Outer Gatehouse, former Her Majesty's Prison Gloucester

Outer Gatehouse of former HMP Gloucester, built in 1826 to the designs of the County Surveyor John Collingwood for the County Magistrates, with some C20 alterations. It is located to the north flank of the prison’s perimeter wall and attached to the Grade II listed Perimeter Wall (qv) at the east end.

MATERIALS: built of brick with stone dressings.

PLAN: a rectangular block with the central bay which formed an entranceway for vehicles.

EXTERIOR: a two-storey gatehouse with a symmetrical façade of three bays to both the front and rear elevations. The central bay comprises a tall gateway with a semi-circular arched head, comprising double doors with portcullis above. The principal elevation (north) comprises a vermiculated, rusticated stone façade with a plain ashlar plat band above the ground floor and a stone cornice above the first floor, surmounted by a parapet wall. The central bay is slightly recessed with voussoirs and jambs to the entranceway. To each of the outer bays is a single C19 door with iron grille above, set within an ashlar frame, and a single window set behind an iron grille. To the first floor are two, six-light windows to the left-hand bay and two, two-light windows to the right-hand bay. The rear elevation (south) is constructed of brick with ashlar dressings to the window and door openings, and arched entranceway. The central bay projects forward and the entranceway is flanked by a blocked window opening to the left and a blocked doorway to the right at ground floor, and a window opening to either side at first floor. To the left-hand bay is a blocked window opening to the ground floor and a window opening to the first floor. To the right-hand bay there is a window opening to the first floor.

INTERIOR: the east entrance door has strap hinges and provides access to the central entranceway which has been enclosed with a first floor inserted to this bay. To the archway are the remains of the drop hatch and suspension beam used for public executions. To the east side is an office, with an inserted glass partition wall. To the west side of the gatehouse are two small rooms. To the first floor of the outer bays are offices and former cells. The interior includes skirting boards, bolection moulded door architraves and an early C19 staircase with stick balusters, moulded handrail and square newel post.

Pursuant to s.1 (5A) of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 (‘the Act’) it is declared that the C20 interior fittings are not of special architectural or historic interest.