Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1917-1967 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
2.33 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 LMA/4417 1917-1967 Collection 2.33 linear metres HM Prison Wormwood Scrubs
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.
Records deposited in 2001.
Records of HM Prison Wormwood Scrubs consisting of nominal registers of prisoners 1917-1967, are arranged chronologically within three groups, namely, youth registers, adult registers and Borstal training registers. Indexes have been deposited for each group. In addition a number of unidentified pages of photographs were deposited with the registers.
The collection has been arranged into one series: LMA/4417/01 REGISTERS OF PRISONERS.
These records are open to public inspection, although records containing personal information may be subject to closure periods.
Statutory transfer under section 4(1) of the Public Records Act, 1958.
English
Fit
Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm
See also the records of HM Prison, Wandsworth: ACC/3444 See also records of HM Young Offender Institute and Remand Centre, Feltham: LMA/4465 Memoirs of a warder at HMP Wormwood Scrubs: ACC/3588.
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. Sociology Social control, formal Law enforcement Prison services Organisation and management Administration Prison administration Administration of justice Penal sanctions Penal institutions Imprisonment Prisons HM Prison Wormwood Scrubs Hammersmith and Fulham London England UK Western Europe Europe
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Records deposited in 2001.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Records of HM Prison Wormwood Scrubs consisting of nominal registers of prisoners 1917-1967, are arranged chronologically within three groups, namely, youth registers, adult registers and Borstal training registers. Indexes have been deposited for each group. In addition a number of unidentified pages of photographs were deposited with the registers.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
The collection has been arranged into one series: LMA/4417/01 REGISTERS OF PRISONERS.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
These records are open to public inspection, although records containing personal information may be subject to closure periods.
Conditions governing reproduction
Statutory transfer under section 4(1) of the Public Records Act, 1958.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
English
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
See also the records of HM Prison, Wandsworth: ACC/3444 See also records of HM Young Offender Institute and Remand Centre, Feltham: LMA/4465 Memoirs of a warder at HMP Wormwood Scrubs: ACC/3588.
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
Related units of description
Notes area
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
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