fire which greatly damaged the
building. In 1902, Newgate prison was demolished once and for all, and
many of the fixtures were sold at auction. The Central Criminal Courts,
commonly known as the Old Bailey, are built on the site of Newgate Prison.
