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 DEPARTEMENT VAN PUBLIEKE WERKEN - ZUID-AFRIKAANSCHE REPUBLIEK: Architect Wilhelm Alexander DE RAPPER: Contractor

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

See more photographs 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. Transcription of Blue Plaque HEIDELBERG HERITAGE ASSOCIATION OLD GAOL Built in 1888 as a jail and hospital. Used by the prison department until 1963. Dr James O’Reilly was the District Surgeon and Mr Carl Ueckermann was the local magistrate at the time. Salmon van As was executed against the back wall by the British on the 23rd of June 1902. The building is reputed to have a number of ghosts. The Suikerbosrand Moth Shell Hole are the custodians since 1993. (Source: The Heritage Portal)