Victoria Road Prison
Encyclopedia
This article is about the former Isle of Man Prison located in Douglas. For the new Isle of Man Prison in Jurby, see Isle of Man Prison
Victoria Road Prison is a former prison
, located on Victoria Road in Douglas
, capital of the Isle of Man
. Victoria Road Prison was the first purpose-built prison to be constructed on the Isle of Man, and held prisoners from April 1891 to August 2008.
, but within a century problems were apparent with this arrangement. Prisoners would grow unruly, as they could not be separated, and the conditions in which they were kept were unfit. When the Chairman of the Commissioners for Prisons in England and Wales inspected the premises for the first time in 1885, he indicated a need for a prison to house 30 prisoners. His recommendation was not universally popular in Tynwald
, as some did not want to spend the money, but nevertheless Manx architect James Cowle was employed to design a new prison, which was subsequently constructed at Victoria Road in Douglas. The entire prison population of the Isle of Man was transferred to the new Victoria Road Gaol in April 1891.
At the beginning of the 20th Century Victoria Road Prison received a glowing report from Major Darnell, the HM Inspector of Prisons:
As the population of both Island and prison grew, the prison was expanded, with the addition of two new wings in 1989. One of these, C wing, was assigned to young prisoners between the ages of 17 and 21, with a maximum accommodation of 37 prisoners spread between 19 single cells and 2 dormitories. Later, the dormitories were altered to serve as a dining room and exercise room, and the single rooms reassigned to adults. The other wing, D, was designed to hold 15 female prisoners in 5 single cells and 2 dormitories, though the maximum number of places permitted was then reduced to 11.
In spite of the expansion, criticism mounted over overcrowding and human rights
issues until in July 2005, Tynwald backed the construction of a new, larger secure facility at Jurby
that would be better outfitted to rehabilitate prisoners. The new Isle of Man Prison
was opened in August 2008 when all inmates from Victoria Road were transferred to the new prison. A month later, the Home affairs Minister Adrian Earnshaw MHK signed the paperwork which revoked the Custody Act 1995, which designated the building as a gaol, bringing Victoria Roads' active use as a prison to a close after period of 117 years.
Immediately after the decommissioning of Victoria Road Prison, the building was opened up for public tours during September and October 2008. Former acting prison governor Tony Hawkes who retired in June 2008 after 34 years' service lead the tours of the prison which included a visit to various wings and cells, as well as the search room and segregation unit. The tours were extremely popular, with places being fully booked within just hours of being advertised. Public interest in the old prison led to calls to open up the Victoria Road site as a permanent visitor attraction over the summer months.
. Organisers hailed the event as a success, and suggested that similar events could be held at the former gaol in the future.
In June 2010, it was announced that artefacts from the former gaol sold in a public auction had raised £8,800. A month later, the former prison was used as a set location for the British horror film
Slasher House.
In October 2010, the Department of Home Affairs
applied for planning permission
to demolish Victoria Road Prison. The department cited a survey which indicated that parts of the gatehouse and cell blocks of the former prison had deteriorated so that public access could not be allowed. However, in January 2011 it emerged that the Isle of Man Government was considering listing the former gaol on a register of buildings of "special architectural or historic interest", meaning that it would be saved from demolition.
Isle of Man Prison
Jurby Prison redirects here.For the former Isle of Man Prison in Douglas, see Victoria Road Prison.Isle of Man Prison is a mixed-use prison located in the Jurby parish of the Isle of Man...
Victoria Road Prison is a former prison
Prison
A prison is a place in which people are physically confined and, usually, deprived of a range of personal freedoms. Imprisonment or incarceration is a legal penalty that may be imposed by the state for the commission of a crime...
, located on Victoria Road in Douglas
Douglas, Isle of Man
right|thumb|250px|Douglas Promenade, which runs nearly the entire length of beachfront in Douglasright|thumb|250px|Sea terminal in DouglasDouglas is the capital and largest town of the Isle of Man, with a population of 26,218 people . It is located at the mouth of the River Douglas, and a sweeping...
, capital of the Isle of Man
Isle of Man
The Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is...
. Victoria Road Prison was the first purpose-built prison to be constructed on the Isle of Man, and held prisoners from April 1891 to August 2008.
History
From 1780 prisoners from the Isle of Man (including debtors) mainly served their sentence at Castle RushenCastle Rushen
Castle Rushen is a medieval castle located in the Isle of Man's historic capital, Castletown in the south of the island. It towers over the Market Square to the south-east and the harbour to the north-east...
, but within a century problems were apparent with this arrangement. Prisoners would grow unruly, as they could not be separated, and the conditions in which they were kept were unfit. When the Chairman of the Commissioners for Prisons in England and Wales inspected the premises for the first time in 1885, he indicated a need for a prison to house 30 prisoners. His recommendation was not universally popular in Tynwald
Tynwald
The Tynwald , or more formally, the High Court of Tynwald is the legislature of the Isle of Man. It is claimed to be the oldest continuous parliamentary body in the world, consisting of the directly elected House of Keys and the indirectly chosen Legislative Council.The Houses sit jointly, for...
, as some did not want to spend the money, but nevertheless Manx architect James Cowle was employed to design a new prison, which was subsequently constructed at Victoria Road in Douglas. The entire prison population of the Isle of Man was transferred to the new Victoria Road Gaol in April 1891.
At the beginning of the 20th Century Victoria Road Prison received a glowing report from Major Darnell, the HM Inspector of Prisons:
The present accommodation consists of 21 cells in the male and eight cells in the female prison. The cells are light and airy, and well ventilated and compare quite favourably with those in the best English prisons — boarded floors, clear glass in the windows and external gas boxes. They were uniformly clean and well kept.
As the population of both Island and prison grew, the prison was expanded, with the addition of two new wings in 1989. One of these, C wing, was assigned to young prisoners between the ages of 17 and 21, with a maximum accommodation of 37 prisoners spread between 19 single cells and 2 dormitories. Later, the dormitories were altered to serve as a dining room and exercise room, and the single rooms reassigned to adults. The other wing, D, was designed to hold 15 female prisoners in 5 single cells and 2 dormitories, though the maximum number of places permitted was then reduced to 11.
In spite of the expansion, criticism mounted over overcrowding and human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
issues until in July 2005, Tynwald backed the construction of a new, larger secure facility at Jurby
Jurby
Jurby is a parish in Micheal Sheading in the Isle of Man and has, according to the 2006 census 659 , residents.It is largely an agricultural district on the north-north-western coast of the island but also has an industrial park on the old RAF Jurby Airfield.The parish is one of three divisions of...
that would be better outfitted to rehabilitate prisoners. The new Isle of Man Prison
Isle of Man Prison
Jurby Prison redirects here.For the former Isle of Man Prison in Douglas, see Victoria Road Prison.Isle of Man Prison is a mixed-use prison located in the Jurby parish of the Isle of Man...
was opened in August 2008 when all inmates from Victoria Road were transferred to the new prison. A month later, the Home affairs Minister Adrian Earnshaw MHK signed the paperwork which revoked the Custody Act 1995, which designated the building as a gaol, bringing Victoria Roads' active use as a prison to a close after period of 117 years.
Immediately after the decommissioning of Victoria Road Prison, the building was opened up for public tours during September and October 2008. Former acting prison governor Tony Hawkes who retired in June 2008 after 34 years' service lead the tours of the prison which included a visit to various wings and cells, as well as the search room and segregation unit. The tours were extremely popular, with places being fully booked within just hours of being advertised. Public interest in the old prison led to calls to open up the Victoria Road site as a permanent visitor attraction over the summer months.
The prison today
In May 2010, the exercise yard of the former prison was used for an 'Urban Street Sport' event. The event included football skills competitions and demonstrations of free runningFree running
Freerunning is a form of urban acrobatics in which participants, known as freerunners , use the city and rural landscape to perform movements through its structures...
. Organisers hailed the event as a success, and suggested that similar events could be held at the former gaol in the future.
In June 2010, it was announced that artefacts from the former gaol sold in a public auction had raised £8,800. A month later, the former prison was used as a set location for the British horror film
Horror film
Horror films seek to elicit a negative emotional reaction from viewers by playing on the audience's most primal fears. They often feature scenes that startle the viewer through the means of macabre and the supernatural, thus frequently overlapping with the fantasy and science fiction genres...
Slasher House.
In October 2010, the Department of Home Affairs
Department of Home Affairs (Isle of Man)
The Department of Home Affairs ensures the safety, protection and security of the Isle of Man.The Department is responsible for the police, the Fire and Rescue Service, the Prison Service & Isle of Man Prison, the Probation Service, emergency planning and Civil Defence.The current Minister for...
applied for planning permission
Planning permission
Planning permission or planning consent is the permission required in the United Kingdom in order to be allowed to build on land, or change the use of land or buildings. Within the UK the occupier of any land or building will need title to that land or building , but will also need "planning...
to demolish Victoria Road Prison. The department cited a survey which indicated that parts of the gatehouse and cell blocks of the former prison had deteriorated so that public access could not be allowed. However, in January 2011 it emerged that the Isle of Man Government was considering listing the former gaol on a register of buildings of "special architectural or historic interest", meaning that it would be saved from demolition.