Newcastle Gaol, execution site

HER Number

11343

District

Newcastle

Site Name

Newcastle Gaol, execution site

Place

Newcastle

Map Sheet

NZ26SE

Class

Civil

Site Type: Broad

Legal Site

Site Type: Specific

Execution Site

General Period

POST MEDIEVAL

Specific Period

Victorian 1837 to 1901

Form of Evidence

Documentary Evidence

Description

After 1844 the gaol took over from the Town Moor as the execution site for Newcastle. Public executions were carried out at the gaol until 1863 when George Vass was hung from the top of the prison wall. After 1863 executions were in private.

Easting

425200

Northing

564330

Grid Reference

NZ425200564330

Sources

'Prison Newcastle' a poster by Jon Welsh; Nigel Green, 2009, Tough Times & Grisly Crimes, page 5