Contact Artefacts please if you have any comments or more information regarding this record.	Menu Home Upfront Now Up Books Towns Structures People Firms Lexicon		Old Gaol - M.O.T.H. Shellhole Heidelberg, Gauteng

Date: 1869 Type: Gaol Status: Adaptive re-use   Click to view map Coordinates: 26°29'47.53" S 28°21'11.31" E Alt: 1561m

The building was continually used as a prison to around1963, when the new prison was completed outside Heidelberg and the jail then stood empty for about 30 years. Standing empty and unused the now, old Jail deteriorated to a ruinous state and became an eye sore to the public of Heidelberg. The Heidelberg Publicity Association leased the building from the Heidelberg Town Counsel in 1993 and they shared these facilities with The Memorable Order of Tin Hats, Suikerbosrand Shellhole also known as the MOTHs. In 1997 the MOTHs of Suikerbosrand Shellhole entered into a ten year lease agreement with Town Council which was extended at the end of this period for a further three years. The MOTHs restored and upgraded the old jail with the support of the community of Heidelberg, fund raising events were held to finance this action. (MOTH website, accessed 2020 03 11) For a history of the gaol visit the Memorable Order of Tin Hats website.