Millbank Prison

Millbank Prison stood on a marshy site near the Thames in Westminster. Jeremy Bentham bought the land in 1799 for the Crown, hoping to build a panopticon prison. The plan changed, and an architectural competition was held in 1812. William Williams won but Thomas Hardwick adapted the design. Construction began but soon ran into problems because of the soft ground. The prison opened in 1816 and held both men and women. It was meant to reform prisoners before transportation to Australia. Dr Alexander Copland Hutchison became medical supervisor in 1818 after disease spread through the prison. By 1822 an epidemic forced the evacuation of inmates to hulks at Woolwich. The layout proved difficult to manage, with poor ventilation and confusing corridors. Visitors would have seen a large brick building shaped like a wheel. A circular chapel stood at the centre, surrounded by six pentagonal cell blocks. Each pentagon had small airing yards and tall towers for stairs and toilets. Cells contained a window, washing tub, stool, hammock and religious books. The prison closed in 1890 and was demolished by 1903.