Newgate Prison

You are standing near the site of Newgate Prison, which served as the primary jail for the City of London for over seven centuries. Established in the late twelfth century, the prison took its name from the Roman city gate into which it was built. It functioned as a holding center for those awaiting trial, but its reputation for squalor and disease became so notorious that it was frequently cited as one of the most feared institutions in the country.