An ancestor of mine, George Priest, served some time in the Gloucester Gaol in 1861, but was acquitted. Does the jail still exist? Does it now go by a different name, or if not is there anywhere that I could obtain some photos?

Kind regards
Shaun

Well it has gone by the name of Gloucester Prison for some time, and closed recently. If you have a few million to spare you could buy it if you like..! Just Google Gloucester Prison and all will be revealed!

Hi all,
given that one of those sites' talks about it being made into a Hotel, I'm not sure I want too much to "be revealed" thanks very much Jo ! ;-)

"there could be up to 122 executed criminals buried in unmarked graves under Gloucester prison." The most recent execution was in 1939.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-21545150

This Genuki pages for Gloster include some interesting Prison-related details, altho it looks like your 1861 era isn't covered by the mentioned inmate records.
http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/GLS/#Correctional

This appears to be the best site for detailed History & Old Photos, http://www.capitalpunishmentuk.org/gloucester.html

More generally within this detailed history wrt Gloster's government, workhouse and associated institutions. http://www.institutions.org.uk/workhouses/england/gloucs/gloucester_workhouse.htm

History of Gloster Castle and it's "redevelopment" into the Gaol c1800s.
http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=42304

Recent photos here http://www.gloucestercitizen.co.uk/pictures/Inside-Gloucester-Prison/pictures-19802163-...

Very interesting links, plenty of reading to do there. It appears that my ancestor was lucky. Hanging, even for trivial offenses, seemed to be the order of the day. One poor soul was hung for stealing some bacon and butter!!!

Many thanks for your reply.
Shaun