St Albans Prison

Entrance to Prison

Museum

Prison as Registry office

museum

By Lin Keen

 Outside prison
1867 from Abbey Gateway in response to the Prison Act 1865 advocating the 'separate system', cost £14k.
Modified version of this - 99 cells, 85 men, 14 women all single, 12' x 7' x 9'high with heating, hammock, window and toilet.  School room provided to improve literacy of longer term prisoners.  Here, allowed to mix for exercise, work and chapel (other prisons kept totally separate throughout) but later they adopted the 'silent system' so although could mix, could not talk - this was to allow prisoners to reflect on their deeds.  Very unpopular with prisoners.
Treadmill (cock-chaffer re rough material of uniforms) - could take 32 prisoners with 20 mins on and 10 minute breaks - pumped water to prison.
Oakum picking - picking apart old tarred rope.
Four executions took place here - private not public but black flag would fly.  Probably most famous was case of Mary Ansell - servant girl hanged for poisoning sister who was in Leavesden Asylum - years later man confessed.
1WW became a military prison then home of council cleansing department.  Cannon found - not much known, thought to have stood in Victoria playing fields for a time.  Has date of 1877 but it is an earlier gun so possibly donated to city when became a City.
Fountain Court - Isabella Worley - benefactor - 1872 fountain, designed by George Gilbert Scott. Position much debated topic - moved twice - should be mounted on wheels, moved 1920.