Littledean Jail
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Littledean,
Nr. Cinderford,
Royal Forest of Dean,
Glos. GL14 3NL

01594 826659

  • 01594 826659
  • PLEASE NOTE: CASH ONLY - OPENING TIMES APRIL - OCTOBER WE OPEN THURS - SUN & BANK HOLIDAY MONDAY - LARGE GROUPS - PRE BOOK ONLY.
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Originally completed in 1791

A Brief History

How it all began

Standing at the gateway to the Royal Forest of Dean, this former House of Correction – Littledean Jail was designed and built by the pioneer of prison reform – Sir George Onesiphorous Paul and leading Prison Architect of his day – William Blackburn. As a result of the sudden death of Blackburn it was completed under the supervision of his new brother-in-law, architect William Hobson in 1791.

This remarkable Grade II* listed building was built as the most up-to-date, revolutionary House of Correction of its time, and was later seen as the Government’s role model for London’s Pentonville Prison and taken across the seas for the world famous Philadelphian Cherry Hill Penitentiary System in America.

It was built for the miserly sum of £1,650. The building work was started in 1788 by Gabriel Rogers, who went bankrupt as a result of not being able to complete the work at such low costs. London Builder J. Fentiman was brought in to finish the job.

Behind the austere gatehouse entrance, the prison, with it’s formidable sandstone facade remains much as it was when first built. Steeped in history and infamy, its awesome appearance provides a stark reminder of the hard labour and craftsmanship needed to build this architecturally important jailhouse

Life Inside

Life inside the jail was seemingly far better than life outside -for most of the Forest community. Life outside was certainly hard, most if not all those that lived in and around the Forest of Dean in the 18th century were destitute, disease ridden, illiterate and very, very poor. Those that were imprisoned here were at least guaranteed food, a place to sleep and some form of education, if only in religious instruction -namely Catholicism.

CRIMES COMMITTED

On 18th November 1791, Joseph Marshall, a 19 year old labourer was the first inmate admitted here. His crime -stealing a spade and for this he was locked up for 3 months. Convictions here ranged from petty theft, lewd women (prostitutes), military deserters, fraud and embezzlement, assault and battery to murder. Children as young as 8 years old were incarcerated here and whipped with the birch, cat of nine tails and kept in solitary confinement! Between 1837-1838 three babies were born here, though only one survived.

FIRST GLOUCESTERSHIIRE POLICEMAN KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY!

Police Sergeant Samuel Beard stationed here at Littledean Jail was the first policeman in the County to be killed in the line of duty at Speech House Hotel in the Forest of Dean in 1861. There is a tombstone in Littledean churchyard sacred to the memory of this brave officer.

WITCHCRAFT

The last woman in Gloucestershire to be charged with witchcraft was tried here at the Jailhouse in 1906. Cinderford wise woman, Ellen Hayward (known as Old Ellen) conducted her own defence and was subsequently found not guilty!!!

REDUNDANT

In 1854 Littledean Jail was no longer used as a House of Correction, used instead as a Police Station, remand prison and petty sessional Court from 1874. It was also to serve as a headquarters for the County’s mounted police, stabling horses here inside the one time treadmill outbuilding., . It was also used as a barracks and archive store during the war for Gloucester Cathedral and the County’s Public Records Office.

FILM SET

The titillating Horror cult film -‘House of Whipcord’ was set and filmed here in 1974 -still very much a cult film today. Littledean Jail still retains its magnetism as the perfect location for film location projects.

GHOSTS OF LITTLEDEAN JAIL

Obviously the scariest presence here is of course ‘The Jailer’ himself. Littledean Jail is reputed to be one of Britain’s most , haunted properties… thankfully folklore and modern day findings’ claim that the ghosts are actually friendly!! Since its opening in 2005 the Jail has attracted the interest of many ghosthunters, paranormal and psychic investigators … desperately hoping to encounter something less frightening than the Jailer. Littledean Jail is featured on the ‘Ghosts of Gloucestershire’ DVD starring Richara Felix, who appeared on televisions top rated spooky programme ‘Most Haunted’

CHANGE OF OWNERSHIP

The Police Station itself was closed in 1972 and the last court session sat here on 24th October 1985. The end of an era!
It was sold to Ecclesiastical Insurance Group in 1986 and used for their computer mainframe, archive records store and disaster recovery unit.

NEW INMATES ARRIVE

In September 2003 the jail was purchased by its new owners and refurbished partly as a Baronial style family home and partly to house one of the world’s largest and finest private collection of crime memorabilia, ephermia and curiosities – ‘The Crime Through Time Collection’.