So – the final installment of London Shoes “Brixton Trilogy” of blogs – focuses on a historic site and building – located just down the road from its famous Windmill…………“BRIXTON PRISON”.
Brixton Prison was opened in 1820 – when it was known as the “Surrey House of Correction” – because at that time Brixton was in the County of Surrey.
The Prison was built to hold 175 prisoners – but that total was almost immediately exceeded, and the Prison was constantly overcrowded – an issue that appeared to happen continually throughout its history.
In its earlier life Brixton Prison gained a really bad reputation – and soon became known as London’s worst Prison.
In 1821 it introduced the ‘Penal Treadmill’ – one of the first prisons to do so.
The penal treadmill (also referred to as an ‘everlasting staircase’) was a contraption that had a wheel of steps held up by two iron wheels – and when the steps were trodden on – the wheel and its steps, continually moved round.
In everyday life, such a contraption could be used in a corn mill or to pump water – but in prisons in the 1800’s, they were used as a form of punishment, by dishing out hard labour, making prisoners walk on them all day, and completely exhausting them.
In 1823 an Act of Parliament was passed that said male and female prisoners must be housed separately.
In 1853 Brixton Prison became the ‘Brixton Female Convict Prison’.
However – the conditions for women at Brixton Prison were notoriously bad. Newly convicted prisoners were required to spend the initial 4 months of their sentence in ‘solitary confinement’.
As time moved on and prison conditions became a hot political topic, women’s conditions at Brixton and other female only prisons, began slowly to improve including being paid for labour worked – visitation rights – the right to receive letters – a nursery for prisoners’ children –
Over time – the overcrowding issue slowly improved when Brixton Prison was expanded to hold over 800 prisoners.
By the late 1800’s Brixton became a ‘Military Prison’ – then a male only ‘trial and remand’ prison for London and the Home Counties – right up to 2012.
Since 2012 Brixton has been Category C and D resettlement prison for the local area.
Today it averages roughly 660 new prisoners per year and releases approx 74 prisoners into the community each month.
Throughout its history, Brixton Prison has had quite a few well know celebs have been banged up in its cells – for example:- Mick Jagger / the Kray Twins / the ex tv celeb Simon Dee / Oswald Moseley / legendary cricketer Imran Khan / philosopher Bertrand Russell / plus a number of prominent IRA+Irish nationalists throughout the past century.
So – that’s the final edition of London Shoes Brixton Trilogy of blogs – and what an enjoyable visit to South West London it was.
Leaving Brixton and returning home to the ‘good’ side of the River, rather than jumping on the nearest tube, my London Shoes decided on a completely different mode of transport to do the journey – I hopped on a no.35 Bus outside Brixton tube station – whose destination was ‘Shoreditch’ via Liverpool Street Station, the stop I needed to get off at to catch an Elizabeth Line train back home.
The route from south of the River to the north of the Thames, took in locations such as Lambeth Town Hall / Denmark Hill / Camberwell / Camberwell Green / Elephant & Castle / Borough Market / London Bridge / the Monument / Gracechurch Street / and Liverpool Street Station (where Shoes hopped off).
Travelling across London by bus, is a really good way to ‘tour’ and take in the ‘sights’ especially if you’re up on the top deck – and its certainly something that my London Shoes will do on a more regular basis from now one.
Hope you enjoyed this little story and its accompanying photos.
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See below for the full gallery of photos taken to support this Brixton Prison blog
Brixton Prison was opened in 1820 – when it was known as the “Surrey House of Correction” – because at that time Brixton was in the County of Surrey.
The Prison was built to hold 175 prisoners – but that total was almost immediately exceeded, and the Prison was constantly overcrowded – an issue that appeared to happen continually throughout its history.
In its earlier life Brixton Prison gained a really bad reputation – and soon became known as London’s worst Prison.
In 1821 it introduced the ‘Penal Treadmill’ – one of the first prisons to do so. The penal treadmill (also referred to as an ‘everlasting staircase’) was a contraption that had a wheel of steps held up by two iron wheels – and when the steps were trodden on – the wheel and its steps, continually moved round.
In 1823 an Act was passed that said male and female prisoners must be housed separately.
In 1853 Brixton Prison became the ‘Brixton Female Convict Prison’
As time moved on and prison conditions became a hot political topic, women’s conditions at Brixton and other female only prisons, began slowly to improve including being paid for labour worked – visitation rights – the right to receive letters – a nursery for prisoners’ children.
An illustration of what a cell looked like at Brixton Woman’s Prison – following major improvements in prisoners conditions.
Over time – the overcrowding issue slowly improved when Brixton Prison was expanded to hold over 800 prisoners. By the late 1800’s Brixton became a ‘Military Prison’ – then a male only ‘trial and remand’ prison for London and the Home Counties – right up to 2012.
Me – having gone ‘over-the-wall’ at Brixton Prison
A 1930’s photo of Brixton Prison main entrance
The main entrance to Brixton Prison as it looks today
Another 1930’s photo of Brixton Prison
Me – outside the main gates of Brixton Prison
Its a fair cop – but society is to blame – fix the cuffs on me officer and sling me in the Brixton slammer !!!
The 35 Bus – who’s route is Clapham Junction to Shoreditch – from south to north of the River Thames
My initial seat upstairs on a 35 bus – leaving Brixton tube station on route to Shoreditch
Travelling through Brixton on the 35 bus – I captured sight of an old Bovril ‘ghost sign’
from the top deck-front seat – of the 35 bus – heading out of Brixton
From the top deck-front seat of the 35 bus – heading through Denmark Hill
From the top deck-front seat of the 35 bus – travelling through Camberwell
My 35 bus on London Bridge – travelling to the northern banks of the Thames
From the top deck-front seat of a 35 bus – crossing the River Thames south to north – looking towards Westminster
Now on the northern side of the River Thames – my 35 bus heads towards Bishopsgate and the Liverpool Street Station stop – where my London Shoes hopped off, to catch a ‘Lizzie Line’ train back home
Hiya London Shoes…
Thanks for part 3 of your latest Shoes blog, as always full of interesting facts and figures, and who knew that Brixton Prison was once a mixed sex prison😳. Were you playing musical seats on your no.35 bus!!😀