HOLLOWAY PRISON The Place and The People

Hardback. At time of publication, Britain's most famous 'female penitentiary' was being rebuilt - as the first purpose-built prison in Britain since Wormwood Scrubs opened in 1874. The old building became an obstacle to progress in the treatment of women offenders. The story of Holloway Prison from its opening as a House of Correction in 1853 is the story of the gradual change in attitudes to prisoners, to crime and, more recently, to women offenders. The daily regime and the training of the staff have been gradually humanised. The 'new' Holloway would be more like a hospital than a conventional prison - a move not entirely to the satisfaction of either prisoners or staff. Holloway housed both sexes until 1902 and famous inmates included W. T. Stead, the pioneering editor whose efforts to expose the evils of child prostitution badly misfired; Dr. Jameson of the Jameson Raid, and Oscar Wilde there between his trials for 'immoral conduct'. Later, its inhabitants ranged from suffagettes - whose complaints about their treatment focused much attention on prison conditions - to Ruth Ellis, the last woman to be executed in Britain. Holloway has had both social and architectural importance. The author was given special facilities to talk freely and unsupervised with officers and prisoners. Illus., Bibliog. and Index. 162pp. 8vo. h/back. F. in Vg+ pcdw.