Old Gaol, Hexham. Photo Northumberland County Council, 1971.

[NY 9370 6408] Tower. (1)

The building now known as the Manor Office was formerly the gaol the date of which may be almost exactly ascertained by two entries in the registers at York. The first of these, dated June 8th 1330, orders that a gaol should be built. The building had evidently been completed by Jan 19th 1332, the date of an order to furnish the gaol with chains, manacles etc. Only one tower at Hexham is mentioned in a list dated 1415 and there is nothing to indicate whether this refers to the gaol or the Moot Hall. [NY 96 SW 9]
A survey of 1552 refers to both towers as being in decay and in 1608 the gaol is described as being in 'great ruin'. During the Scotch war in 1640 it was suggested that the two towers be garrisoned with 150 musketeers. The building, which was used as a gaol until 1824, is the property of the lord of the manor.
The gaol is constructed almost entirely of re-used material, chiefly of Roman dressing, probably from the station at Corbridge. An early plan, now in the British Museum, shows the internal arrangements before the 19th century alterations were carried out.
The building is of three storeys with a continuous machiolated parapet. The only original windows are on the top floor. (2)

The gaol was used for the transactions of all business anciently connected with the Regality and Manor of Hexham, after this had passed out of the possession of the Archbishops, and so acquired the name of the Manor Office.
The chief prisons were in the second storey, the top floor being used for the gaoler's lodging.
The building is the only medieval gaol, built solely for that purpose and remaining entire in England. (3)

The building is in good condition and used as a store. See Illustration Card. (4)

[NY 9370 6408] Manor Office. (5)

Condition unchanged. (6)

The Manor Office. Grade 1.

5334 HALLGATE
(North East Side)

NY 9364 1/4 2.10.51.
Circa 1330 for Archbishop Melton of York. Built as a gaol, which it remained until mid 19th century. Three storey rectangular building with set-offs to each floor. Range of 64 large triple roll corbels for former machicolations. Roof at present leaded. Built partly of Roman dressed
stones. Original windows small, trefoil headed with bars. Later insertions are three- or four-light lancets, two to east, one to north and one to south. Central entrance to west with recent pointed arch; former entrance to partly dismantled newel stair to left now blocked and replaced by a two-light trefoil headed window. Three windows on first floor, above entrance, later insertions two-light with mullions.
Interior considerably altered by addition of axial east-west staircase in 19th century. Ground floor vaulted. A.M.
The Manor Office, together with Nos 15 to 19 (consec), Hall Bank House, Bankhead and Manor Cottage and Archway form a group of which Nos 15 and 16 Hallgate are of local interest. (7)

Hexham Prison. Built 1330-2 as a tower with two tunnel-vaulted basement rooms. The rooms above are later, the garderobe with chute being the only original part remaining. The top is corbelled out for machicolation - now missing. (8)

Prison or Manor Offices may have formed a castle with the Moot Hall [NY 96 SW 9] if in medieval times they were connected by a curtain wall. The tower mentioned in 1415 must be the Manor Office as the Moot Hall was ruinous. (9)

(Full architectural description and outline of structural history). (10)

The Old Gaol is a rectangular three storeyed tower c.18m by 11m externally with walls 2.3m thick at ground level, of roughly coursed and roughly squared stone, with occasional courses of larger blocks (evidently reused material).
Entry is by a lobby on the west with an adjacent newel stair; the present doorways are largely restoration and the lower part of the stair has been removed. The basement consisted of two vaulted chambers with a central two centred doorway (now blocked) in the dividing wall; half of the vault of the northern chamber has been cut away to allow the insertion of the present 19th century stair. The northern chamber is provided with a garderobe and a small window in the north wall. In the centre of the floor of each chamber is a trapdoor dropping into a dungeon below, of approximately the same size, also barrel vaulted.
At first floor level are several 19th century partitions; two-light windows (one in the east wall, now blocked, has trefoiled heads, and is probably contemporary with the building) and the remains of a large fireplace imply relatively comfortable accommodation. The second floor was divided into a suite of rooms, probably the gaoler's lodgings; two fireplaces and a pair of garderobes survive. The building was topped by a machicolated parapet; this has been destroyed although its corbels survive. (11)

The gaol appears to have been a franchise/municipal run prison. A Directory of 1827 mentions an old gaol in the town hall that was in use for debtors only. A Return in 1840 stated there had been no prisoners for several years. (12)

NY 936 642. Hexham Manor Office (or gaol). Scheduled No ND/277. (13a)