History of the Site

Down County Museum is located in the historic buildings of the eighteenth century County Gaol of Down in Downpatrick. The Gaol was opened in 1796 and until its closure in 1830 housed many thousands of prisoners. 

The County Gaol of Down was opened in 1796. Built and administered by the County Grand Jury of Down, the Gaol housed prisoners convicted of a wide variety of offences.

During its period of operation (1796-1830) the Gaol saw many changes in attitudes to crime and punishment.  Georgian gaols had been notoriously unregulated and haphazard in their operation of prison legislation. As the eighteenth century gave way to the nineteenth the Gaol became increasingly outmoded and unable to implement increasing bureaucracy and stricter attitudes to separating classes of criminals. The Gaol closed in 1830.

Today visitors to Down County Museum can see one of the most complete surviving Georgian gaols in Ireland. A floor of restored cells conjures up something of the atmosphere of over 200 years ago.

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History of the Gaol

In March 1798 the Belfast Newsletter announced that the County Grand Jury of Down intended to build a new gaol for the County. It was to be modelled according to the recommendations of the penal reformer John Howard. The architect was Charles Lilly who also carried out work on Down Cathedral.
Restoring the Gaol

The old Gaol of Downpatrick, now Down County Museum, was built under the supervision of the Marquis of Downshire, the Earl of Hillsborough, the Hon Edward Ward and Charles Lilly, architect, between 1789 and 1796. The prison complex covers one acre and contains three main structures.
Thomas Russell

The County Gaol's most famous prisoner was the United Irishman Thomas Russell, executed here for his part in the abortive rebellion of 1803. For many County Down people, Russell is 'the man from God knows where', immortalised in the ballad of the same name by Bangor poet, Florence Mary Wilson, which generations of school children learnt!
Gaol Officials

Various officials were employed at the Gaol by the County Grand Jury of Down.  Information on the staff is drawn from surviving presentment books, information in the Belfast Newsletter and from the pen of Downpatrick diarist, Aynsworth Pilson.
Transportation

The County Gaol of Down was a transportation gaol. Those sentenced to be sent to the penal colony of New South Wales were held in the Gaol prior to being despatched to Australia.
1798 Rebellion in Down

The Rebellion of 1798 was an uprising against British rule in Ireland. The organisers were the United Irishmen, a republican revolutionary group influenced by the ideas of the American and French revolutions.
Gaol Convicts Database

In 1993 Down County Museum embarked on a project to gather information on the convicts who had been transported from the County Gaol of Down to the penal colony of New South Wales.

The People, The Place, The History

Publications

View a range of publications both Museums have produced relating to their exhibitions, collection research and education programme.

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