Police Cells, Redruth, Cornwall UK - Retired Prisons on Waymarking.com

The tower situated midway along Fore Street houses the Town Clock and has stood on or very near this site for a long time, certainly since the 1700's. In 1828 the former wood built tower was demolished and replaced by a stone tower.
In 1841 the open arches at ground level were closed in for use as Police cells.
Images of the door reveal some interesting thoughts. It is not clear if and when the "hard wood doors" were installed, I wonder if they are original? If they are then they have been well preserved. If not then what craftsmanship to replicating them.
Thought provoking..
Now - The door sets consists of a double door leaf set each with a wicket door with in each leaf. Within the right leaf there is a peep hole (inspection) door. All doors open outwards..
Now if and is usually the case prison entry doors have peep hole doors opening inwards (so the guard could see who was trying to get in..
If the doors are original.
Why have so many doors which could be opened, I could accept the double leaf door opening outward (to enable a hand cart to gain entry, for taking out the ill and dead prisoners perhaps.
But to have two wicket gate doors opening outwards??


The cells, in all probability, would have been constructed to house the rioters at the time.
Given that Policing in this country was still in its infancy. Appropriate buildings for the police and indeed places to house people breaking the law were perhaps an after thought..

At the time when the arches were enclosed, to create the Cells.
The area, Redruth and surrounding area, was going through a "riotous" period. With poor wages, shortage of food, workers were being laid off etc. It was a "powder keg" for the people to protest.
Riots broke out, violence was threatened and indeed people were arrested and needed to be detained.
With the Clock tower being central to the town and near the market where most of the riots took place. The cells could have acted as a deterrent.


Ref:-
(visit link)

Address: Fore Street Redruth, Cornwall United Kingdom Open to the public: No Hours: Not listed Fees?: Not listed Web link: Not listed

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Date Logged Log   05/07/2019 MoreOutdoor visited it