Alternative Names Launceston Town Gaol, Launceston Dark-house
Prison Type Local Prison - Common Gaol, Lock Up
Jurisdiction Municipality
Date opened c1800
Date closed c1836 [1884]
Location stands over South Gate Launceston
Map location exact or closely approximate
County Cornwall
From about 1800, the Southgate began to be used as a town prison. Although its poor conditions meant that it was rarely used, even as a lock up, it was only officially closed in 1884.
Alternative Names Launceston Town Gaol, Launceston Dark-house
Prison Type Local Prison
Jurisdiction Municipality
Date opened c1800
Date closed c1836 [1884]
Location stands over South Gate Launceston
Map location exact or closely approximate
Lat. 50.6366321 Long. -4.3606989
County Cornwall
From about 1800, the Southgate began to be used as a town prison. Although its poor conditions meant that it was rarely used, even as a lock up, it was only officially closed in 1884.
Year 1818
Annual Committed - 1
Daily Greatest number - 1
Year 1832
Annual Committed - 0
Daily Greatest number - 0
Archive name: Cornwall Record Office
Catalogue ref: BLAUS/242-271
Collection: Borough of Launceston
Description: Information on orders for the Gaol, including tithes for bread, and some information on prisoners, eg escape and arrest of prisoner from Darkhouse (1803)
Dates: 1803-1833
Archive name: Cornwall Record Office
Catalogue ref: T/2641
Collection: Tremayne family of Heligan, St Ewe
Description: Letter from J H Tremayne to Reverend Henry Hawkins Tremayne, visit to Launceston Gaol
Dates: 1822
