Monaghan Gaol Lock and Key

Monaghan County Museum recently received the kind donation of the original lock and key from Monaghan Gaol. Mr. Cecil Henderson, of Aughnaseda Co. Monaghan, had the lock and key in his family for over one hundred years. It was Cecil's grandfather who purchased the items in an auction of the Museum's fixtures and fittings following it's close in 1894. The gaol building was used up until 1932 as Monaghan Hospital when it was demolished to make way for the building that stands on the site today.

The key was kept in the Henderson house, however the lock had been discarded and was only recently discovered. Amazingly the key can still turn the tumblers in the lock. Both items are now on display in the Museum' recent acquisitions case.