Backpacking Northern Ireland - The Crumlin Road Gaol Experience
June 2 2023 | Tagged: United Kingdom
The Crumlin Road Gaol in North Belfast is a former high-security prison now open to the public as a top tourist attraction in Belfast - The Crumlin Road Gaol Experience.
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I spent more than a week in Belfast. Using it as a base, I backpacked it to the full in true Nomadic Backpacker style
I visited Larne, Carrickfergus, Bangor, backpacking the Whitehead Railway Museum, the Harland and Wolff shipping yard, Newtownards and made the long trip out to Londonderry.
The Crumlin Road Gaol is one of the first things I did.
I visited Larne, Carrickfergus, Bangor, backpacking the Whitehead Railway Museum, the Harland and Wolff shipping yard, Newtownards and made the long trip out to Londonderry.
The Crumlin Road Gaol is one of the first things I did.
The Crumlin Road Gaol is a former prison on Crumlin Road in North Belfast.
Officially known as HMP Belfast, it is the only Victorian-era prison in Northern Ireland still remaining.
The high-security Crumlin Road Gaol (known locally as 'The Crum') opened in 1846 and murderers, suffragettes and prisoners from both sides during The Troubles have all served time here.
Within these walls, there have been births, deaths and marriages and has seen executions, escapes, hunger strikes and riots.
I did a self-guided tour. There are lots of videos to see to learn how men, women and children lived within the walls and what their crimes were.
Officially known as HMP Belfast, it is the only Victorian-era prison in Northern Ireland still remaining.
The high-security Crumlin Road Gaol (known locally as 'The Crum') opened in 1846 and murderers, suffragettes and prisoners from both sides during The Troubles have all served time here.
Within these walls, there have been births, deaths and marriages and has seen executions, escapes, hunger strikes and riots.
I did a self-guided tour. There are lots of videos to see to learn how men, women and children lived within the walls and what their crimes were.
The Crumlin Road Courthouse
The Crumlin Road Courthouse is a Grade B+ listed building built in 1850, directly across the road from the Crumlin Road Gaol which opened a few years earlier. There have been plans to turn it into a hotel but at the moment it is derelict.
From the Crumlin Road Gaol, you can enter the tunnel which leads from the courthouse:
The Flogging Rack:
Corporal Punishment was used at the Crumlin Road Gaol until 1961
Prison Warders are called 'screws'. Here is where the nickname comes from:
The Crank was a form of punishment at the Crumlin Road Gaol where by prisoners were sometimes expected to turn the crank through 10,000 revolutions in 8 hours.
The handle was connected to cogs inside which turned paddles through sand and warders could turn a screw which would make the task more arduous. Hence the nickname!
The handle was connected to cogs inside which turned paddles through sand and warders could turn a screw which would make the task more arduous. Hence the nickname!
Executions at the Crumlin Road Gaol
The original design of the gaol did not include a gallows and executions were carried out in public until 1901 when an execution chamber was constructed. And was in use until 1961 when hangings stopped.
17 prisoners have been executed in the prison and buried within the prison grounds with Robert McGladdery being the last in 1961.
17 prisoners have been executed in the prison and buried within the prison grounds with Robert McGladdery being the last in 1961.
Here you can see the engraving MP 1924 which marks the site where Michael Pratley was buried. He was later disinterred and buried in Milltown Cemetery:
Where to find the Crumlin Road Gaol:
Address: 53-55 Crumlin Road Belfast. Co. Antrim. BT14 6ST
Opening hours of the Crumlin Road Gaol
The Wessex XR 529 'ECHO' as used in Northern Ireland. It is 65ft long, 15ft wide and has a top speed of 120mph.
The Humber Pig used by the British Army in Northern Ireland:
The Saracen Armoured Personnel Carrier as used by the British Army in Northern Ireland during The Troubles:
Check out the official Crumlin Road Gaol website for any updates.
