Restoration works for Aylesbury’s ancient Old Gaol Wall
One of theoldestand most historicstructuresinAylesbury is beingrestored to its former glory as part of works being carried out by BuckinghamshireCounty Council to improve public space in the town centre. This is part of the collaboration with Aylesbury Vale District Council to redevelop the whole Waterside North area.
Dating back to 1740, the Old Gaol Wall,between Waterside North car park and the Exchange Streetcinema complex, formed one of the boundaries of theold County Gaol.The original gaol buildingsextendedfromMarket Square to the Bear Brook area, now the Waterside theatre.
A particular feature of oldGaol itself, which housed both male and female prisoners,was a human powered, punishmentwheel. Designed to pump water from the Bear Brook to the town centre and also to grind corn, thewheelwas a form of hard labour asprisoners were usedtorotate the wheel’s paddles.
The boundary wall divided the Gaol from the original site of the White Hart Inn, which reputedly had a window opening into the prison yard so it could supply beer to prisoners. The window supposedly allowed it to evade a legal provision against the passage of alcohol through the prison gates!
The Gaol remained openfor just over 100 years before beingjudged unfit following an 1841 report by the Inspector of Prisons, prompting the purchase of the Bierton Hill site of the current prison. The Gaol itself was demolished in the late 1840s and replaced by the Judges Lodgings, which opened in 1850 although thankfully much of the boundary wall remains to this day.
The County Council’s property team has been working with Aylesbury ValeDistrict Council, heritage and archaeology officers, planners and neighbouringbusinesses, together with structural and construction specialists to help planthe restoration scheme.
Theworks along the 100mstretch of wallinclude structural repairs, replacingareas of poor brickwork and mortar with like for like materialsand installinga new lighting scheme. At night, the wall will bebathed insoft light to show off its magnificent original features.
County Council Cabinet Member for Resources, John Chilver said it was amazing to think the wall has been a focal point of the town centre for close to 300 years. “It’s steeped in history and I’m glad we arerestoringit as part of our schedule of improvements to the public space between Exchange Street Car Park at Walton Street.
John added, “In addition to the wall restoration, the Waterside North area now hasthe new family-run Craft Yard selling craft beer and gin, anew restaurant facility coming soon tothe formerpolice headquarters buildingand of course we are currently refurbishing Aylesbury library at the top end of Walton Street to create abrand new, modern facility. All are fantastic investmentsfor the future of Aylesbury town centre.”
The work on the wallis scheduled for completion by December.