"It's as black as Newgate's knocker" is an old phrase that will be familiar to many Londoners. But just how black was the knocker? Well, now you can see for yourself; I believe this is the only image on the net of the door knocker from the infamous Newgate Prison. "As black as Newgate's knocker" - The door knocker from the last Newgate Prison This phrase was known by 1880 and remained popular well into the 20th century. Latterly it seems to have been most commonly used by pa

There are very few photos of Newgate prison on the net. The most commonly reproduced ones come from a late Victorian book, Queen’s London, Anon, Cassell, 1897. But three of the most striking and chilling images from that book, “The Graveyard”, “The Chapel” and “The Central Courtyard” seem to have been forgotten for over 100 years. So here is a full set, all six images together with their original accompanying text. Newgate Prison At the corner Newgate Street and the Old Bail