Survey Data
Reg No
15310077
Rating
Regional
Categories of Special Interest
Architectural, Historical, Social
Previous Name
Westmeath County Gaol
Original Use
Prison/jail
Date
1820 - 1830
Coordinates
243820, 252806
Date Recorded
07/07/2004
Date Updated
--/--/--
Description
Section of wall that was formerly part of Mullingar Jail, built c.1825. Constructed of squared limestone rubble. Square-headed window openings with cut stone sills and iron security bars. Located to the rear of the County Buildings (15310076) and to the north east of the former governor’s house (15310078).
Appraisal
An enigmatic reminder of a now demolished building of importance in the town. The iron security bars are an interesting historical reminder of its original purpose. This fragment appears to have been part of the exterior wall of a building marked as a ‘marshalsea’ on an 1837 map, which was possibly the debtors prison. This building was probably partially demolished went the County Buildings (15310076) was constructed to the north between 1910 and 1913. It forms part of an interesting collection of fragments of the former Mullingar Jail complex and is an important element of the social history of Mullingar.