Historic English Prison Nets Heritage Status

LONDON — A 19th century prison built in the heart of London using inmate labor was awarded protected building status in recognition of its progressive design and architectural importance.

Several buildings at HMP Wormwood Scrubs received Grade II listed status in recognition of “innovativeness of design, intrinsic architectural interest and group value” from the Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission.

The Victorian-era prison, located in the west London borough of Hammersmith, was designed by General Sir Edmund du Cane of the Royal Engineers and built by inmates between 1874 and 1891.

The prison remains in operation, housing almost 1,300 medium-security inmates. Wormwood’s architecture and construction were modeled after New York’s Sing Sing state prison, which was constructed in the 1820s.

HMP Wormwood’s design incorporated an innovative cellblock configuration with increased space, light and fresh air. The design also provided workshops, a hospital, and recreational and spiritual facilities that presented a progressive approach to prisoner welfare and prison management, officials say.

Wormwood was influential because it was economical to build and solved the acute problem of how and where to house convicts before deportation. The low-cost construction methods and incorporation of an innovative housing-block and telegraph-pole tower design represented a radical departure from existing practice and made Wormwood a model for future prison developments throughout the United Kingdom.

The gatehouse, which honors prison reformers John Howard and Elizabeth Fry, was awarded the higher Grade-II* listing, while the cell blocks and prison chapel received Grade-II protection in recognition of their “intrinsic architectural interest,” according to the commission.

The listed-building designation protects buildings and other structures of special architectural, historical or cultural significance, with the highest listing of Grade I granted to buildings of exceptional interest and importance.

Buildings of special interest that warrant preservation efforts receive the minimum Grade-II listing, while those of particular importance and of more than special interest are awarded Grade-II* status.

Listed buildings cannot be demolished, expanded or altered without special permission from the government planning authority, according to the commission, a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.