The Old Prison

About the museum

The Old Prison in Northleach was built as a county house of correction and opened in 1792 to a design by the architect William Blackburn. It followed ideas of prison reform in which prisoners were not held in fetters, were separated by class and were given work. Hard labour was introduced after 1823, and the prison closed in 1857 because railways had made small rural prisons uneconomic.

From 1857 the site served as a county police station with a magistrates' court, and part of it became a casual ward for homeless travellers until 1934. Cell wings were pulled down in the 1930s. The police left in the early 1970s, the court moved out soon afterwards, and the buildings stood empty.

In 1981 Cotswold District Council moved a farm collection here, gathered by Miss Lloyd-Baker of Hardwicke Court, and the site opened as a countryside museum. Later it also housed a Cotswolds visitor centre, which closed in 2018. The charity Friends of the Cotswolds bought the Old Prison from the council in 2013 and runs it as a heritage site with a cafe. Visitors can see the cells and former courtroom, a rural life collection of historic farm wagons, and a replica wheelwright's workshop and working forge.

Highlights

• Former prison cells and courtroom of the 1792 house of correction
• Rural Life Collection of 19th- and early 20th-century farm wagons
• Replica wheelwright's workshop and working blacksmith's forge
• Guided walking tours of the prison
• Cafe in the historic building

Permanent exhibitions

• Rural Life Collection – Farm wagons and implements of the 19th and early 20th centuries, including a timber wagon, a road wagon and a miller's wagon, with a replica wheelwright's workshop and a working forge.
• The Old Prison: cells and courtroom – Prison cells and the former courtroom tell the story of the house of correction, the police station and the court that later used the building.

Founded

1982

Operated by

Friends of the Cotswolds

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Entry is free; the charity welcomes donations towards the upkeep of the historic building.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Level paths lead through the cafe and gardens. The cells and courtroom can be reached by wheelchair only from the garden side, and space there is limited. A combined baby-changing and accessible toilet is available. Dogs on leads are welcome in the cafe and yard but not in the cells or courtroom.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Baby changing facilities
• Playground / play area: not available

Children are welcome but younger children must be supervised at all times. A "Rat Trail" activity trail is available. There is no play area and ball games are not allowed.

Getting there & parking

The Old Prison is on the Fosse Way in Northleach.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Wi-Fi

Cafe serving food and drink; table reservations by phone or email. Wi-Fi is available (password in the cafe), but the signal can be unreliable because of the thick stone walls.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit