Picture courtesy of York Museums Trust
The infamous cells at York Castle that once were home to Dick Turpin and some of the country’s worst criminals and debtors are to be reopened to the public with a brand new display.
The gaol will open on July 17 following a £200,000 refurbishment funded by the City of York Council and Yorkshire Renaissance.
Mike Woodward, director of business development, said: “From the infamous highwayman Richard Turpin, to a young tearaway arrested with a boiled egg in his pocket, York Castle was once full people with incredible and often moving stories to tell.
“Many of the authentic cells still remain here at the Castle and for the first time we will be using these to take an in depth look at this building’s fascinating history.”
The cells will be spilt into two separate areas. The first will give the public an authentic feel of what the cells would have been like for those who were imprisoned there in the 18th and 19th centuries and will be animated with the sounds of keys chains and prisoners echoing round the halls.
Debtors excercising in Eye of York, circa 1860. Picture courtesy York Museums Trust
The gaol will also make use of the latest audio visual technology to enable visitors to see characters from the past including jailers, thieves, debtors and of course Dick Turpin.
Dick was later hung at Knavesmire, now York racecourse, and eager crowds were happy to pay to catch a glimpse of the notorious highwayman.
The second half of the gallery will focus on what happened after leaving the gaol when the lucky were released whilst others were transported abroad or faced the death penalty.
Objects from the gaol will be on display and families will be able to check the gaol records to see if any of their ancestors had a secret past.
For more information go to www.yorkcastlemuseum.org.uk or telephone 01904 687687.
