Key Highlights :
The construction of the gaol was a contentious issue, with the Town and Cambridge University arguing over who should pay for the £25,000 cost. It was eventually built and opened in 1827, with eight exercise yards and eight dayrooms, and the capacity to hold 47 prisoners. The gaol was used to house a variety of criminals, from those convicted of theft to those convicted of more serious offences such as bribery and threats.
The gaol was also used to house female prisoners, who were admitted from the early 1850s. Many of these prisoners were arrested for theft, while some were described as being “prostitutes”. One of the most notorious prisoners was Frederick Mortlock, who was sentenced to two years after writing threatening letters to his uncle, who owned a bank. He escaped after three months, but was eventually rearrested and released after persuading a landlord to pay a surety.
In 1879, the gaol was finally demolished and the site was later used for the Kelsey Kerridge Sports Centre and Queen Anne Terrace carpark. Excavations in 1930 revealed the gaol’s basement, which contained the solitary confinement cells.
Today, the site of the former Cambridge Town Gaol remains an important part of Cambridge’s history. While the gaol itself is gone, its legacy lives on in the memories of those who lived during its time and in the stories that have been passed down over the years.
The Story of Cambridge Town Gaol: The Birthplace of Modern Football and a Home to Criminals