Castle turned tavern, turned debtor’s prison
Originally known as Brown’s Castle, and part of the Dublin city wall fortifications, this square tower was converted into a tavern called the Black Dog, named after a sign that hung above the door.
In the 17th century, however, the tavern closed, and the tower became the main debtor’s prison for Dublin. Those who could not pay their debts were locked up here until they either paid up, or an alternative solution was reached. Officially the prison was called the Sheriff Marshal’s Prison or Marshalsea Prison, but the Black Dog remained the more commonly used name. Another colloquial name was the “Nunnery”, because the city watch would use it to lock up women who were arrested at night.
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The Black Dog
Castle turned tavern, turned debtor’s prison Originally known as Brown’s Castle, and part of the Dublin city wall fortifications, this square tower was converted into a tavern called the Black …