The design of of the new prison

Plan of Durham Prison

Extract from the 1st edition of the Ordnance Survey map of Durham showing the County Gaol, 1857. (Image courtesy of Durham County Record Office, ref. Durham Sheet xxvii.1.19) Click on image to enlarge.

 

Take a close look at the extract from the Ordnance Survey map of Durham. It shows a very detailed plan of the County Gaol (what we now call Durham Prison). You might need to use the enlarged version. Once you have finished, try answering the following questions.

1. Find the following on the plan:

- County Court
- Females' Prison
- Debtors' Ward
- Boys' Prison
- Males' Prison
- School Rooms
- Workshops
- the 3 airing grounds
- the Chapel

2. Imagine you are the Governor of the Prison and you are expecting a repeat visit from Fry and Gurney. You want to show them how much things have improved since their last visit. In order to help you remember everything, you decide to make a list of all the good features of the new prison. The list has been started but you need to finish it.

County Court	Close to prison. Means less time is spent in transporting the prisoners to and from the Court.
Females' Prison
Debtors' Ward
Boys' Prison
Males' Prison
School Rooms
Workshops
Airing grounds
Chapel

 

3. Take a look at the list you have prepared. Do you think that the design of the new prison was influenced by the work of the prison reformers. If so, in what ways?