The Old Prison, Formerly Northleach House Of Correction

THE OLD PRISON, FORMERLY NORTHLEACH HOUSE OF CORRECTION

This listed building comprises a former prison complex built in phases from 1792 onwards. The buildings are arranged on a D-plan layout in coursed, squared and dressed limestone with slate roofs and ashlar stacks.

The principal range consists of a rectangular central block erected in 1792, which originally served as the governor's house and prison chapel. The central block is two storeys with a symmetrical 1:3:1 windowed façade. It features rusticated quoins and rusticated stonework around three central ground-floor bays lit by twelve-pane sashes, with flanking bays lit by small two-light casements. A four-pane sash with horns sits to the left of the ground floor, and a similar opening to the right-hand bay is partially sealed. A plain parapet runs above the first floor. The attic, set back from the frontage, is lit by a central three-light window with glazing bars. The central double plank door is 20th century in date with a stone lintel and fanlight. The twelve-pane sashes flanking the door are set within recessed semi-circular headed surrounds. Two stone piers with capstones stand in front of the door with curved iron railings. Stone steps to the right lead down to a gully and barred cellar windows below a relieving arch.

The rear of the central block is two storeys and symmetrically arranged. At the centre is a canted bay three windows wide, below a pyramidal roof, lit by twelve-pane sashes. The upper windows are mostly sealed except for an upper tripartite light in the central bay. Single bays to either side of the centre have twelve-pane sashes or casements. At either end are stair towers with first-floor door openings onto walkways with iron handrails, originally used for accessing chapel. The tower to the right has a ground-floor door, whilst the tower to the left has a high ground-floor casement. The elevation features three stone bands, with cellar access below the central window. The main roof is hipped with squat ashlar stacks at each end.

To the left of the central block is a rectangular block built circa 1820, which originally housed a hand corn mill, subsequently a treadmill, and was later converted into a police station, now office space. This block matches the female cell block in form but features narrow eight-pane sashes in place of cross-shaped slit windows. Above the entrance door is a stone plaque inscribed 'POLICE STATION' with a six-pane sash above. A small bay links this block to a curtain wall and has a single-light sash at ground floor level. An engraved benchmark appears in the right bay with an ashlar stack to the right of the roof. The rear of this former mill block has two sashes to each floor with a blocked central window at first-floor level.

To the right of the central block is attached the female cell block of 1844, a two-storey building with a symmetrical three-bay façade. The outer bays project slightly. A central plank door of 20th-century date sits within a plain architrave, with a small blocked or blind window above. A stone band is continuous with the window cill. The bays to either side are lit by cross-shaped slit windows. The rear of this block has three wide cell windows to each floor, with the upper part of the elevation rebuilt in the early 21st century.

The left-hand and right-hand blocks are connected to the central block via a curtain wall that now forms the back wall to 20th-century lean-to display areas. A five-sided wall connects these blocks to form the D-plan, representing the back wall of former cell blocks. The enclosed former exercise yard is now occupied by 20th-century shelters housing the Lloyd Baker Rural Life collection of agricultural equipment.

Interior

The central block contains an internal lobby leading into the court room, which retains a 19th-century interior with a semi-circular magistrate's bench with attached witness stand and dock. The room is lined with dado panelling and moulded architraves around door and window openings. Fitted cupboards sit below the windows in the far wall, and a recessed alcove is present to the left. Above the lobby doorway is a fanlight with windows to either side from side rooms. To the right of the bench is the magistrate's entrance leading to the magistrate's room, which contains steps up to a former stair tower and a door to another room beyond. The door to the courtyard has an exposed heavy iron locking mechanism with the facing wall cut away to accommodate it when opened. An inserted stair to the right of the court room leads to the first floor, now subdivided into modern offices, though some 19th-century fitted cupboards and a chimneypiece remain extant. A bolted roof structure is exposed in the former chapel above the court room, with the top of a former stair tower to the right. An extant stair tower to the left features heavy timber door with iron locking mechanism and spiral stone steps with iron handrail leading to a door onto the first-floor walkway and below to the ground floor.

The cellar is accessed from the main staircase via stone steps and contains a bread oven and a large stone trough with an iron grille at one end covering a water inlet. Beside the trough are two barred cellar windows. The roof is supported by timber beams on stone corbels.

The female cell block entrance opens into a flagstone corridor with three cells leading off. Each cell has rubble stone walls and an elongated cell window at the far end. A rudimentary bed is set in the flagstone floor of one cell, formed by two stone block supports and a cast-iron sheet. The middle cell has an iron door gate. A stone winder stair with iron handrail leads to the first floor where all three cells are gated, with supporting timber above on carved stone corbels.

The mill block has a central hallway covered in encaustic tiles. The room to the right is double-width with a substantial wall partly dividing the space; the wall has curved corners and may mark the location of the former treadwheel. The staircase features a 19th-century stair balustrade with stick balusters. The first floor contains two plain 19th-century fireplaces.