Crumlin Road Gaol, Belfast, Visitor Guide & Things to Do Nearby

Crumlin Road Gaol is a Victorian prison on the Crumlin Road in north Belfast. It held prisoners from 1846 until 1996 and is now a visitor attraction. It is best known for the tunnel that links it to the courthouse across the road, for its place in Northern Ireland's history and for its ghost stories.

The story behind it

The gaol opened in 1846 and was built on the radial plan used for model prisons of the time, with wings spreading out from a central hub. It stayed in use for a century and a half and closed in 1996. Over those years it held ordinary criminals and, in the twentieth century, many political prisoners as well.

Seventeen prisoners were hanged here. The last was Robert McGladdery in 1961, convicted of murdering 19-year-old Pearl Gamble in Newry. He was the last person executed in Ireland. Executed prisoners were buried inside the prison grounds. The gaol and the courthouse opposite are joined by an underground tunnel, which was used to move prisoners to their hearings without crossing the street. Staff and visitors have long told ghost stories about the building. Reports include slamming doors, voices calling out and a figure seen in C Wing. They are stories rather than established fact, but they are a big part of the gaol's reputation.

What to look for

• The imposing gatehouse and long boundary wall along the Crumlin Road, which show how the building was meant to look from the street.
• The courthouse directly opposite the gaol, and the thought of the tunnel running underneath the road between the two.
• The radial layout of the wings around the central hub, which is easiest to appreciate once you are inside.
• C Wing, the part of the prison most often linked to the reported ghost sightings.

Tips for your visit

• You can go inside on a guided visit. Check current opening hours and booking arrangements before you go.
• Allow at least an hour or two if you are touring the interior, and a little extra time to look at the outside and the courthouse opposite.
• The gaol is in north Belfast, a short taxi ride or a longer walk from the city centre, so plan your route in advance.
• Daylight is best for looking at the exterior. The building has the most atmosphere towards the end of the day.

See it on a quest

Ghosts of Belfast: Haunted Walking Tour & Escape Game suits a place with a reputation like this one. You reach the gaol on foot as one stop of a longer route through Belfast. The app tells you about each place as you arrive and you solve a puzzle on the spot, so you look closely at what is in front of you. One ticket covers the whole group, and you can start whenever you like with no guide and no set departure time.