Prisons Collection

A prison guard on patrol in B wing of Britains top security prison Parkhurst on the Isle of Wight November 1984

Alcatraz Island and Prison in San Franciso, California, USA

The First Fleet
Some of the First Fleet - eleven British Navy ships under the command of Captain Arthur Phillip, which took 750 British convicts to Botany Bay

Aylesbury Prison 1900
Aylesbury Prison corridor B3 1900 Date: 1900

Aylesbury Prison 1900
Aylesbury Prison cell 1900 Date: 1900

Pentonville Prison 1844
A view of Pentonville Prison, opened in 1842, from a report to Joshua Jebb in 1844

Pentonville Prison 1842
An exterior view of the prison. It was considered to be a model for all new prisons at the time

Brixton Prison / Mayhew
Female convicts during the silent hour at Brixton Prison, London. All prisoners were required to sit quietly outside their cell

Prison Hulks
Captured French sailors were housed here during the Revolutionary and Napoleonic wars

Pentonville Prison Cell
PENTONVILLE A cell in the prison, with a hammock for sleeping and a loom for day-work

Shoreline and buildings on Alcatraz Island, location of the infamous prison, San Francisco, California, United States of America, North America

Pentonville Prison
Pentonville chapel; prisoners seated in individual pews

Plan Pentonville Prison
A plan of the floor layout of Pentonville, a model prison built in London in 1843, with corridors of cells radiating out from a central point & exercise yards

Man in the Iron Mask, playing the cello in prison
There are conflicting theories as to who this man was. One is that he was Count Ercole Antonio Mattioli (Matthioli or Marchioly, 1640-1703), an Italian diplomat, arrested as Eustache Dauger in 1669

Newgate Prison in London, 1900. Built in 1188 and rebuilt in 1782, it was finally demolished in 1902, and the Old Bailey built upon the site

Clerkenwell Prison explosion
Effects of the explosion at the house of detention, Clerkenwell, seen from within the prison yard: police officers and firemen searching the ruins

Holloway Prison: Willis Collection, 1895 (b / w photo)
1786918 Holloway Prison: Willis Collection, 1895 (b/w photo) by English Photographer, (19th century); London Metropolitan Archives

Advertisement for clothing and bedding disinfector
An 1880 trade advertisement for a disinfector by made by Nelson and Sons of Leeds. The device, used by workhouses, hospitals and prisons

Convict Hulk Gallery
View of the convict hulk, " The Warrior", docked at Woolwich in London and capable of holding 600 men

PRISON HULK BAHAMA
Prison hulk " Bahama" moored off Gillingham (on The Thames). Norwegian prisoners were kept there

Wandsworth Prison / Letter
Built in 1851 and originally called the Surrey House of Correction. The inmates writing letters

Prison / Millbank
A bird s-eye view

Elizabeth Fry (1780-1845) prison reformer, at Newgate prison, 1817

Fagin in the condemned cell (w / c on paper)
614693 Fagin in the condemned cell (w/c on paper) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Fagin in the condemned cell)

Asylum for Criminal Lunatics, Broadmoor, Sandhurst, Berkshire (engraving)
1620772 Asylum for Criminal Lunatics, Broadmoor, Sandhurst, Berkshire (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Asylum for Criminal Lunatics, Broadmoor)

Millbank Penitentiary
MILLBANK PENITENTIARY with a carriers wagon passing on its way from Gloucester and Cirencester

Blanche De Castille
When her son becomes king, Blanche de Castille, who has been acting as regent during his minority, releases prisoners from the countrys prisons

Millbank Prison / Ackerman
Millbank prison was conceived by Jeremy Bentham whose goal was that prisoners would receive just punishment while developing an appreciation of labour. It was completed in 1821

Marshalsea Prison
The Marshalsea Prison, mainly a debtors prison, was in the Borough High Street, Southwark, as shown on the map

Mayhew / Wandsworth Prison
Built in 1851 and originally called the Surrey House of Correction. This picture shows the adult school in the chapel on the separate system

Birds Eye / Wandsworth
A bird s-eye view of the Surrey House of Correction, Wandsworth, now known as Wandsworth Prison, London

The Count of Monte Christo, ca 1850-60 (illustration)
7422840 The Count of Monte Christo, ca 1850-60 (illustration); (add.info.: Literature. The Count of Monte Christo, novel by Alexandre Dumas (1844)

Title page of Le Bagne, by Albert Londres, 1923 (print)
8723987 Title page of Le Bagne, by Albert Londres, 1923 (print); Private Collection; (add.info.: Title page of the book by Albert Londres (1884-1932) "Le Bagne"

Saint Peter in prison, 15th century (miniature)
AIS5340635 Saint Peter in prison, 15th century (miniature); Archivo de la Corona de Aragon, Barcelona, Spain; (add.info.: Miniature from " Misal de San Cugat del Valles "); © Iberfoto.

Prison Ship 'York' in Portsmouth Harbour, 1807 (etching)
7341890 Prison Ship 'York' in Portsmouth Harbour, 1807 (etching) by Cooke, Edward William (1811-80); 21.6x28.4 cm; National Maritime Museum, London

A group seated at a table, 1802 (pen, ink)
7339867 A group seated at a table, 1802 (pen, ink) by Baxter, Thomas (1782-1821); 12.9x9.3 cm; National Maritime Museum, London

Count Ugolino in prison, 1897 (engraving)
8683379 Count Ugolino in prison, 1897 (engraving) by Rodin, Auguste (1840-1917) (after); Musee Goupil, Bordeaux, France; (add.info.: "Count Ugolino in prison", after Auguste Rodin, 1897)

View near Woolwich, Kent, England, depicting the use of forces to build pontoons
MMM5480415 View near Woolwich, Kent, England, depicting the use of forces to build pontoons (disarmed vessels used as floating prisons); National Maritime Museum, London

The Jail, Bunyan Asleep (engraving)
8673725 The Jail, Bunyan Asleep (engraving) by Watson, James Dawson (1832-92); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Jail, Bunyan Asleep)

Condemned cell, Chichester City Jail, Sussex (b/w photo)
8676011 Condemned cell, Chichester City Jail, Sussex (b/w photo) by English Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Condemned cell, Chichester City Jail, Sussex)

Portrait of Baroness Staal imprisoned after the conspiracy of Cellamare, 1844 (engraving)
ELD4958015 Portrait of Baroness Staal imprisoned after the conspiracy of Cellamare, 1844 (engraving); Private Collection; (add.info.: Portrait of Marguerite de Launay)

Warder inspecting a prison cell, 1889
3479511 Warder inspecting a prison cell, 1889; (add.info.: Warder inspects a prison cell, before locking up prisoner for the night. Wormwood scrubs prison, London)

Alexandrevsky Central Prison, Siberia, 1850
3479368 Alexandrevsky Central Prison, Siberia, 1850; (add.info.: Alexandrevsky Central Prison, Siberia, Russia.); Universal History Archive/UIG.

American prison life, 1850
3479365 American prison life, 1850; (add.info.: American prison life: New York City house of correction, Blackwell's Island. Convicts on outdoor work.); Universal History Archive/UIG.

Newgate Prison in London 1800, 1800
3479352 Newgate Prison in London 1800, 1800; (add.info.: Newgate Prison in London, 1800.); Universal History Archive/UIG.

Portland Prison Dorset, 1884
3479344 Portland Prison Dorset, 1884; (add.info.: Portland Prison Dorset Convicts working in the stone quarries. The prisoners were given education classes in the evening)

Warships at anchor, 1850
3479382 Warships at anchor, 1850; (add.info.: Warships at anchor at the mouth of the Thames awaiting the tide. The vessel on the right is a sailing vessel while the one next to her is transitional)

Convicts working, 1888
3479343 Convicts working, 1888; (add.info.: Convicts working in the stone quarries on the island of Portland. Dated 15th December 1888.); Universal History Archive/UIG.

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"Exploring the Evolution of Prisons: From Alcatraz to Pentonville" Alcatraz Island and Prison in San Francisco, California, USA: A notorious symbol of incarceration, Alcatraz stands as a reminder of the harsh realities within its walls. The First Fleet: With the arrival of British convicts in Australia in 1788, prisons became an integral part of penal colonies aimed at punishing and rehabilitating offenders. Aylesbury Prison 1900: This English correctional facility witnessed significant changes over time, reflecting shifting attitudes towards rehabilitation rather than mere punishment. Pentonville Prison 1842: Designed with revolutionary principles emphasizing solitary confinement and labor as means for reforming prisoners' behavior. Brixton Prison / Mayhew: Known for its innovative approach to addressing mental health issues among inmates through therapy and counseling programs. Prison Hulks: These decommissioned ships-turned-they were used during the 18th and 19th centuries to house convicts awaiting transportation or serving shorter sentences. Pentonville Prison Cell: Offering a glimpse into the austere living conditions endured by inmates confined within these small spaces designed for isolation and reflection. Shoreline and buildings on Alcatraz Island: Standing tall against the picturesque backdrop of San Francisco Bay, these structures once housed some of America's most dangerous criminals. Plan Pentonville Prison: An architectural blueprint that revolutionized prison design by incorporating separate cells with individual exercise yards to prevent communication between inmates. As we reflect upon these historical landmarks in the realm of corrections, it becomes evident that they have evolved from places solely focused on punishment to institutions striving for rehabilitation and societal reintegration – albeit with varying degrees of success throughout history.