This afternoon’s jaunt took us into prison, Holloway Prison for women, to be precise.

The Smith & Sons Clock

We went to the bus stop at the clock tower and…

Aboard the 43

…caught a number 43 bus to Holloway. (There’s a clue there!)

Holloway Road

We left the bus in Holloway Road and walked the rest of the way to our destination.

The entrance

Our destination was HM Holloway Prison, for many years the best known prison for women. It has now been closed and, to the joy of many and the regret of some, will be razed to the ground and replaced with housing. I won’t bore you with further details of its history and fate but, if you are interested, you can find more information here.

We gathered here

We were going to be taken in a tour of the site but first, we had to “sing for our supper” by attending a discussion group to elicit ideas on possible ways of memorialising the prison in the new incarnation. I won’t bore any further with with that, either.

We gathered in the yard just inside the entrance. The ground of the site slopes down and where we were standing is actually below the ground floor of the main prison building. The black “bridge” you see in the picture is a corridor on the prison’s ground floor.

The main park

Passing through the gateway in the previous photo leads into a fairly large area of trees and plants that is the main park. One of the surprising things sbout this prison is the number of gardens within its walls, once well kept but now becoming overgrown.

The “Gym Tree”

Further along, we came to another green space whose main inhabitant is a huge London plane tree called the “gym tree” because it is within sight of the gymnasium. If you love and admire trees as I do, you will be glad to know that this fine specimen will be retained.

A cell block

This is one of the cell blocks. The windows are at normal height so that the inmates can look out easily but the windows are, of course, protected by stout bars.

Old exercise yard and chapel

This photo shows a now overgrown area that was once an exercise yard. The building at the far side is the chapel but as filming was in progress there, we could not visit it.

The Art Room

This large room was the art room which was in the education block. In later times, emphasis was placed on providing facilities to qualify inmates for jobs on their release.

The Library

This room, now empty and echoing, was the library, described by some inmates as a “quiet oasis”. (Prisons tend to be noisy places.)

The Swimming Bath

The impressively large swimming bath was originally for use by both inmates and staff but, unfortunately, after a number of escapes, was restricted to staff use.

The showers

Like all swimming baths, this one was accompanied by showers and…

Changing cubicles

…cubicles in which to change. The cubicles have curtains but no doors.

Corridor with painted wndows

We walked along this corridor with painted windows.

Cell for women with babies

We looked in these rooms which are of course cells. The big difference between men’s and women’s prisons is that women may have babies to care for or even give birth in prison. These cells are for women with babies.

Association area

What were called “exercise yards” tend to be called “association areas” now. This fairly pleasant space was for women with babies. It looks at first sight as though it is out in the open but…

No exit

…is in fact enclosed by stout wire netting.

Dormitories for inmates with medical needs

A series of cells containing two or more beds were for inmates with medical problems. Note that the beds bolted to the floor and the lockers for personal property under each bed.

The trees remain

The prison is closed and both inmates and staff have departed, never to return, but the trees remain. What is their fate? Some of the gardens will remain but I do not know if all will. I keep my fingers crossed for the lovely trees.

A glimpse of freedom

We gathered in the yard within sight of the entrance. I wondered how many generations of inmates have cast envious glances at these gates over months and years.

Freedom!

Was I exaggerating to feel relief at leaving those dark rooms and corridors behind and step out into the freedom of the busy street?

A backward glance

We looked back but the building was already hard to see behind the trees, with just a hint of brick and unnaturally narrow windows to remind us of the prison we had visited and – thankfully – left.

Coffee at Costa

A stiff walk brought us down Holloway Road to near the tube station and to a branch of Costa there where we ordered coffee and sank into the cushions of one of their settees.

Back on the 43

Coffee-refreshed, we crossed the road to a nearby bus stop and caught a 43 bus back to the Angel.