Home > Europe > United Kingdom > England > Dorset > Portland
Machine stone cutting, Portland Prison, Dorset
Wall Art and Photo Gifts from Mary Evans Picture Library
Machine stone cutting, Portland Prison, Dorset
A machine with toothed blades and a rotating saw cutting up stone. Portland Prison, Dorset, opened in 1848 as a public works prison for convicts who were employed in quarries in the area
Mary Evans Picture Library makes available wonderful images created for people to enjoy over the centuries
Media ID 4470859
© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10424895
1840s 1848 Blade Blades Conditions Convicts Crime Cutter Cutting Dorset Employed Gear Hard L Aw Labour Lifting Portland Prison Punishment Quarries Quarry Rotating Teeth Toothed Stone Cutter
FEATURES IN THESE COLLECTIONS
> Europe
> United Kingdom
> England
> Dorset
> Portland
> Europe
> United Kingdom
> England
> Dorset
> Related Images
EDITORS COMMENTS
This evocative photograph captures the harsh realities of life in a Victorian-era prison, specifically at the Portland Prison in Dorset, England, which opened in 1848. The image shows a machine used for stone cutting, a crucial aspect of the prison's public works program. Convicts were employed in the local quarries, extracting and cutting stone for various construction projects. The machine in the photograph features toothed blades and a rotating saw, designed for efficient and precise stone cutting. The intricate gears and mechanisms suggest the advanced engineering capabilities of the time. The convict, dressed in a striped prison uniform, is seen lifting heavy stones to feed into the machine, demonstrating the physically demanding nature of the labor. The Portland Prison, established during the 1840s, was designed to reform convicts through hard labor. The conditions were often harsh, with long hours, meager rations, and limited access to medical care. The use of machines like this one likely increased productivity, but also intensified the physical demands on the prisoners. This photograph offers a glimpse into the historical context of punishment and labor during the Victorian era. It highlights the role of prisons as sites of hard labor and reformation, and the use of machinery to extract resources and shape the built environment. The image also underscores the importance of quarrying in the region, which continues to be a significant industry in Dorset today.
MADE IN THE USA
Safe Shipping with 30 Day Money Back Guarantee
FREE PERSONALISATION*
We are proud to offer a range of customisation features including Personalised Captions, Color Filters and Picture Zoom Tools
SECURE PAYMENTS
We happily accept a wide range of payment options so you can pay for the things you need in the way that is most convenient for you
* Options may vary by product and licensing agreement. Zoomed Pictures can be adjusted in the Cart.
