Wandsworth prison opened in November 1851, being originally called The Surrey House of Correction. Like Pentonville prison, it was built on the “Panopticon” design to enable the “separate system” to be used for 700 prisoners in individual cells, each with toilet facilities. It was designed by D.R. Hill and constructed on a 26 acre site … Read more
In 1788 a new Hampshire County Gaol opened in Jewry Street Winchester at a cost of £10,000 to the design of architect George Moneypenney. A debtor’s prison was added in 1805. These continued in service until the mid-1850’s when the magistrates decided that a new larger prison was needed. Charles Pearce was appointed to design and build the new … Read more
HM Prison Birmingham, known locally as Winson Green prison, was built between 1845 and 1849 in the Winson Green area in the west of Birmingham. Initially the Birmingham Borough Gaol, to give its official name, it had in total 321 cells for men, woman and juveniles. It was designed on the “Panopticon” principle by Birmingham architect Daniel Rowlinson Hill with … Read more
The new County Gaol for Worcestershire opened 1813. It was designed by a Mr. Sandy in the style of a medieval castle, and originally had 90 cells, but an extra 80 were added 25 years later. The road outside the prison was renamed from Salt Lane to Castle Street, due to the architectural appearance. The Gaol was … Read more
Usk prison was originally constructed as a House of Correction, opening in 1844 and being enlarged in 1870 to become the County Gaol for Monmouthshire. It has an imposing stone built gatehouse and four cell blocks radiating off from a central spine, in the normal panopticon principle that was popular in Victorian times. The reason for this form of construction was … Read more
