Ground plan of Coldbath Fields Prison
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Ground plan of Coldbath Fields Prison
Ground plan of Coldbath Fields Prison, Clerkenwell. Date: 1862
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Media ID 7178721
© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10512935
Clerkenwell Coldbath Fields Pauper Plan Prison Workhouse
EDITORS COMMENTS
1. Title: Ground Plan of Coldbath Fields Prison, Clerkenwell (1862) This evocative ground plan illustrates the layout of Coldbath Fields Prison, a historic penal institution located in the heart of Clerkenwell, London. Dating back to 1862, this intricate diagram offers a unique glimpse into the Victorian-era penal system and the daily lives of its inmates. Coldbath Fields Prison was originally established in 1794 as a workhouse for paupers, but later evolved into a house of correction and debtors' prison. The ground plan reveals the various components of this sprawling complex, including the prison chapel, infirmary, exercise yards, and various cell blocks. The prison was designed to accommodate both male and female inmates, with separate wings for each gender. The cells, arranged in long corridors, were intended to house multiple prisoners, reflecting the overcrowded conditions that were common in Victorian-era prisons. The plan also highlights the presence of a treadmill, a notorious feature of many Victorian prisons. Inmates were forced to turn a large wheel, often for hours on end, as a form of punishment and labor. The treadmill, located in the central part of the plan, underscores the harsh and punitive nature of the penal system during this period. Despite its grim reputation, Coldbath Fields Prison also served as a place of reform and rehabilitation. The plan shows several educational and vocational facilities, including a school and a workshop, which were intended to provide inmates with skills and knowledge that could help them reintegrate into society upon their release. This ground plan of Coldbath Fields Prison offers a fascinating insight into the complex and often contradictory nature of the Victorian penal system, revealing a world of punishment, reform, and survival.
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