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Onboard the prison ship The Warrior
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Onboard the prison ship The Warrior
Prisoners wash at low basins while observed by officers, onboard the convict hulk ship, The Warrior. The practice of confining offenders on board such ships was first adopted in England in 1776; it was popular in the 18th and 19th centuries and was often used to hold convicts awaiting transportation to penal colonies
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Media ID 4476275
© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10430428
1840s Basins Clean Cleaning Convict Convicts Hulk Hulks Jail Offenders Penal Prison Prisoners Prisons Warrior Wash Washin G Officers
EDITORS COMMENTS
Onboard the Prison Ship The Warrior: A Snapshot of Nineteenth-Century Penal Practices This evocative image captures a moment in the daily routine of life aboard the prison ship The Warrior, a convict hulk moored in the Thames Estuary off England during the 1840s. The hulks system, which began in England in 1776, was a controversial penal practice used extensively throughout the 18th and 19th centuries. Convicts awaiting transportation to penal colonies were confined on these old, repurposed ships, which served as makeshift jails. In this photograph, prisoners are seen washing at low basins while being closely observed by officers. The practice of washing was an essential part of maintaining hygiene and preventing the spread of diseases on board the crowded ships. The prisoners' vulnerability and submissive posture contrast sharply with the stern gaze and authoritative presence of the officers, underscoring the power dynamics at play. The hulks system was a significant part of the penal history of England and its colonies. The practice was widely criticized for its inhumane conditions, with overcrowding, poor sanitation, and lack of adequate food and medical care leading to high mortality rates. Despite these criticisms, the hulks system remained in use until the mid-19th century, when it was gradually replaced by other penal institutions. This photograph offers a unique glimpse into a bygone era, providing valuable insights into the daily lives of convicts and the penal practices of the time. The image serves as a poignant reminder of the historical significance of the hulks system and the human stories that lie behind it.
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