Woolwich hulks - deck plan of Defence
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Woolwich hulks - deck plan of Defence
The Woolwich hulks (prison ships) - plans of decks of Defence. Date: 1862
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Media ID 7178683
© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10512954
Decks Defence Hulks Pauper Plans Prison Woolwich Workhouse
EDITORS COMMENTS
This intriguing deck plan depicts the interior layout of the prison ship "Defence," which was one of the Woolwich hulks moored in the Thames estuary off the coast of England. The Woolwich hulks, a collection of decommissioned ships repurposed as penal institutions, served as a place of confinement for paupers, vagrants, and petty criminals from the mid-18th to the late 19th century. The "Defence," built in 1812 as a 74-gun third rate warship, was converted into a hulk in 1855. This deck plan, dated 1862, illustrates the various spaces and facilities on board. The upper deck (Deck A) housed the officers' quarters, the captain's cabin, the wardroom, and the galley. The lower deck (Deck B) was divided into cells, each measuring approximately 12 feet by 7 feet, with a small window and a ventilation shaft. The cells were arranged in long corridors, with communal latrines and washrooms located at the ends. The lower gun deck (Deck C) was used for storage and various workspaces, including a carpenter's shop, a blacksmith's forge, and a cooper's shop. The hold (Deck D) was used for the storage of coal and other supplies. The prisoners were put to work in these workshops, contributing to the maintenance of the hulks and performing various tasks for the Navy and the local community. Life on the Woolwich hulks was harsh and conditions were cramped, with overcrowding, poor sanitation, and inadequate food leading to high mortality rates. The hulks were eventually phased out in the late 19th century, with the opening of new prisons and the use of transportation to Australia and other colonies as alternative forms of punishment.
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