Reginald’s Tower

Overview

Images

Sources

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Overview

Nation   Ireland

County   Waterford

Location   The Quay  Waterford

Map location   exact or closely approximate

Year opened   1819

Year closed   1850

Century of Operation   1800-1899

Building Type   Tower (fortification)

Remarks   In 1819 the Waterford City Council converted Reginald's Tower into a lock-up - a prison to confine those convicted of petty crimes and a lock-up for drunks and accused criminals. An iron door was fitted and bars attached to windows. Female prisoners occupied the top floor (also known as the 'Ball Room', because they indulged in dancing while imprisoned) and male prisoners the floor below. Conditions were harsh. In 1848 rugs were provided for prisoners. The Council closed the prison and lock-up on 1 January 1851.

Description

'The last prisoner in Reginald’s Tower was Meg Collender who was sentenced to two weeks imprisonment here for being drunk and disorderly in 1850. It was revealed at her court appearance that she had been confined in Reginald’s Tower for the same offence on over 150 previous occasions!'

'The entrance doorway - Prison door 1819', Reginald's Tower: Treasures of Viking Waterford, http://www.waterfordtreasures.com/reginalds-tower/whats-inside/the-entrance-doorway-prison-door-1819 (November, 2019)

Featured Images

  • Reginald's Tower, exterior, showing the door to the lock-up and prisonPhoto © Oliver Dixon (cc-by-sa/2.0)

Description: Reginald's Tower, exterior, showing the door to the lock-up and prison

Photo by: Photo © Oliver Dixon (cc-by-sa/2.0)

SOURCES

    'The entrance doorway - Prison door 1819', Reginald's Tower: Treasures of Viking Waterford (November, 2019)

  • http://www.waterfordtreasures.com/reginalds-tower/whats-inside/the-entrance-doorway-prison-door-1819

Comments

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