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Oxford City Gaol was the former Jail for the City of Oxford between 1789-1878, situated within Gloucester Green, a square in central Oxford, England.

Design & Construction
The City Gaol was designed by William Blackburn, the leading prison architect of the Georgian Era, and completed in 1789. It was designed as a reformed gaol, following the principles of the first prison reformer John Howard which aimed to provide inmates with dray and airy cells.The 'Report of the Committee of the Society for the Improvement Prison Discipline and for the Reformation of Juvenile Offenders Volume 5' details the condition of the City Gaol and Bridewell in August, 1823.

''The city gaol on Gloucester-green, was built about thirty- five years ago; and if ventilation were all a prison wanted, it would be one of the best in the country, a thorough air passing through the building in every direction; indeed, it is evident that this object has been carried too far; the prisoners in winter must be very much exposed to the cold. All the doors are made of open iron-work 5 every passage has ventilators to the floors above and below, and each cell has an aperture for the same purpose above the door into the passage. This plan has the inconvenience of affording great facility of communication to the prisoners, although the governor (who has held the office twenty-eight years) says that from the situation of his bed room no prisoner can speak from one cell to another without his hearing them.''

''The governor's room and the chapel are in the centre of the building. There are four yards, one for the untried, one for debtors, one for women, and one for men after trial.''

''The yards are only separated by low, open, wooden paling, which affords the prisoners the opportunity of both seeing and conversing from one class to another. As these partitions are falling into decay, it is to be hoped that they may soon be replaced by substantial walls. There are thirty-two solitary sleeping-cells, two wards for infectious cases, and two sick wards; there are also two dark refractory cells, provided with a contrivance for confining the prisoners upright to the wall, by the throat and legs; this however has only been used once In the case of a violent madman who was sent here some years ago.''

''At the present time there are only twelve prisoners : the greatest number in the prison was forty-two, which was during the disturbance at the time of the Queen's trial. The greatest proportion are women of the town, who are continually committed here by the proctors of the University. Washing and scouring are almost always going on, as it is the only employment at present for the women. The men pump water, and work at their own trades, and in the garden. Irons arc used for very heavy crimes. Divine service is performed once on Sunday; the chaplain often visits in the week, and sees the prisoners separately, or in classes, in the gaoler's parlour. The allowance of food consists of two quartern loaves a week; one is given on Monday and one on Thursday. A hot dinner is allowed on Sunday, when each prisoner has as much meat as he can eat!''