There was only one small grated window in this hold, which admitted but little light.
Over the gateway towards Snow Hill, were two strong wards, called the Castle and the Red Room.

They will claim particular attention hereafter.
Many other wards,--especially on the Master Debtor's side,--have been necessarily omitted in the foregoing hasty enumeration.

But there were two places of punishment which merit some notice from their peculiarity.
The first of these, the Press Room, a dark close chamber, near Waterman's Hall, obtained its name from an immense wooden machine kept in it, with which such prisoners as refused to plead to their indictments were pressed to death--a species of inquisitorial torture not discontinued until so lately as the early part of the reign of George the Third, when it was abolished by an express statute.

Into the second, denominated the Bilbowes,--also a dismal place,--refractory prisoners were thrust, and placed in a kind of stocks, whence the name.
The Chapel was situated in the south-east angle of the jail; the ordinary at the time of this history being the Reverend Thomas Purney; the deputy chaplain, Mr.Wagstaff.
Much has been advanced by modern writers respecting the demoralising effect of prison society; and it has been asserted, that a youth once confined in Newgate, is certain to come out a confirmed thief.

However this may be now, it was unquestionably true of old Newgate.