Since the closure of HM Prison Shrewsbury "Jailhouse tours" are on the offering and so off I went with camera in hand. Former prison warders now escort visitors round the building explaining the procedures and life in a prison environment. It certainly was not very warm despite 30 of us being huddles into the admission cells. We were told to remember there had been overcrowding! Our attention was drawn to a blue padlocked gate, an entrance to an area formerly Edwardian prison cells that was to be part of future tours.
The Dana Prison was built by Thomas Telford from the plans designed by the Shrewsbury architect, John Hiram Haycock in 1793 and closed in 2013. It was lately a class B and C male prison. The last female prisoner was held there in 1922. The bust above the entrance is of John Howard ( 2 September 1726 - 20 January 1790) prison reformer. Between 1902 and 1961 there were seven hangings. The former prison site on Howard Street often referred to as the Dana, adjacent to Shrewsbury railway station is near the site of the Dana Gaol, a medieval prison.
Two prison officers who have worked at the prison for most of their careers gave an informative and interesting tour providing insight in the "day in the life of a prisoner". They emphasized the importance of policy and procedure for both prisoners and officers and the importance of developing a relationship with the prisoners from different avenues of life.
In my opinion Shrewsbury is number one for Architectural History in the whole of Britain. There are great examples of every type house, shop and pub. The finest Churches, School, Prison, Railway Station and Quarry Park. I challenge anyone to beat it, by a proud Salopian.
ReplyDelete