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Punishment cell, Millbank Prison
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Punishment cell, Millbank Prison
Prisoner in refractory (punishment) cell at Millbank Prison, London. Date: 1862
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Media ID 7184461
© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10512968
Cell Millbank Pauper Prison Prisoner Punishment Workhouse Refractory
EDITORS COMMENTS
1. Title: A Prisoner in Refractory (Punishment) Cell at Millbank Prison, London, 1862 This evocative image captures the grim reality of punishment in Victorian England, as depicted in a photograph of a prisoner confined in a refractory cell at Millbank Prison in London, dated 1862. Millbank Prison, established in 1816, was one of the most notorious penitentiaries in England, known for its harsh conditions and inhumane treatment of inmates. The photograph shows a solitary prisoner, huddled in the dimly lit cell, with his back against the cold, damp brick wall. His clothes are worn and tattered, and his expression is one of despair and resignation. The cell is sparsely furnished, with only a thin mattress on the floor and a bucket in the corner. The iron door, reinforced with heavy bars, is secured shut, leaving the prisoner isolated from the outside world. The term "refractory" referred to prisoners who had been deemed unruly or disobedient, and were subjected to harsher punishments than other inmates. The use of punishment cells was a common practice in Victorian prisons, designed to instill discipline and obedience through isolation and physical hardship. This photograph provides a stark reminder of the harsh living conditions and punishments endured by paupers and prisoners in the workhouse and penal systems of the time. The image underscores the importance of social reforms and the eventual abolition of such inhumane practices, as the Victorian era gave way to a new era of social and moral progress. Millbank Prison, which closed in 1902, is now a part of London's rich historical heritage, and this photograph serves as an important visual record of its dark past. The image invites us to reflect on the human cost of punishment and the importance of upholding human dignity and rights, even in the most challenging circumstances.
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