Prisoners Collection

Suffragette W. S. P. U Holloway Brooch
The Holloway Brooch, designed by Sylvia Pankhurst, for presentation to W.S.P.U released prisoners. It depicts the portcullis symbol of the House of Commons with chains and broad arrows in purple

Platos Cave Allegory
In Platos Republic Socrates likens mankind to prisoners in a cave who see only the shadows of reality, and the philosophers to those who have been given a glimpse of it

Suffragettes - Christmas Dinner in Holloway by Lawson Wood
Four portly prison officers and policemen force feed a handcuffed suffragette Christmas pudding from the police buffet trolley in Holloway Prison. Date: 1912

The Riot at Stockport (engraving)
1618256 The Riot at Stockport (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Riot at Stockport. Illustration for The Illustrated London News, 10 July 1852)

Guiltcross Union Workhouse, Kenninghall, Norfolk
The Guiltcross Union Workhouse, designed by William Thorold, was erected in 1836-7 at Kenninghall, Norfolk. After its closure in 1902 the site was acquired by the Rev Harold Burden

Roger Casement 1916
Sir Roger Casement tries unsuccessfully to recruit Irish prisoners in Germany to form an Irish Brigade to fight the English

Court of Exchequer
3086765 Court of Exchequer by English School, (15th century) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: After one of a series of manuscripts showing the four courts at Westminster Hall)

Suffragettes Released from Prison. A group of suffragette prisoners leave Holloway Prison on 31st July 1908, smiling and waving

Hall in the Alexander Palace, Tsarskoe-selo
The semi-circular hall where the imperial prisoners assembled for their outings, and on their departure for Tobolsk

Brixton Prison / Mayhew
Female convicts during the silent hour at Brixton Prison, London. All prisoners were required to sit quietly outside their cell

Pentonville Prison
Pentonville chapel; prisoners seated in individual pews

Plan Pentonville Prison
A plan of the floor layout of Pentonville, a model prison built in London in 1843, with corridors of cells radiating out from a central point & exercise yards

Winson Green Prison, Birmingham
The castle-like entrance to Winson Green Prison, Birmingham, built in 1849 as a local gaol for adult male offenders

Prison reformer Elizabeth Fry visits women at Newgate
Elizabeth Fry (1780-1845) on a visit to Newgate Prison, London. In 1817, Fry and a group of like-minded, mostly Quaker, women formed the Ladies Association for the Reformation of the Female Prisoners

Portsmouth Prison Tread-wheel
Prisoners on the tread-wheel at Portsmouth Prison, Hampshire. Date: circa 1900

Visiting Day at Richmond Barracks, Dublin Uprising, 1916
Relatives of prisoners taken during the Irish Rebellion were allowed to visit the barracks three times a week. They are shown here handing through the barbed wire presents they have brought with

Clerkenwell Prison explosion
Effects of the explosion at the house of detention, Clerkenwell, seen from within the prison yard: police officers and firemen searching the ruins

The Collieries Strikes and Riots (engraving)
1627405 The Collieries Strikes and Riots (engraving) by Prior, Melton (1845-1910) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Collieries Strikes and Riots)

Jacques Aymar finds a thief
French sourcier Jacques Aymar directs his baguette at four prisoners to learn which of them committed a robbery.. Date: 1688

The Great Train Robbery- train robber leaps to freedom
Page from The Illustrated London News, reporting on the latest episode in the Great Train Robbery saga. Ronnie Biggs and other prisoners leaps to freedom over Wandsworth Gaol wall

Jeremy Benthams Panopticon
Jeremy Benthams proposed panopticon workhouse or industry house for up to 2000 inmates. The scheme, published in Benthams 1812 work Pauper Management Improved

The Great Train Robbery- commando raid frees train robber
Front page of The Illustrated London News reporting on the latest episode in the Great Train Robbery saga. As Ronald Biggs clambers with there other prisoners over Wandsworth Gaol wall

Battle of Albert 1918
An escort of the South Staffordshire Regiment, 37th Division, bringing German prisoners through Bucqnoy during the Battle of Albert

Convict Hulk Gallery
View of the convict hulk, " The Warrior", docked at Woolwich in London and capable of holding 600 men

Charles at Doune / 1746
At the Castle of Doune, Prince Charles Stuart secures his prisoners after the Battle of Falkirk

PRISON HULK BAHAMA
Prison hulk " Bahama" moored off Gillingham (on The Thames). Norwegian prisoners were kept there

Examing German Prisoner
Two British soldiers examine a German prisoner in a captured German trench hoping to gain information on further attacks

Fagin in the condemned cell (w / c on paper)
614693 Fagin in the condemned cell (w/c on paper) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Fagin in the condemned cell)

The Mercy Fathers ransoming the captives in Algeria, c. 1830-40 (litho) (b / w photo)
CHT287709 The Mercy Fathers ransoming the captives in Algeria, c.1830-40 (litho) (b/w photo) by French School, (19th century); Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris

Roman Triumph (engraving)
3643593 Roman Triumph (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Roman Triumph.); © Look and Learn

Clerkenwell Prison
Engaving depicting the old House of Detention, Clerkenwell. Clerkenwell (old) Prison, also known as the Clerkenwell House of Detention or Middlesex House of Detention, was a prison in Clerkenwell

Union war prisoners association. Date c1863 Oct

Convict Ship
The Convict Ship success in Melbourne, Australia

W. S. P. U Welcome Dinner Released Prisoners
W.S.P.U Welcome Dinner Released Prisoners. A menu for the Welcome Dinner in Honour of Released Prisoners, 16th February 1912. The prisoners including Mrs

British Soldiers escort German Prisoners - WWI
British Soldiers escorting German Prisoners, destined for internment in England - WWI Date: circa 1915

Russian prisoners at Tannenberg
Russian prisoners in Tannenberg following the important battle fought there from August-September 1914 in which the German Eighth Army defeated the Russian 1st and 2nd Armies

Conscientious Objectors, World War I
Conscientious Objectors doing hard labour, breaking rocks in prison during World War I

Bermuda Ireland Island
Ireland Island fortifications and dockyards in Bermuda, showing transported convicts arriving to serve their penance

Blanche De Castille
When her son becomes king, Blanche de Castille, who has been acting as regent during his minority, releases prisoners from the countrys prisons

German Prisoners Paraded
HOME FRONT SCENES German prisoners paraded in Moscow

Prisoners / Old Bailey
Prisoners await their turn at the passage and stairs leading to the dock in the Old Bailey

Prisoners exercising
GOGH, Vincent van (1853-1890). Prisoners exercising. Post-Impressionism. Oil on canvas

Saint Peter in prison, 15th century (miniature)
AIS5340635 Saint Peter in prison, 15th century (miniature); Archivo de la Corona de Aragon, Barcelona, Spain; (add.info.: Miniature from " Misal de San Cugat del Valles "); © Iberfoto.

Napoleon on board 'Bellerophon', 1885 (etching)
7341570 Napoleon on board 'Bellerophon', 1885 (etching) by Orchardson, William Quiller (1832-1910) (after); 69x96.5 cm; National Maritime Museum, London

A Sunday service at Newgate Prison
5307537 A Sunday service at Newgate Prison.; (add.info.: Engraving depicting a Sunday service at Newgate Prison chapel. Dated 19th century. 01/01/1850); Universal History Archive/UIG.

View near Woolwich, Kent, England, depicting the use of forces to build pontoons
MMM5480415 View near Woolwich, Kent, England, depicting the use of forces to build pontoons (disarmed vessels used as floating prisons); National Maritime Museum, London

Female prisoners working in the laundry room
5307385 Female prisoners working in the laundry room.; (add.info.: Engraving depicting female prisoners working in the laundry room of the Fulham Refuge. Dated 19th century)

An engraving depicting a treadmill at Brixton Prison. Introduced for prison discipline by William Cubitt of Ipswich
5310735 An engraving depicting a treadmill at Brixton Prison. Introduced for prison discipline by William Cubitt of Ipswich, 19th century; (add.info.: Date: 1835); Universal History Archive/UIG.

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"From Plato's Cave to Pentonville Prison: A Journey of Captivity and Liberation" In the depths of human existence, there lies a metaphorical cave where they can bound by their own limited perceptions. Just like in Plato's allegory, these captives remain oblivious to the truth that exists beyond their confined reality. However, throughout history, numerous individuals have found themselves imprisoned physically or mentally, only to emerge as symbols of resilience and liberation. One such example is Winston Churchill, who experienced captivity during the Boer War. Despite being held against his will, Churchill refused to succumb to despair and instead used this time as an opportunity for introspection and growth. His eventual release marked not just a personal triumph but also foreshadowed his future leadership on a global scale. Similarly, suffragettes fighting for women's rights faced imprisonment as they challenged societal norms. The W. S. P. U Holloway Brooch became a symbol of their unwavering determination even behind bars. In Lawson Wood's poignant depiction of suffragettes sharing Christmas dinner in Holloway prison, we witness both their physical confinement and unyielding spirit that transcends any walls. The release of suffragettes from prison was not just a victory for them but also for the collective struggle towards equality. It served as a reminder that no cage can contain the power of conviction and unity. Guiltcross Union Workhouse in Norfolk stands as another haunting reminder of institutionalized captivity endured by those less fortunate. Within its walls lay stories untold - tales of hardship intermingled with glimpses of resilience amidst adversity. Roger Casement's imprisonment in 1916 sheds light on political struggles entwined with notions of justice within the Court of Exchequer. As he fought tirelessly against colonial oppression, Casement embodied both prisoner and liberator simultaneously. West London Union Workhouse in Upper Holloway echoes with tales yet again – stories etched into its very foundations.