Victorian

Timeline

Law and Order

Police

The Shades

The Compter

The Hole

Gaol

Greyfriars

County Gaol

Prison

Reading Prison

The new prison in the Forbury was opened in 1844. It was designed by Sir Gilbert T. Scott, who designed the Home Office and Albert Memorial in London. For many years it looked like a castle, with towers and turrets on the outer wall, but these were removed in 1971.

The roof of the prison is flat, as this is the place where public executions took place. The last of these took place in 1862.

The most famous prisoner in Reading Gaol was Oscar Wilde, who wrote The Ballad of Reading Gaol once he was released.