Hexham Old Gaol

Delve into what life was really like for prisoners in the 1300s at our Scheduled Ancient Monument Visit Hexham Old Gaol and find out more about the Border Reivers – local families including the Charltons, Dodds, Milburns and Robsons, famous for causing trouble. Make the most of your visit and see our amazing Border Library Collection, a wide variety of photographs, books, poetry and music about our border territory. Learn about how the Northumberland landscape changed dramatically over the centuries, and about daily life on the border. Museums Northumberland sites all offer contemporary perspectives on our region’s history and we seek to make this a key part of our outstanding offer for visitors. Set in the historic Tyne Valley, Hexham Gaol is the earliest purpose-built prison in England, a historic treasure just waiting to be explored It was built in 1333 using stone from the Corbridge Roman site located three miles away. A Scheduled Ancient Monument, the Gaol offers a fun and educational experience for all. Try out our stocks (if you dare), visit the prison house and learn about Medieval crime and punishment on a day out with a difference. Did you know that suspected criminals were locked up before their trial, or that those in debt often shared the Dungeon with the most dangerous criminals? Take the time to explore the Border Library Collection on your visit, a treasure trove of music, poetry and books about the English-Scottish border and discover how even modern language was influenced by the famous Border Reivers! Recognise ‘bereaved’, ‘blackmail’ and ‘surname’ – all inherited from the Reivers. Visit the gaol to find out more about England’s frontier.