Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1890-1936 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
0.01 linear metres
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Wormwood Scrubs prison was designed in 1870s by Major-General Edmund Du Cane, chairman of the Directors of Convict Prisons, as a national long-term penitentiary, built on a site in East Acton with convict labour. By the time the prison was completed, its entire purpose had, however, changed, and it became a local prison for short-term petty offenders. Today Wormwood Scrubbs provides lower security accommodation for remand and short-term prisoners.
From 1904, the prison also became part of the Borstal system for young offenders, and in 1929 it was made an allocation centre from which newly-sentenced trainees were assessed before being sent to a suitable Borstal. In addition Wormwood Scrubbs came to specialise in holding first time offenders, or 'star' prisoners as they were known. It has more recently become a prison in which life-sentence prisoners are assessed in the early years of their terms.
During the Second World War, part of the prison was evacuated for the use of MI5 and the War Department, and by the end of the war, a section of the hospital wing was being used as condemned quarters for prisoners from Wandsworth and Pentonville prisons.
Repository
Archival history
GB 0074 ACC/3588 1890-1936 Collection 0.01 linear metres Burt , John , fl 1890-1936 , prison warder
Wormwood Scrubs prison was designed in 1870s by Major-General Edmund Du Cane, chairman of the Directors of Convict Prisons, as a national long-term penitentiary, built on a site in East Acton with convict labour. By the time the prison was completed, its entire purpose had, however, changed, and it became a local prison for short-term petty offenders. Today Wormwood Scrubbs provides lower security accommodation for remand and short-term prisoners.
From 1904, the prison also became part of the Borstal system for young offenders, and in 1929 it was made an allocation centre from which newly-sentenced trainees were assessed before being sent to a suitable Borstal. In addition Wormwood Scrubbs came to specialise in holding first time offenders, or 'star' prisoners as they were known. It has more recently become a prison in which life-sentence prisoners are assessed in the early years of their terms.
During the Second World War, part of the prison was evacuated for the use of MI5 and the War Department, and by the end of the war, a section of the hospital wing was being used as condemned quarters for prisoners from Wandsworth and Pentonville prisons.
Deposited at the Greater London Record Office by Miss L. Horlick, September 1995.
Reminiscences of John Burt, prison warder at H.M. Prison Wormwood Scrubs. Includes newspaper cuttings relating to the prison, 1890-1936.
One document.
Available for general access.
Copyright to these records rests with the depositor.
English
Fit
Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm
See LMA/4417 for further records of Wormwood Scrubs Prison.
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.
June to August 2010. Hammersmith and Fulham HM Prison Wormwood Scrubs Prisons Burt , John , fl 1890-1936 , prison warder Imprisonment Sociology Social control, formal Law enforcement Prison services Organisation and management Prison administration Administration Information sources Documents Memoirs Administration of justice Penal sanctions Penal institutions London England UK Western Europe Europe Primary documents
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Deposited at the Greater London Record Office by Miss L. Horlick, September 1995.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Reminiscences of John Burt, prison warder at H.M. Prison Wormwood Scrubs. Includes newspaper cuttings relating to the prison, 1890-1936.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
One document.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Available for general access.
Conditions governing reproduction
Copyright to these records rests with the depositor.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
English
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
See LMA/4417 for further records of Wormwood Scrubs Prison.
Finding aids
Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
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Alternative identifier(s)
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Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Language(s)
- English