Beaumaris Gaol (Carchar Biwmares) served as a county jail/prison between 1829 and 1879 and is now a fascinating museum of prison life.
Opening times and admission
Open daily from 10 am to 5 pm.
Admission is £7 for adults and £5 for children
Joint tickets for the Gaol and Courthouse are also available (£10.50 for adults), as well as discounted tickets - Family and Seniors.
How to get there
Address: Steeple Lane, Beaumaris LL58 8EP
Located in North Wales, on the Isle of Anglesey, in Beaumaris, Beaumaris Gaol is a 7-10 minute walk from Beaumaris Castle.
Beaumaris Gaol was built in 1829 and was used as a County jail between 1829 and 1879.
The majority of prisoners were moved to other prisons in 1877, with the remaining 5 being transferred in 1878 to the nearby Caernarfon Gaol.
After the Gaol closed down in 1879, the building became a police station, (until 1952) and also housed prisoners of war.
In 1975, Beaumaris Gaol and Court was opened as a museum of prison life.
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After visiting Beaumaris Castle, I still had a bit of time to visit Beaumaris Gaol, which is only a short walk away from the castle, and I'm very happy I did so. The place is absolutely fascinating.
There are numerous displays throughout the corridors and rooms, all containing a great amount of information regarding the people incarcerated there as well as the history surrounding the place: one prisoner managed to escape Beaumaris Gaol in 1859 but was recaptured soon after and two hangings took place there, one in 1830 and one in 1862.
There are shackles, keys, books, official documents and pictures, all accompanied by descriptions and explanations, so if you want to delve deep into the conditions in which the prisoners were kept, you have more than enough resources there.
Even if you're not keen on reading every bit of information, I would suggest setting aside at least 1 and a half to 2 hours to visit the whole Gaol, with its corridors, rooms and areas.
Have you ever been there? If so, I would love to hear about your visit there, in the comment section below.
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