Salvaged Antique Warden’s Peephole From Hereford Gaol (1796-1870) With Handwritten Label
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A Salvaged Antique Warden’s Peephole From Hereford Gaol Which Opened In 1796 And Closed In 1870. It Has A Handwritten Collector’s Label To The Back.
As with many historic prisons, the Old Gaol Is rumoured to have been haunted. Stories of ghostly prisoners and eerie happenings have circulated, particularly from those who worked in the area in later years.
The Old Gaol has a rich and somber history tied to the justice system of the region. Prisoners were held there for a range of crimes, from petty theft to capital offences.
Executions were sometimes carried out publicly, particularly in earlier centuries, often drawing large crowds.
John Philips (aka William Philips) was the first person publicly executed on the gallows atop the prison entrance on 6 August 1796, convicted for sheep theft.
Between 1796 and 1864, around 20 public hangings took place on that roof, intended as both punishment and public deterrence.
In the period when executions moved inside the prison (post-1868), Hereford Gaol saw several high-profile hangings:
John Hill (“Sailor Jack”) and John Williams (“Irish Jack”) – executed 23 November 1885 for the murder of Anne Dickinson.
James Jones and Alfred Scandrett – hanged 20 March 1888 for the axe murder of Philip Ballard; notably, Scandrett attempted to strangle Jones in the dock
Charles Saunders – executed 23 December 1891 for murdering a 2‑year‑old he was babysitting , a genuinely harrowing case.
William Haywood – the last person hanged at Hereford, on 15 December 1903, for murdering his wife; a somber, well-attended execution .
The old gaol itself was demolished in the 20th century, and only remnants of its structure remain today.
Condition is commensurate with age and use. Functions well.
Measures 12cm x 7cm
Weighs 311.25 grams