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Exodus from Whitecross Street debtors prison 1870
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Exodus from Whitecross Street debtors prison 1870
Whitecross Street Prison was a debtors prison in Islington, London, capable of holding up to 500 prisoners. At five minute pass twelve on New Years Eve a new act was passed, that abolished imprisonment for debt, sixty-three debtors left the prison. Date: 1870
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Media ID 23033254
© Mary Evans Picture Library
Acts Debt Debtors Exodus Imprisonment Islington Leaving Prison Prisoners Prisons Whitecross January
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This evocative image captures the moment of liberation for sixty-three debtors from Whitecross Street Prison in Islington, London, on New Year's Eve in 1870. The prison, which could hold up to 500 inmates, was one of the last debtors prisons in England, where individuals were imprisoned for their inability to pay their debts. With the passing of a new act just five minutes before midnight, the long-awaited freedom for these sixty-three individuals was finally granted. The prisoners, dressed in their drab and worn clothing, are seen streaming out of the prison gates, their faces expressing a mixture of relief, excitement, and apprehension as they embark on a new chapter in their lives. The exterior of the prison, with its imposing walls and barred windows, serves as a stark reminder of the harsh realities of debt and imprisonment during the 19th century. This powerful photograph, taken in the 1870s, offers a glimpse into a pivotal moment in the history of English social reform, marking the end of an era of debtors' imprisonment and the beginning of a new chapter for these sixty-three individuals.
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