Strangeways Prison

Strangeways Prison was a prison located in Manchester, England, that operated from 1868 to 1994. The prison was designed by Alfred Waterhouse and Joshua Major, and its construction was overseen by the British Government. During its operation, the prison held many notable inmates, including Ian Brady, Myra Hindley, and Peter Sutcliffe, who were all convicted of murder and served time at the prison. The prison was also the site of a major riot in 1990, which involved police and prison officers.

● History

The history of Strangeways Prison dates back to 1868, when it was first opened as a replacement for the New Bailey Prison in Salford. The prison was designed to hold approximately 1,000 inmates, and its construction was influenced by the separate system of imprisonment, which emphasized the isolation of prisoners. During World War I, the prison was used to hold conscientious objectors, including Bertrand Russell and E.D. Morel. In the 1950s and 1960s, the prison held notable inmates such as Ruth Ellis, who was the last woman to be executed in the United Kingdom, and John Christie, who was a serial killer. Other notable inmates included Derek Bentley, who was convicted of murdering a police officer, and Timothy Evans, who was wrongly convicted of murdering a child.

● Architecture

The architecture of Strangeways Prison was designed by Alfred Waterhouse and Joshua Major, and its construction was influenced by the Victorian style of architecture. The prison's design was based on the Pentonville model, which emphasized the use of panopticon-style surveillance. The prison's walls were designed to be escape-proof, and its cells were equipped with solitary confinement facilities. The prison also featured a chapel, which was designed by Augustus Pugin, and a governor's house, which was designed by Charles Barry. Other notable architectural features included the gatehouse, which was designed by Thomas Harrison, and the perimeter wall, which was designed by John Nash.

● Notable Events

Strangeways Prison was the site of a major riot in 1990, which involved police and prison officers. The riot, which lasted for 25 days, was sparked by a protest against the prison conditions and the treatment of inmates. The riot involved inmates such as Paul Taylor, who was a convicted murderer, and Alan Lord, who was a convicted robber. The riot was eventually brought under control by a team of police officers and prison officers, who were led by David Waddington and Angus Wilson. Other notable events at the prison included the execution of Ruth Ellis in 1955, and the imprisonment of the Birmingham Six in the 1970s.

● Prison Life

Prison life at Strangeways Prison was harsh and unforgiving, with inmates facing hard labour and solitary confinement. Inmates such as Nelson Mandela, who was a political prisoner at the time, and Mahatma Gandhi, who was a civil rights activist, wrote about the harsh conditions at the prison. The prison also had a hospital, which was equipped to deal with medical emergencies, and a library, which was stocked with books and other materials. Inmates such as Oscar Wilde, who was a writer and poet, and Evelyn Waugh, who was a novelist, wrote about the prison's library and its resources. Other notable inmates who wrote about their experiences at the prison included Jeffrey Archer, who was a politician and writer, and Jonathan Aitken, who was a politician and journalist.

● Closure and Redevelopment

Strangeways Prison was closed in 1994, after a major riot in 1990 highlighted the need for reform. The prison was replaced by a new facility, HM Prison Manchester, which was designed to be more modern and humane. The site of the old prison was redeveloped into a housing estate, which was designed by Norman Foster and Richard Rogers. The redevelopment of the site also included the construction of a newspaper office for the Manchester Evening News, and a hotel for the Radisson Hotel Group. Other notable developments in the area included the construction of the Manchester Arena, which was designed by Denton Corker Marshall, and the National Football Museum, which was designed by Ian Simpson. The closure of the prison also led to the redevelopment of the surrounding area, including the construction of new housing and commercial property, such as the Spinningfields development, which was designed by Allies and Morrison.