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Chapel exit indicator, Pentonville Prison
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Chapel exit indicator, Pentonville Prison
Device to signal prisoners order of exit from chapel at Pentonville Prison, London. Date: 1862
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Media ID 7186565
© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10512974
Chapel Device Exit Order Pauper Pentonville Prison Prisoners Signal Workhouse
EDITORS COMMENTS
1. Title: "Orderly Departure: The Chapel Exit Indicator at Pentonville Prison, 1862" This evocative image captures the Chapel exit indicator, a device employed at Pentonville Prison in London during the mid-19th century to signal the orderly exit of prisoners following chapel services. The prison, established in 1842, was a pioneering institution in the British penal system, designed to reform rather than merely punish. The introduction of the Chapel, where inmates could attend religious services, was an essential aspect of this progressive approach. The Chapel exit indicator, a simple yet effective mechanism, ensured that the large congregation of prisoners exited the Chapel in a disciplined and orderly fashion. The device, positioned at the Chapel entrance, consisted of a series of numbered compartments, each representing a specific row in the Chapel. As the prison chaplain or warder signaled the end of the service, prisoners would move to their respective compartments, signaling their readiness to exit. Once all prisoners had signaled their readiness, the chaplain or warder would give the final signal, allowing the prisoners to leave the Chapel in an orderly and controlled manner. The use of such a device was a testament to the meticulous attention given to maintaining order and discipline within the prison. The Chapel exit indicator served as a symbol of the prison's commitment to rehabilitation and the importance of order and routine in the daily lives of its inmates. This photograph, taken in 1862, offers a unique glimpse into the inner workings of Pentonville Prison during a time when the institution was at the forefront of penal reform. The Chapel exit indicator, a seemingly mundane object, reveals the intricacies of prison life and the innovative methods employed to manage and reform pauper prisoners.
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