The keeper of the prison was the Marshal of the Four Courts, a role filled after 1546 by the Constable of Dublin Castle.

[9] It was described by Samuel Lewis as "a large building ... the prison has two court-yards, two chapels, several common halls and a ball-court.

"[10] John Dillon said in 1898:[11] I remember the Marshalsea Prison in Dublin, and in that gaol we had a nice suite of rooms, and we had balls there, and many a pleasant hour I have spent there, in the society of many of the most delightful men in Dublin, who were in the habit of spending some time at that resort.

This was 25 years ago, and it was perfectly well recognised then that there was no kind of punishment in the debtors' gaol.

[16] Some of the calp stone went to repair the City wall at Cook Street.