
The Cage, Shenley, Hertfordshire
Posted by:
bill&ben
N 51° 41.559 W 000° 16.890
30U E 687885 N 5730353
Quick Description: A lock up by the village pond in Shenley
Location: Eastern England, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 10/12/2009 9:32:05 AM
Waymark Code: WM7E24
Views: 1
Long Description:Situated by the village pond is the Cage or ‘lock-up’, a
domed-shaped building bearing the inscription ‘Do well. Fear Not.
Be sober. Be Vigilant’. The building served as a temporary prison
for those accused of offences, until the local constable took them
to be charged before the magistrates at Barnet or St Albans Court.
The Cage is thought to date from the 18th century, and is one of
the last remaining roundhouse gaols in England.
It is thought that Patrick Connolly, who killed James Grainge -
Special Constable & Shenley Shoemaker - in 1823, was held here
under guard overnight before being taken to Hertford Gaol. This
killing was the first killing of a policeman in Hertfordshire.
The Cage fell into gradual disuse when gaols were built in
Barnet and St. Albans. It was used once during the 1914-18 war to
confine an army deserter and then again during World War II as an
Air Raid Precautions post - complete with telephone.
The Cage has undergone several restorations, most recently in
the 1990's.
Information sourced from :-
("http://www.inasentimentalmood.co.uk/blogg/2006/10/shenley-pond-and-cage.html"
target="_blank">visit link)