About

Step inside Tolhouse Gaol, once home to pirates, robbers, murderers, and those accused of witchcraft. One of Britain’s oldest prisons, this formidable building has a turbulent past. Originally built as a merchant’s house over 800 years ago, it later became a courtroom, a town gaol with a notorious dungeon, and even a police station.

Explore the grim reality of life behind its thick stone walls and uncover the fate of thieves, smugglers, witches, and pirates when punishment often meant execution.

Through immersive displays and hands-on activities, Tolhouse Gaol offers a haunting journey into England’s long and brutal history of crime and punishment