What are the opening hours?

Monday 10:30am - 4:30pm Wednesday 10:30am - 4:30pm Thursday 10:30am - 4:30pm Friday 10:30am - 4:30pm Saturday 10:30am - 4:30pm Sunday 10:30am - 4:30pm

Ruthin Gaol - Carchar Rhuthun

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Ruthin Gaol - Carchar Rhuthun

Profiad unigryw o garchar Fictoraidd! | A unique Victorian prison experience! Our museum and shop is open from 10:30 to 16:30 every day (except Tuesday).

Cynlluniwch eich ymweliad: www.sirddinbych.gov.uk/carchar-rhuthun

Plan your visit:
www.denbighshire.gov.uk/ruthin-gaol Ruthin Gaol is the only purpose-built Pentonville style prison open to the public as a heritage attraction. Visitors can explore the gaol's nooks and crannies, and learn about life in the Victorian system. See how the prisoners lived their daily lives: what they ate, how they wo

rked, and the punishments they suffered. Explore the prison cells and uncover the stories of the prisoners who were kept at the gaol, including the "Welsh Houdini" and William Hughes, the last man to be hanged here. Last admission is at 15:30.

29/05/2026

Bilingual Post (Please scroll for English)

📅 Peidiwch â cholli antur llawn hwyl drygionus yng Ngharchar Rhuthun.

O gelloedd go iawn ac arddangosfeydd rhyngweithiol i lwybrau i’r teulu a gwisgo fel carcharorion, mae rhywbeth i ymwelwyr o bob oed ei fwynhau.

Wnewch chi fentro i’r gell dywyll cyn i’r gwyliau ddod i ben?

📍 Carchar Rhuthun, Rhuthun, LL15 1HP
📆 Dydd Llun - Dydd Sul (ar gau bob dydd Mawrth)
🕰 10.30am – 4.30pm (mynediad olaf am 3.30pm)

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📅 Don’t miss a criminally good half term adventure at Ruthin Gaol!

From real prison cells and interactive exhibits to family trails and prisoner dress-up, there’s something for visitors of all ages to enjoy.

Will you brave the dark cell before the holidays end?

📍 Ruthin Gaol, Ruthin, LL15 1HP
📆 Mon – Sun (closed Tuesdays)
🕰 10.30am – 4.30pm (last entry 3.30pm)

26/05/2026

Bilingual post (please scroll for English)

Psst... ydych chi'n chwilio am rywle i oeri? 🥵

Dewch i'r carchar, y lle "oeraf" i ymweld ag ef! 😜

Rydym ar agor bob dydd (ac eithrio dydd Mawrth) rhwng 10.30am a 4:30pm (mynediad olaf am 3:30pm)

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Psst... are you looking for somewhere to cool down? 🥵

Come to gaol, the "coolest" place to visit! 😜

We are open every day (except Tuesday) from 10:30am to 4:30pm (last entry at 3:30pm).

24/05/2026

Bilingual post (please scroll for English).

Rydym AR AGOR ar ddydd Llun gŵyl y banc (25ain Mai) o 10:30am tan 4:30pm (mynediad olaf am 3:30pm). Dewch i ddatgloi byd o drosedd a chosb hanesyddol yn yr hen garchar trawiadol hwn. Rydym yn addo eich gadael chi allan! 🗝

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We are OPEN on bank holiday Monday (25th May) from 10:30am to 4:30pm (last entry is at 3:30pm). Come and unlock the world of historic crime and punishment at this striking former prison. We promise to let you out! 🗝

22/05/2026

Bilingual Post (Please scroll for English)

🕵️ All eich teulu chi ddianc o’r Carchar yn ystod hanner tymor?

Dilynwch y llwybr Dianc o’r Carchar a darganfod cliwiau wrth i chi grwydro’r hen garchar difyr hwn o oes Fictoria.

Ar hyd y daith:
👕 Gwisgwch fel carcharor
📸 Tynnwch weplun
🎲 Heriwch eich gilydd gyda’r gemau enfawr

Ni fu hanes erioed yn gymaint o hwyl!

📍 Carchar Rhuthun, Rhuthun, LL15 1HP
📆 Dydd Llun - Dydd Sul (ar gau bob dydd Mawrth)
🕰 10.30am – 4.30pm (mynediad olaf am 3.30pm)

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🕵️ Can your family escape the Gaol this half term?

Pick up the Escape the Gaol trail and uncover clues as you explore this fascinating former Victorian prison.

Along the way:
👕 Dress up as a prisoner
📸 Snap a mugshot
🎲 Challenge each other to giant games

History has never been so much fun!

📍 Ruthin Gaol, Ruthin, LL15 1HP
📆 Mon – Sun (closed Tuesdays)
🕰 10.30am – 4.30pm (last entry 3.30pm)

North East Wales Go North Wales Denbighshire Notice Board

19/05/2026

Bilingual Post (Please scroll for English)

🔐 Chwilio am ddiwrnod o hwyl drygionus i’r teulu dros hanner tymor?

Dewch i ddarganfod byd o droseddau a chosbau hanesyddol yng Ngharchar Rhuthun a chrwydro rhwng celloedd go iawn, arddangosfeydd rhyngweithiol a straeon diddorol o’r gorffennol.

All eich teulu chi:
📸 Dynnu’r gweplun perffaith mewn cell?
⛓ Wynebu’r gell dywyll?
💪 Ddioddef yr artaith o droi’r cranc?

📍 Carchar Rhuthun, Rhuthun, LL15 1HP
📆 Dydd Llun - Dydd Sul (ar gau bob dydd Mawrth)
🕰 10.30am – 4.30pm (mynediad olaf am 3.30pm)

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🔐 Looking for a criminally fun family day out this half term?

Unlock the world of historic crime and punishment at Ruthin Gaol and explore real prison cells, interactive exhibitions and fascinating stories from the past.

Can your family:
📸 Take the perfect mugshot cellfie?
⛓ Brave the dark cell?
💪 Survive turning the dreaded crank?

📍 Ruthin Gaol, Ruthin, LL15 1HP
📆 Mon – Sun (closed Tuesdays)
🕰 10.30am – 4.30pm (last entry 3.30pm)

17/05/2026

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Coridorau rheoli

Roedd coridorau Carchar Rhuthun yn llawer mwy na llwybrau. Roedd cynllun y coridorau o gymorth i reoli symudiad, cadw carcharorion ar wahân a chaniatáu i wardeniaid oruchwylio sawl ardal o’r adeilad.

📍 Carchar Rhuthun, Rhuthun, LL15 1HP
📆 Dydd Llun - Dydd Sul (ar gau bob dydd Mawrth)
🕰 10.30am – 4.30pm (mynediad olaf am 3.30pm)

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Corridors of control

The corridors of Ruthin Gaol were more than passageways. Their layout helped regulate movement, separate prisoners, and allow warders to supervise multiple areas of the building.

📍 Ruthin Gaol, Ruthin, LL15 1HP
📆 Mon – Sun (closed Tuesdays)
🕰 10.30am – 4.30pm (last entry 3.30pm)

14/05/2026

Bilingual Post (Please scroll for English)

Mae ‘Wrexham Bill’ wedi bod wrthi eto, yn cynorthwyo ac yn annog digon o ddihangwyr yn barod y tymor hwn – a fyddwch chi’n gallu datrys y cliwiau i dorri’n rhydd hefyd? 🕵️‍♀️

📍 Carchar Rhuthun, Rhuthun, LL15 1HP
📆 Dydd Llun - Dydd Sul (ar gau bob dydd Mawrth)
🕰 10.30am – 4.30pm (mynediad olaf am 3.30pm)

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Wrexham Bill has been at it again, aiding and abetting plenty of escapees already this season – will you be able to crack the clues to make a break for it too?

Come and put your puzzle solving skills to the test to find out! 🕵️‍♀️

📍 Ruthin Gaol, Ruthin, LL15 1HP
📆 Mon – Sun (closed Tuesdays)
🕰 10.30am – 4.30pm (last entry 3.30pm)

11/05/2026

Bilingual Post (Please scroll for English)

Roedd y carcharorion benywaidd yng Ngharchar Rhuthun yn gweithio yn y golchdy. Roedd eu dyletswyddau’n cynnwys golchi, trwsio, a gwnïo dillad. Roedd yn un o’r prif fathau o lafur a oedd yn cael ei neilltuo i ferched yn y carchar.

📍 Carchar Rhuthun, Rhuthun, LL15 1HP
📆 Dydd Llun - Dydd Sul (ar gau bob dydd Mawrth)
🕰 10.30am – 4.30pm (mynediad olaf am 3.30pm)

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Female prisoners at Ruthin Gaol worked in the laundry. Their duties included washing, mending, and sewing clothes. It was one of the main forms of labour assigned to women in the prison.

📍 Ruthin Gaol, Ruthin, LL15 1HP
📆 Mon – Sun (closed Tuesdays)
🕰 10.30am – 4.30pm (last entry 3.30pm)

09/05/2026

Bilingual Post (Please scroll for English)

Gwisgwch wisg ffansi ac archwiliwch y celloedd!

Dewch yn garcharor yn ein cornel wisgoedd a thynnwch weplun yn yr orsaf hunluniau.

Beth fyddai eich trosedd?!

📍 Carchar Rhuthun, Rhuthun, LL15 1HP
📆 Dydd Llun - Dydd Sul (ar gau bob dydd Mawrth)
🕰 10.30am – 4.30pm (mynediad olaf am 3.30pm)

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Dress up and explore the cells!

Become a prisoner in our costume corner and strike a pose for your mugshot at the selfie station.

What would your crime be?!

📍 Ruthin Gaol, Ruthin, LL15 1HP
📆 Mon – Sun (closed Tuesdays)
🕰 10.30am – 4.30pm (last entry 3.30pm)

06/05/2026

Bilingual Post (Please scroll for English)

“Arian am hen raff”

Dros y blynyddoedd, cyflwynwyd amryw o gynlluniau ar gyfer cadw carcharorion yn brysur. Ym 1796, cynigiwyd gwobr o £10 (tua £1,500 heddiw), am y syniad gorau.

Ar yr achlysur hwn, gwrthodwyd gwehyddu hosanau o blaid plicio ocwm, a gyflwynwyd gan John Roberts.

Roedd y gwaith yn llafurus, gan ddefnyddio bachau i ddatod darnau o hen raffau col-tar, carth, fel roedden nhw'n eu galw, a ddaeth oddi ar longau. Wrth blicio ocwm cynhyrchwyd ffeibrau llaes y gellid eu hailddefnyddio.

📍 Carchar Rhuthun, Rhuthun, LL15 1HP
📆 Dydd Llun - Dydd Sul (ar gau bob dydd Mawrth)
🕰 10.30am – 4.30pm (mynediad olaf am 3.30pm)

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“Money for old rope”

Various schemes for keeping prisoners occupied had been put forward over the years. In 1796, a prize of £10 (about £1,500 today), was offered for the best idea.

On this occasion, stocking weaving was rejected in favour of oakum picking, put forward by John Roberts.

This laborious task involved using hooks to shred lengths of old tarred rope known as junk, which had been used on ships. Oakum picking produced loose fibres that could be reused.

📍 Ruthin Gaol, Ruthin, LL15 1HP
📆 Mon – Sun (closed Tuesdays)
🕰 10.30am – 4.30pm (last entry 3.30pm)

Address

46 Clwyd Street
Ruthin
LL151HP

Opening Hours

Monday	10:30am - 4:30pm
Wednesday	10:30am - 4:30pm
Thursday	10:30am - 4:30pm
Friday	10:30am - 4:30pm
Saturday	10:30am - 4:30pm
Sunday	10:30am - 4:30pm

Telephone

01824 708281

Website

http://www.denbighshire.gov.uk/ruthin-gaol, http://www.sirddinbych.gov.uk/carchar-rhuthun

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