"It is with no small concern," writes an anonymous historian of Newgate, "that I am obliged to observe that the women in every ward of this prison are exceedingly worse than the worst of the men not only in respect to their mode of living, but more especially as to their conversation, which, to their great shame, is as profane and wicked as hell itself can possibly be." There were two Condemned Holds,--one for each sex.

That for the men lay near the Lodge, with which it was connected by a dark passage.

It was a large room, about twenty feet long and fifteen broad, and had an arched stone roof.

In fact, it had been anciently the right hand postern under the gate leading towards the city.

The floor was planked with oak, and covered with iron staples, hooks, and ring-bolts, with heavy chains attached to them.