Weddings plan for former prison

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Couples looking for a quirky wedding venue, as well as perhaps a "life sentence", may soon be able to tie the knot at a former prison.

While a wedding meal of porridge may not be to everyone's taste, Denbighshire council is applying to use Ruthin Gaol for ceremonies.

An application has been submitted and the council said it had already been approached by interested couples.

A jail, first built on site in the 17th Century, is now a tourist attraction.

A spokesman for Denbighshire council said: "The council has submitted an application to allow Ruthin Gaol to be used to solemnise marriages and civil partnerships.

"Two of the council's heritage buildings, Plas Newydd at Llangollen and Nantclwyd y Dre in Ruthin, are already licensed for this and we are hoping that the Ruthin Gaol application will be successful.

"We have already had approaches from people interested in getting married at Ruthin Gaol.

"The location provides a historic backdrop - it's unique, different and quirky. Some people want their ceremonies to be individual and the gaol really would offer that."

The application will be discussed by the council licensing committee and is still the subject of consultation.

The gaol was taken over as a munitions factory in World War II

The first county house of correction was built at Ruthin in 1654 at the bottom of Clwyd Street on the same site as the present buildings.

An entirely new prison was designed by the architect Joseph Turner of Chester in the late 18th Century and the building served as the county jail until 1866.

Ruthin County Gaol became HM Prison Ruthin in 1878 and it remained open for 38 years until finally closing its doors in 1916.

Denbighshire council bought the buildings in 1926 and converted them for office and library use.

The gaol was taken over as a munitions factory in World War II but the council returned after the war.

The public has been able to explore the building as a tourist attraction since its reopening in May 2002 following a £2m restoration project.