Saint Ann's Bay Old Jail

Saint Ann's Bay Old Jail
Saint Ann's Bay Old Jail
LocationSaint Ann's Bay, Jamaica
Coordinates18°26′19″N 77°11′55″W / 18.4386°N 77.1986°W / 18.4386; -77.1986
StatusClosed
CapacityUnknown
Openedc. 1795
ClosedUnknown

The Old Jail in Saint Ann's Bay is said to have been the very first prison in Jamaica. Built as a fort c.1750, it was declared useless in 1795 as the sea was encroaching. It was then converted into a jail and house of correction. The jail had solitary cells, a treadmill, a separate room for lunatics, a room for debtors, a 'hospital', and a jailers' quarters. Many slaves died there.