Crumlin Road Gaol – also known as HM Prison Belfast and The Crum – is a former prison in Belfast, with an eerie and dark history. The grade A listed building is now a visitor attraction where you can tour the prison and learn about the executions that took place there.
Much like Nottingham’s Galleries of Justice, Crumlin Road Gaol really surprised me. I visited it on a whim on a recent weekend in Belfast, but wasn’t expecting much. I’d known the former jail had a dark history of executions and hauntings, but I assumed there wasn’t anything dark to see or experience without booking onto a ghost tour or investigation.
However, Crumlin Road Gaol is now an amazing and immersive historic visitor experience where you can tour the building at your own pace and learn about its past with interactive exhibitions.
With a history of so many executions and terrible living conditions for prisoners, the building itself evokes an eerie and sad atmosphere.
It’s the perfect location for a morbid tourist like me and anyone else interested in dark tourism destinations.
A Brief Dark History of Crumlin Road Gaol
Crumlin Road Gaol’s history stretches as far back as 1841, when the prison was first designed by Charles Lanyon. Charles actually based the unique layout of the prison on Pentonville Prison in London. Construction began in 1843, and the prison first opened in 1845 – ready to accept prisoners by the summer of that year.
The first execution took place in 1854: soldier Robert Henry O’Neill. His body and 14 others are still interred in unmarked graves within the grounds of the Gaol. In 1901, a new stone execution chamber was built and used for the first time. The last execution took place on the 20th December 1961, which was Robert McGladdery.
Finally, the prison closed in 1996.
During its years of operating, the prison saw 17 men executed. Suffragettes were also imprisoned in the gaol and 52 prisoners managed to escape!
My Experience Visiting Crumlin Road Gaol
We took a self-guided tour of Crumlin Road Gaol on a very dull and rainy day in Belfast. The weather certainly matched the atmosphere inside the prison! The experience begins with a brief introduction to the building and its history throughout the years. Then, entry into the experience is staggered with a short but oddly funny introduction video, where our small group are met by a judge who deems us guilty (it’s a bit like the Courtroom show at the London Dungeon!). There is one character who seems almost too happy to see us guilty, however and stares into the camera at all times, nodding and smiling at the thought of us being condemned…
It is, however, the only ‘funny’ part of the experience! We then explored at our own pace. First up was the tunnel, a long dark underground tunnel that links the building to the Courthouse across the street. Though you can only explore halfway down the tunnel, it’s very dark and spooky. I definitely felt a little uneasy heading down there!
Next, we explored the main area of the prison, which was the Gaol Circle, which leads off to the different wings of the gaol. Crumlin Road Gaol is unique in the way that its layout was based on that of Pentonville Prison in London – consisting of a central hall with four radiating wings. This design kept the prisoners isolated whilst allowing staff to keep watch from the centre.
After, we were allowed to visit the C-wing, which consists of notable cells such as historic holding cells and the hangman’s cell. Each cell is accessible today and each tells a different story or signifies a different part of history within the prison. One cell re-creates exactly how the cells looked when the gaol was in operation, with two or more inmates packed tightly together in the small room. Another shared a lot of history about the executions that took place there.
Much to my delight, there was a cell dubbed the paranormal cell – but it was unfortunately closed! I think it must be new and in construction as Crumlin Road Gaol does have a very paranormal history.
Executions at Crumlin Road Gaol
In total, seventeen prisoners were executed by hanging at the prison. Originally, the gaol didn’t have gallows and executions took place in public view. A construction chamber was created in 1901, where hangings took place until the last execution in 1961.
The Condemned Man’s Cell and the Hangman’s Cell
Towards the end of the experience, you have the option of visiting the condemned cell. This sad and dark cell is where the executed prisoners spent their last night. With just a tiny bed inside and a small chair and desk, the room was shared with the prisoner and two guards at all times, in case they attempted suicide.
Traditionally, a prisoner would experience a last meal and a long and contemplative walk to the gallows on the day of their execution. However, at Crumlin Road Gaol, their room led straight to the site of their death. On the day of, the prisoner was hooded with their hands tied behind their back and taken through a door that was hidden as a bookcase.
Through the door was the gallows. The prisoner had been living right next door to the room where they would be executed.
I felt eerie standing in the cell and walking through to the execution room. But it was when a short video played and listed the name of each man executed there that it really hit home to me. I have always believed that a place can have a dark or tragic atmosphere attached to it and this was one of the strongest examples I have experienced.
It was incredibly jarring standing in that room, seeing the execution rope hanging and the trap door beneath. The drop didn’t even look that big either. It’s said that the basement drop cell beneath the trap door is one of the most haunted areas of the prison.
The Graveyard
After the most jarring part of the Crumlin Road experience, visitors head outside to the graveyard. By now, it was raining really hard, so we didn’t stay long outside. But we had time to visit the memorial plaque for the people who were executed at Crumlin Road Gaol, and Michael J Pratley’s grave. Michael was executed here, despite being innocent of the crime he was accused of committing. Next to his plaque, you can see engravings to mark the spot where he was buried – although his remains have since been exhumed and buried elsewhere.
If you’re interested in similar historic prisons, I’ve also visited Bodmin Jail in Cornwall – here’s everything you need to know before you go.
Is Crumlin Road Gaol Haunted?
Crumlin Road Gaol is supposedly one of Belfast’s most haunted buildings – so much so that the experience itself often runs four-hour paranormal investigation events! They even have a small exhibition at the jail about its paranormal history, but when I visited, it was a work in progress.
The three main paranormal hot spots of the jail are the tunnel, the execution chamber and the D-wing. Tour guides have spoken about ghostly children – a boy and a girl – that haunt the prison, and the ghostly figure of a young girl was caught on camera in 2016.
A phantom prison warden has been spotted in the B-Wing, and a dark entity is often seen inside one of the padded cells in the same wing. A man has also been seen walking through the C-Wing, which is home to the condemned man’s cell.
Finally, a grey figure has been spotted on various occasions inside the tunnel over the years – even by staff members!
Spooky Tips for Visiting
Crumlin Road Gaol is located just outside Belfast city centre, around a 7-minute drive or a 20-minute bus journey. Buses 57 and 12b both stop directly across the road, making it easy to reach without a car.
As it’s slightly out of the centre, there’s not much else to do nearby, so it’s best planned as part of a wider day out. There is a café and small gift shop on site.
Tickets cost £14.50 on the door or £14.00 when booked online, and the experience is well worth it. You can easily spend a few hours exploring, or longer if you want to take your time.
The experience is generally suitable for children, though some areas, such as the tunnel and the condemned man’s cell, can feel quite dark or unsettling. The gaol also hosts seasonal events, including Halloween attractions and paranormal tours.
Frequently Asked Questions About Crumlin Road Gaol
Planning to visit yourself? Here are some frequently asked questions to help you make the most of your visit and learn more about the gaol.
How Long to Spend at Crumlin Road Gaol?
Their website recommends at least an hour to enjoy the self-guided tour, but I would allow at least 2-3 hours, as there is a lot to see and learn.
How Many People Died in Crumlin Road Gaol?
17 men were executed at Crumlin Road Gaol, but this number only refers to executions at the prison and doesn’t take into account natural deaths that happened there.
Why is Crumlin Road Gaol famous?
Crumlin Road Gaol is known for its role in holding both Republicans and Loyalists during the Troubles. Notable prisoners include Éamon de Valera, Martin McGuinness, Michael Stone and Bobby Sands.
It also gained a reputation as “Europe’s Alcatraz”, reflecting its strict conditions and its gruesome, dark history.
What Happened in Crumlin Road Jail?
As well as the executions, Crumlin Road Gaol also had a lot of escapees! For example, in May 1941, five Irish Republican prisoners escaped over the wall. Later, in the Troubles of the 1970s, members of the Irish Republican Army escaped too.
One interesting story is that of Michael J Pratley who robbed a business in Belfast city centre. The robbery went wrong and the shopkeeper was shot dead. As the robbers ran away, Michael was caught due to his wooden leg which meant he wasn’t able to run as fast. Michael pleaded innocence with the judge, claiming that he hadn’t shot the gun but was simply running away with it. He was still executed, however, and you can see gravings in the prison’s graveyard which mark the spot where he was buried.
Final Thoughts From a Morbid Tourist
I found my visit to Crumlin Road Gaol to be extremely informative, interesting and even quite sad. The Crumlin Road Gaol Experience has created a really amazing and fascinating way to learn about the history of the prison, and I found there was so much more to see and do there than I expected.
Looking back, I think the jail is definitely a great and eye-opening place to visit for dark tourists or anyone interested in morbid or dark tourism. But unlike most places, I actually found it darker than I expected. It was definitely less spooky and more sad.
That being said, I would absolutely recommend the Crumlin Road Gaol experience as a must-do when you’re in Belfast.
Crumlin Road Gaol Experience
www.crumlinroadgaol.com
53-55 Crumlin Rd, Belfast BT14 6ST
£14.50 per adult
There are toliets on site, a cafe and a small gift shop. There’s also free coach and car parking available on site, otherwise the jail can easily be reached by public transport from Belfast city centre.
I’ve recently been to the Crumlin road Gaol but my experience with a spirit there was in C wing. I could feel a presence moving up and down the wing as if pacing. When the spirit came close the name Michael kept coming to mind. There is a Michael Pratley on the list of 17 men executed at the Gaol near the tours end and I believe it was his spirit I felt moving up and down C wing.
Hi Kevin, that’s so interesting, thank you for sharing! I definitely felt there was a sombre atmosphere throughout the whole gaol. What made you think it was Michael Pratley’s presence you felt? 👀
I visited the Gaol on the morning of Thursday the 8th of May 2025 when I felt that presence and kept picking up the name Michael as I wandered around.
I later on found out Michael Pratley was executed on the morning of Thursday the 8th of May 1924. I believe that anniversary was the cause of the spirits restlessness and his “Pacing” that morning through C wing.
Hello Kevin,
Wow that is so crazy!! And so consistent with what I was told at the prison about spirits making their presence known on the anniversaries of their executions etc. That’s so fasincating. You should definitely submit this to the team, they’d love to hear about your experience!
I was stationed there for 2 years from 1984
The drop room, we’re the bodies dropped into had to be accessed from outside c wing
Every day at evening duty hand over we would go down and to the left under a set of stairs you would see a woman and child from your peripheral vision
When you turned nothing
But you came out with a feeling of dread and sadness for hours afterward
Also you could here bare footsteps on stone in the room
Which was strange as there was 2 ft of water in there due the water table.
John McAllister was member of staff killed in a riot in 1916 in D wing
You would hear him whistling whilst walking along D3 on night guard
Oh that’s amazing – thank you for sharing!! I’ve never heard of any particular ghost stories from there but I think you can just tell it’s haunted by visiting as it has such a dark and eerie history! That’s really fascinating!