A former Belfast prison, which has undergone extensive restoration, has been named RICS Northern Ireland Project of the Year.
Crumlin Road Gaol closed its doors in 1996 and stood derelict until a scheme to bring it back into use began in 2012. Today it accommodates educational and business space along with providing guided tours and entertainment. Last year it attracted over 100,000 visitors.
Together with the award for project of the year, Crumlin Road Gaol was also successful in the Community Benefit category, in the awards which recognise the best developments in the local property and construction sectors.
The chair of this year’s judges, Alistair Dunn, praised the building which, he says, scored impressively in all criteria. He added that it was a ‘fabulous asset’ which benefits Northern Ireland as a whole and has acted as a catalyst for further community and tourist schemes in the area.
Crumlin Road Gaol, designed by English architect Sir Charles Lanyon, opened in 1846 when 106 prisoners arrived in chains from the county gaol. Over the years its inmates have included Eamon De Valera, Martin McGuinness, Bobby Sands and Ian Paisley.
During World War II it was damaged in an air raid and, in 1991, by an explosive device detonated in the dining hall which killed two prisoners.
The gaol has been the site of 17 executions, some of which are still interred in unmarked graves within its grounds. The last execution took place in 1961 when Robert McGladdery was hanged for the murder of Pearl Gamble.
Perhaps for this reason the building is reputed to be haunted, with many sightings and unexplained incidents reported by inmates and prison officers alike over the course of its 150 years of service.
Whether or not there is any truth in these stories, there is one spirit visitors are certain to encounter at Crumlin Road – one of the tenants of the award winning property is a whiskey distillery.
Previous Post
Work on ‘Walkie-Scorchie’ Sun Shades to begin this Month
