PRISON / MAT-MAKING / 1873

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PRISON / MAT-MAKING / 1873

A convict in his cell, making mats. Date: 1873

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Media ID 20151539

© Illustrated London News Ltd/Bubblepunk

1873 Cell Convict Mats Millbank Prison Prisons

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EDITORS COMMENTS
This evocative image captures the daily life of a convict in a Victorian-era British prison in 1873. The photograph, taken at Millbank Prison in London, shows a convict in his cell, intently focused on the task of mat-making. The cell is sparsely furnished, with a thin mattress on the floor, a small table, and a single window high up on the wall. The convict wears a drab prison uniform and is barefoot. Mat-making was a common occupation for prisoners in the UK during the Victorian era. Prisons saw it as a way to keep inmates occupied and productive, while also generating some income for the prison. The mats were often sold to the public, with the profits going back to the prison. Despite the apparent mundanity of the scene, the photograph offers a glimpse into the harsh realities of life in a Victorian prison. The convict's expression is one of intense concentration, perhaps a means of escaping the monotony and hardships of prison life. The cell, with its bare walls and meager furnishings, serves as a stark reminder of the punitive nature of the prison system during this period. The photograph also raises questions about the role of prisons in society and the treatment of convicts. Was mat-making an effective means of rehabilitation, or was it simply a way to exploit the labor of prisoners? And what impact did the conditions of the prison system have on the mental and physical wellbeing of those incarcerated? Overall, this photograph offers a fascinating insight into the past, providing a glimpse into the daily life of a convict in a Victorian-era British prison and the role of mat-making in the prison system.

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