Glasshouse (British Army)
Encyclopedia
A Glasshouse, or The Glasshouse was the term for a military prison
in the British Army
. The first military prisons were established in 1844. The term Glasshouse originated at the military prison at Aldershot
, which had a glazed roof. Over time, the sobriquet
came to be applied to all British Army prisons. This prison, called the Detention Barracks, had begun as several barracks in 1856, before being replaced by a single, large building, modelled on civilian prisons, in 1870. This building was destroyed by fire in a riot of 1946.
Glasshouses gained a reputation for brutality, as depicted in Allan Campbell McLean
's novel, The Glass House, and the Sean Connery
film, The Hill
. Today, the British Army has only one remaining prison, the Military Corrective Training Centre at Colchester
. It has a special unit for convicts who are being transferred to HM Prison Service to serve their sentences, which is for anyone serving a sentence over three months.
The Glasshouse at Colchester has been described in the ITV Anglia TV-documentary series, "The Real Red Caps", (2003).
Military prison
A military prison is a prison operated by the military. Military prisons are used variously to house prisoners of war, enemy combatants, those whose freedom is deemed a national security risk by the military or national authorities, and members of the military found guilty of a serious crime...
in the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
. The first military prisons were established in 1844. The term Glasshouse originated at the military prison at Aldershot
Aldershot
Aldershot is a town in the English county of Hampshire, located on heathland about southwest of London. The town is administered by Rushmoor Borough Council...
, which had a glazed roof. Over time, the sobriquet
Sobriquet
A sobriquet is a nickname, sometimes assumed, but often given by another. It is usually a familiar name, distinct from a pseudonym assumed as a disguise, but a nickname which is familiar enough such that it can be used in place of a real name without the need of explanation...
came to be applied to all British Army prisons. This prison, called the Detention Barracks, had begun as several barracks in 1856, before being replaced by a single, large building, modelled on civilian prisons, in 1870. This building was destroyed by fire in a riot of 1946.
Glasshouses gained a reputation for brutality, as depicted in Allan Campbell McLean
Allan Campbell McLean
Allan Campbell McLean was a British writer and political activist.He originally came from Lancashire, but he lived in Scotland for many years....
's novel, The Glass House, and the Sean Connery
Sean Connery
Sir Thomas Sean Connery , better known as Sean Connery, is a Scottish actor and producer who has won an Academy Award, two BAFTA Awards and three Golden Globes Sir Thomas Sean Connery (born 25 August 1930), better known as Sean Connery, is a Scottish actor and producer who has won an Academy...
film, The Hill
The Hill (film)
The Hill is a 1965 film directed by Sidney Lumet, set in a British army prison in North Africa in World War II. It stars Sean Connery, Harry Andrews, Ian Bannen, Ossie Davis, Ian Hendry, Alfred Lynch, Roy Kinnear and Michael Redgrave.-Plot:...
. Today, the British Army has only one remaining prison, the Military Corrective Training Centre at Colchester
Colchester
Colchester is an historic town and the largest settlement within the borough of Colchester in Essex, England.At the time of the census in 2001, it had a population of 104,390. However, the population is rapidly increasing, and has been named as one of Britain's fastest growing towns. As the...
. It has a special unit for convicts who are being transferred to HM Prison Service to serve their sentences, which is for anyone serving a sentence over three months.
The Glasshouse at Colchester has been described in the ITV Anglia TV-documentary series, "The Real Red Caps", (2003).