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Home / History / Life in VictorianTimes (1836-1901) / Crime and Punishment / Separate System - Pentonville
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Pentonville was built in 1842 in North London. Its design was influenced by the 'separate system'. Following the perceived 'success' of Millbrook a programme of prison building commenced to deal with the rapid increase in prisoner numbers caused by the ending of capital punishment for many crimes an...

Separate System - Pentonville

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Pentonville was built in 1842 in North London. Its design was influenced by the 'separate system'. Following the perceived 'success' of Millbrook a programme of prison building commenced to deal with the rapid increase in prisoner numbers caused by the ending of capital punishment for many crimes and a steady reduction in the use of transportation. Pentonville was completed in 1842 at a cost of £84,186 12s 2d. This design was intended to keep prisoners isolated from each other and not as a panopticon. Although its design consisted of a central hall, with five radiating wings, all of which are visible to staff positioned at the centre, guards had no view into individual cells from their central position. Its design was was more about prisoner isolation rather than prisoner surveillance. It held 520 prisoners under the separate system, each having their own cell. Prisoners were made to undertake work, such as picking tarred rope and weaving. Pentonville became the model for British prisons; a further 54 were built to the same basic design over the next six years. It was built for prisoners awaiting transportation and did not house condemned prisoners until the closure of Newgate in 1902.

Added:
8th Jul 2007 by Diane Earl

Subjects:
History

Key Stages:
Key Stage 2, Key Stage 3, Key Stage 4, Key Stage 4+

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National Education Network
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