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The Old Castle at Gloster

SRPrint/GL30.2

The exception to ‘no imprisonment’ was the debtors’ prison - if you became a debtor (i.e. you couldn't pay a bill or a fine) you would be locked up in the debtors’ prison, aka the ‘common gaol’.  From 1185 this was located in Gloucester castle and although this ceased to be maintained as a fortress in the 1450s, it continued in use as the county gaol and the constable of the castle morphed into the office of gaoler. 

Apart from the keep (used as the gaol) and main gatehouse, the castle soon fell into disrepair especially as stone was rapidly taken for new city buildings and road repairs.  By 1630, the entire curtain wall was gone and a new low wall had to be built to define the gaol area.