Source 1

Ground plan of HM Prison Cold Bath Fields (WORK 30/5978)

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The grey shading shows old buildings, the pink shows building which was new in 1884, increasing the capacity of the prison to 1,000 prisoners.

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1. Look at Source 1.

Coldbath Fields Prison was named after a well nearby. It was an old prison, re-built in 1794, holding men, women and children. In 1850 it was changed to take men only and extended again. It was known as a tough prison, used for local London criminals on short sentences.

  • Find:
      • the old prison
      • the new prison
      • the Treadwheel House
      • the flour mill
      • the bakery
      • the kitchen
      • the two laundries
      • the oakum shed
      • the Chief Warder’s house
      • the Governor’s house
      • the Governor’s greenhouse
      • the coachhouse and stable
      • the Fever Hospital
      • the exercise yards
      • the cocoa shed
  • Imagine you have just been appointed as the new prison governor. Take a tour around your new prison, visiting all of the places on the list above. Add one sentence of your own comment, as governor, on each
  • There is a logical purpose behind many aspects of the design of this prison. Explain the design or placing of: the Fever Hospital, the new prison, the Treadwheel house and flourmill, the Governor’s House
  • Imagine you are a warder standing at the centre of the Rotunda of the new prison. How many cells can you see from your position?