Old Gaol Redevelopment Abingdon

Books Referencing the Old Gaol

• Excavations Old Gaol Abingdon, Miles, D. and others, Oxoniensia vol 40 1975
• Excavations Old Gaol Abingdon, Parrington, Michael, Oxoniensia vol XL 1975
• Excavations in Abingdon, 1972-4 The Animal Bones from the Broad Street and Old Gaol sites. R. WILSON
  With D. BRAMWELL and A. WHEELER
• Abingdon an 18th Century Country Town by Mieneke Cox

Abingdon Gaol Timeline History and Facts

The New Gaol

• 1The previous Gaol in the rooms above St Nicolas Arch had become notorious as reported by John Howard Sheriff of Bedford and prison reformer. (The arch and rooms still exist)
• 21805 Construction of Old Gaol begins
  French prisoner of wars were used.
• 3In 1803 the corporation sold the White Hart Inn for conversion to a House of Correction and Gaol. The idea of conversion was abandoned and plans for the imposing building we know today. There were 3 wings of which one for women, exercise was possible in the courts between the wings. There was a chapel and an infirmary in the central block. There were four categories of prisoners, debtors, felons, women and those awaiting trial. There was a colonnaded forecourt which may be seen in an early painting. A Grand Jury room, judges lodgings and school room were also provided.
• 41811 Old Gaol Opened
  The Old Gaol had cost £26,000s. A Hemmings was a turnkey
• 51820 Sir Charles Wolseley, 7th Baronet gaoled for 18 months
  The 7th Baronet Sir Charles was a well travelled man, spending many years in France and was even part of the storming of the Bastille during the French Revolution. He was a very outspoken character back in England and in 1820 he was sentenced to 18 months in prison and ordered to pay £1,000 in fines for his behaviour
• 6 William Gerring was Deputy Governor of the gaol, 1851 and 1861
• 71865 Parliament
  SIR FRANCIS GOLDSMID wished to remark with regard to Abingdon Gaol that the Court of Quarter Sessions had expressed an opinion that it was unnecessary. The average number of prisoners in it was only five. Large counties found one prison quite sufficient, and the question was whether the county of Berks was to continue to be taxed for the benefit of a few inhabitants of Abingdon and the officers of the gaol. Sir George Bowyer of Radley argued that iIf Abingdon Gaol were done away with, the sessions and assizes must be held at Reading, and the sessions for Abingdon could not be held at all, so that the criminal jurisdiction would be entirely taken away from that end of the county, and great inconvenience and hardship would thus be inflicted upon jurymen and witnesses there resident. There was a tendency to take everything to Reading, but he thought that exceedingly unjust, and he should always continue to resist that encroachment on the part of the Reading end of the county
• 81868 Old Gaol Closed as a Prison
  Abingdon having lost its status as County Town of Berkshire, then lost its County Gaol the prisoners were transferred to Reading.
• 91874 Old Gaol sold to John Creemer Clarke
  Sold for just £2,500
• 101880 Sold on to Charles Woodridge
  Sold for just £2000. Charles was a saddler and corn dealer and used the Old Gaol for storing Corn. Other sections turned into tenement dwellings. Charles also added the buildings which front Bridge Street, which were considered a great improvement.
• 111920's Corn Store
  The former County Gaol is now used as a store for the stocks of Messrs Harris & Matthews, Corn
  Chandlers, whose shop occupies the frontage of the large stone house, facing the Street at the
  entrance to the yard. Next is the Police Station, and then a narrow entry named Turnagain Lane.
  This leads to a courtyard full of small stone cottages, crammed together round the edge of the yard.
  These were once the residences of the prison Guards.
• 1229th Nov 1975 Old Gaol Leisure Centre Opened
  The Old Gaol was opened as a leisure centre including a swimming pool in 1974. A small cinema, theater,a bar and a cafe. This cost an enormous £1.25 million. Built by Amey Construction. Prince Philip visits.
• 131998, 24th September
  The Reading "Evening Post" reports that staff at Abingdon Sports and
  Leisure Centre have complained of ghostly laughing and knocking. old gaol's deputy manager Steve Blosse has not had any chilling experiences he says many of his staff have had ghostly encounters. He continued the ghosts are quite harmless and they only seem to be around when there is building work going on. Perhaps they don't like being disturbed."
• 142002 The Old Gaol Closed
  White Horse Leisure and Tennis Centre opened in Audlett Drive.
• 152006 Old Gaol Site put up for Sale
• 162010 Demolition of "Modern" Outbuildings
  See Timeline for the Redevelopment for more information
• 17January 2011
  Evidence of ground preparation but not one brick laid.
• 18February 2011
  Foundations being laid

Old Gaol Redevelopment Timeline

1. December 2006
   The Old Gaol in Abingdon will be put on the market by the Vale of White Horse District Council for development bids in the New Year.
2. January 2009
   Plans to transform the Old Gaol site in Abingdon were given unanimous approval on 26 January 2009. Cranbourne Homes was chosen by the Council to transform and revive the Old Gaol site in Abingdon.
3. July 2009
   THE Audit Commission has thrown out complaints that the redevelopment of Abingdon's Old Gaol was a bad deal for taxpayers. The £25m project in Bridge Street will see the construction of 61 two- and three-bedroom homes including eight penthouses with terraces overlooking the River Thames.
4. March 2010
   Demolition of outbuildings and the 1974 Swimming pool block. Also demolition of two houses on Bridge St to allow vehicular access.
5. June 2010
   Demolition and entrance complete. Little activity.
6. September 2010
   Abingdon Herald announces that the Old Gaol is expected to earn the Vale of White Horse District Council about £4m.
   The Vale council received a £2m down payment for selling the historic site to Cranbourne Homes, and more cash was expected on top from the sale of 61 units which is expected to be worth another £2m.