Prison h15
From around 1200 the site of the prison was a Monastery but during the French revolution of 1789 the land and buildings were nationalised and the monks expelled.
In 1812 it was decided to convert the old Monastery into a workhouse; work finally began in 1817, but was stopped not long afterward when the government decided that the space would be better used as a prison. The plans were amended and work resumed with the Prison opening in 1822; with space for 500 prisoners.
Further works took place and soon the prison population swelled to nearly 1000 men and 530 women. Later amendments would see the female population removed to a site nearly and the prison then became male only.
The Prison finally shut its doors in 2011, 11 years short of its 200th birthday. The site is now slowly being demolished
In 1812 it was decided to convert the old Monastery into a workhouse; work finally began in 1817, but was stopped not long afterward when the government decided that the space would be better used as a prison. The plans were amended and work resumed with the Prison opening in 1822; with space for 500 prisoners.
Further works took place and soon the prison population swelled to nearly 1000 men and 530 women. Later amendments would see the female population removed to a site nearly and the prison then became male only.
The Prison finally shut its doors in 2011, 11 years short of its 200th birthday. The site is now slowly being demolished
