Pentonville Prison founded

Historical Context Note

Litencyc Editors (Independent Scholar - Europe)

The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.2.1.07: English Writing and Culture of the Victorian Period, 1837-1901.
Vol. editors: Gillian Fenwick (University of Toronto), Jessica Gossling (Goldsmiths College, University of London)

Domains

Penal institutions and policies

Dates

Date of occurrence 1842

Places

United Kingdom (Location)

Resources

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In contrast to the overcrowded, chaotic prison conditions exemplified by Newgate, the new prisons of the Victorian era were to be orderly, utilitarian institutions. Pentonville Prison was influenced by the ideas of Jeremy Bentham, although it does not precisely follow the design of his famous panopticon. It had five radiating wings, and followed a 'separate system', whereby each prisoner had a separate, solitary cell. They were expected to undertake basic manual work while in prison, to recoup some of the costs of housing and feeding them. This model of the solitary and regimented prison system was influential right through the twentieth century.

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102 words

Citation: Editors, Litencyc. "Pentonville Prison founded". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 30 August 2013 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/stopics.php?rec=true&UID=4836, accessed 06 May 2024.]

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