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Racquet Court, the Marshalsea prison, 19th century

Racquet Court, the Marshalsea prison, 19th century


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Racquet Court, the Marshalsea prison, 19th century

Racquet Court, the Marshalsea prison, 19th century. The Marshalsea was a prison in the London borough of Southwark. For over 500 years (it closed in 1842) the prison housed Londons trespassers, smugglers, mutineers and, most of all, its debtors, the length of their imprisonment determined largely by the whim of their creditors. It became known around the world in the 19th century through the writing of Charles Dickens, whose father was sent there in 1824, when Dickens was 12 years old

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Media ID 14939804

© The Print Collector / Heritage-Images

Courtyard Gaol Jail Penitentiary Prison Southwark Marshalsea Print Collector7


EDITORS COMMENTS
This print takes us back to the 19th century, capturing the haunting essence of Racquet Court, the Marshalsea prison. Located in the heart of London's Southwark borough, this formidable institution served as a home for various societal outcasts for over five centuries until its closure in 1842. The Marshalsea prison was notorious for housing debtors who found themselves at the mercy of their creditors. The length of their confinement often hung precariously on the whims of those they owed money to. This grim reality became widely known across continents during the 19th century thanks to Charles Dickens' writings. In fact, it was here that Dickens' own father was incarcerated when he was just twelve years old. As we gaze upon this engraving, we are transported into a different era where crime and punishment were intertwined within these walls. The courtyard depicted is both desolate and foreboding, hinting at countless stories of despair and desperation that unfolded within these confines. This image serves as a poignant reminder of an era long gone but not forgotten—a testament to human resilience amidst adversity and a stark reflection on society's treatment of those who fell victim to financial hardships. It stands as a powerful historical artifact that sheds light on an integral part of London's past—an enduring symbol etched in monochrome ink forever preserved by The Print Collector.

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