List of prisons in the United Kingdom
Prisons and Young Offender Institutions -- Former prisons
Table:
Name
Location
County
Notes

Abingdon
Abingdon
Oxfordshire
Built 1812 as the county gaol for Berkshire, closed 1874, redeveloped in the 1960s.[154]

Aldington
Aldington
Kent
Closed 1999

Ashwell
Ashwell
Rutland
Closed March 2011, awaiting re-development

Beaumaris
Beaumaris
Anglesey
Historic, now a museum

Belle Vue
Manchester
Greater Manchester
Historic

Blundeston
Blundeston
Suffolk
1960-2013

Bocado
Oxford
Oxfordshire
Historic

Bodmin
Bodmin
Cornwall
Historic

Bullwood Hall
Hockley
Essex
Closed 2013

Camp Hill Prison
Newport
Isle of Wight
Closed 2013

Canterbury Prison
Canterbury
Kent
Closed 2013

The Clink
Southwark
London
Historic

Coldbath Fields
Clerkenwell
London
Closed 1885

Eden Camp
Malton
North Yorkshire
World War II prisoner of war camp

Dorchester
Dorchester
Dorset
Closed 2013

Finnamore Wood
Marlow
Buckinghamshire
Closed 1996, awaiting redevelopment

Fisherton Gaol
Salisbury
Wiltshire
Closed 1870 [155]

Fleet
Holborn
London
Historic

Galleries of Justice
Nottingham
Nottinghamshire
Historic

Gatehouse
Westminster
London
Historic

With reference to the table and the relevant paragraphs listed.

Answer the following question: To which century do the courtrooms date to of the prison whose city received the second highest amount of overnight visitors in the Midlands ? Respond with the correct answer (omit explanations) in JSON format as {"answer": "YOUR ANSWER"}. Use only the information given.

Abingdon-on-Thames ( /ˈæbɪŋdən/ AB-ing-dən ) , known just as Abingdon between 1974 and 2012 , is a historic market town and civil parish in the ceremonial county of Oxfordshire , England . Historically the county town of Berkshire , since 1974 Abingdon has been administered by the Vale of White Horse district within Oxfordshire . The area was occupied from the early to middle Iron Age and the remains of a late Iron Age and Roman defensive enclosure lies below the town centre . Abingdon Abbey was founded around 676 , giving its name to the emerging town . In the 13th and 14th centuries , Abingdon was an agricultural centre with an extensive trade in wool , alongside weaving and the manufacture of clothing . Charters for the holding of markets and fairs were granted by various monarchs , from Edward I to George II . The town survived the dissolution of the abbey in 1538 , and by the 18th and 19th centuries , with the building of Abingdon Lock in 1790 , and Wilts & Berks Canal in 1810 , was a key link between major industrial centres such as Bristol , London , Birmingham and the Black Country . In 1856 the Abingdon Railway opened , linking the town with the Great Western Railway at Radley . The Wilts & Berks Canal was abandoned in 1906 but a voluntary trust is now working to restore and re-open it . Abingdon railway station was closed to passengers in September 1963 . The line remained open for goods until 1984 , including serving the MG car factory , which operated from 1929 to October 1980 . Abingdon 's brewery , Morland , whose most famous ale , Old Speckled Hen , was named after an early MG car , was taken over and closed down by Greene King Brewery in 1999 , with production moving to Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk .
Oxfordshire ( abbreviated Oxon , from Oxonium , the Latin name for Oxford ) is a county in South East England . The ceremonial county borders Warwickshire to the north-west , Northamptonshire to the north-east , Buckinghamshire to the east , Berkshire to the south , Wiltshire to the south-west and Gloucestershire to the west . The county has major education and tourist industries and is noted for the concentration of performance motorsport companies and facilities . Oxford University Press is the largest firm among a concentration of print and publishing firms ; the University of Oxford is also linked to the concentration of local biotechnology companies . As well as the city of Oxford , other centres of population are Banbury , Bicester , Kidlington and Chipping Norton to the north of Oxford ; Carterton and Witney to the west ; Thame and Chinnor to the east ; and Abingdon-on-Thames , Wantage , Didcot , Wallingford and Henley-on-Thames to the south . The areas south of the Thames , the Vale of White Horse and parts of South Oxfordshire , are in the historic county of Berkshire , as is the highest point , the 261 metres ( 856 ft ) White Horse Hill . Oxfordshire 's county flower is the snake's-head fritillary .
Berkshire ( /ˈbɑːrkʃər , -ʃɪər/ ( listen ) BARK-shər , -⁠sheer ; in the 17th century sometimes spelt phonetically as Barkeshire ; abbreviated Berks . ) is a county in South East England . One of the home counties , Berkshire was recognised by the Queen as the Royal County of Berkshire in 1957 because of the presence of Windsor Castle , and letters patent were issued in 1974 . Berkshire is a county of historic origin , a ceremonial county and a non-metropolitan county without a county council . The county town is Reading . The River Thames formed the historic northern boundary , from Buscot in the west to Old Windsor in the east . The historic county therefore includes territory that is now administered by the Vale of White Horse and parts of South Oxfordshire in Oxfordshire , but excludes Caversham , Slough and five less populous settlements in the east of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead . All the changes mentioned , apart from the change to Caversham , took place in 1974 . The towns of Abingdon , Didcot , Faringdon , Wallingford and Wantage were transferred to Oxfordshire , the six places joining came from Buckinghamshire . Berkshire County Council was the main local government of most areas from 1889 to 1998 and was based in Reading , the county town which had its own County Borough administration ( 1888-1974 ) . Since 1998 , Berkshire has been governed by the six unitary authorities of Bracknell Forest , Reading , Slough , West Berkshire , Windsor and Maidenhead and Wokingham . The ceremonial county borders Oxfordshire ( to the north ) , Buckinghamshire ( to the north-east ) , Greater London ( to the east ) , Surrey ( to the south-east ) , Wiltshire ( to the west ) and Hampshire ( to the south ) .
Aldington is a village and civil parish in the Ashford District of Kent , England . The village centre is eight miles ( 12 km ) south-east of the town of Ashford . As with the village centre , set on a steep escarpment above agricultural Romney Marsh and the upper Stour is Aldington Knoll , which was used as a Roman burial barrow and later beacon , it has a panorama towards the English Channel and of low land such as Dungeness . At the 2011 Census the population included Bonnington .
Kent is a county in South East England and one of the home counties . It borders Greater London to the north-west , Surrey to the west and East Sussex to the south-west . The county also shares borders with Essex along the estuary of the River Thames ( connected by land via High Speed 1 and the Dartford Crossing ) , and with the French department of Pas-de-Calais through the Channel Tunnel . The county town is Maidstone . Kent was among the first British territories conquered and settled by Anglo-Saxons . Canterbury Cathedral in Kent has been the seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury , leader of the Church of England , since the Reformation . Prior to that it was built by Catholics , dating back to the conversion of England to Catholicism by Saint Augustine that began in the 6th century . Before the English Reformation the cathedral was part of a Benedictine monastic community known as Christ Church , Canterbury , as well as being the seat of the Catholic Archbishop of Canterbury . The last Catholic Archbishop of Canterbury was Reginald Pole . Rochester Cathedral is also in Kent , in Medway . It is the second-oldest cathedral in England , with Canterbury Cathedral being the oldest . Between London and the Strait of Dover , which separates it from mainland Europe , Kent has seen both diplomacy and conflict , ranging from the Leeds Castle peace talks of 1978 and 2004 to the Battle of Britain in World War II .
HM Prison Ashwell was a Category C men 's prison located in the parish of Burley , in the county of Rutland , England . The site of the former prison is located about two miles south of the centre of the village of Ashwell , alongside the road to Oakham and opposite the former kennels of the Cottesmore Hunt . The prison closed in 2011 and Rutland County Council acquired it from the Ministry of Justice in early 2013 . The site has been redeveloped as Oakham Enterprise Park , a business park for office and light industrial use .
Ashwell is a village and civil parish in the county of Rutland in the East Midlands of England . The population of the civil parish was 290 at the 2001 census falling to 269 at the 2011 census . It is located about 3 miles ( 5 km ) north of Oakham . St Marys church is mainly of 14th-century origin , but in 1851 it underwent a major restoration by William Butterfield . James Adams , rector , who won a Victoria Cross in Afghanistan in 1879 , is buried in the churchyard . Ashwell Hall stands in a small park about half a mile south of the village . It was built in 1879 in the Tudor style . Aviator Beryl Markham ( née Clutterbuck ) was born in Westfield House and lived here until her family moved to Kenya when she was four years old .
Rutland /ˈrʌtlənd/ is a landlocked county in the East Midlands of England , bounded to the west and north by Leicestershire , to the northeast by Lincolnshire and the southeast by Northamptonshire . Its greatest length north to south is only 18 miles ( 29 km ) and its greatest breadth east to west is 17 miles ( 27 km ) . It is the smallest historic county in England and the fourth smallest in the UK as a whole . Because of this , the Latin motto Multum in Parvo or much in little was adopted by the county council in 1950 . It has the smallest population of any normal unitary authority in England . Among the current ceremonial counties , the Isle of Wight , City of London and City of Bristol are smaller in area . The former County of London , in existence 1889 to 1965 , also had a smaller area . It is 323rd of the 326 districts in population . The only towns in Rutland are Oakham , the county town , and Uppingham . At the centre of the county is Rutland Water , a large artificial reservoir that is an important nature reserve serving as an overwintering site for wildfowl and a breeding site for ospreys . Rutland 's older cottages are built from limestone or ironstone and many have roofs of Collyweston stone slate or thatch .
Beaumaris Gaol is a disused jail located in Beaumaris , Anglesey , Wales . Although no longer in use it remains largely unaltered and is now a museum open to visitors , with around 30,000 visiting each year .
Beaumaris ( /bjuːˈmærɪs/ ; Welsh : Biwmares [ bɪuˈmɑːrɛs ] ) is a community , and the former county town , of Anglesey , Wales , at the eastern entrance to the Menai Strait , the tidal waterway separating Anglesey from the coast of North Wales . At the 2011 census , its population was 1,938 .
Anglesey ( /ˈæŋɡəlsiː/ ; Welsh : Ynys Môn [ ˈənɨs ˈmoːn ] ) is an island off the north-west coast of Wales . It forms the principal area ( as Isle of Anglesey ) and historic county of that name , which includes Holy Island to the west and some islets and skerries . Anglesey island , at 260 square miles ( 673 km2 ) , is by far the largest island in Wales , seventh largest in the British Isles , largest in the Irish Sea and second most populous after the Isle of Man . The local-government area of Isle of Anglesey County Council measures 276 square miles ( 715 km2 ) , , with a 2011 census population of 69,751 , of whom 13,659 live on Holy Island . The Menai Strait between Anglesey and mainland Wales is spanned by the Menai Suspension Bridge , designed by Thomas Telford in 1826 , and the Britannia Bridge , built in 1850 and replaced in 1980 . The largest town is Holyhead , where the port handles over 2 million passengers a year with Ireland . The next largest is Llangefni , seat of the county council . From 1974 to 1996 Anglesey was run as part of Gwynedd . Most Anglesey inhabitants are Welsh speakers . The name Ynys Môn is used for the UK Parliament and National Assembly constituencies . The island forms the LL postcode area ( LL58-LL78 ) .
Belle Vue Gaol ( also known as Manchester City Gaol , Manchester Borough Gaol or Gorton Gaol ) was a Victorian prison in Gorton , Manchester , England . It operated between 1850 and 1888 . It was notorious at the time for abysmal prisoner living conditions . It was demolished in 1892 .
Manchester ( /ˈmæntʃɛstər/ ) is a major city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester , England , with a population of 547,627 as of 2018 ( 5th most populous English district ) . It lies within the United Kingdom 's second-most populous urban area , with a population of 2.9 million , and second-most populous metropolitan area , with a population of 3.3 million . It is fringed by the Cheshire Plain to the south , the Pennines to the north and east , and an arc of towns with which it forms a continuous conurbation . The local authority for the city is Manchester City Council . The recorded history of Manchester began with the civilian settlement associated with the Roman fort of Mamucium or Mancunium , which was established in about AD 79 on a sandstone bluff near the confluence of the rivers Medlock and Irwell . It is historically a part of Lancashire , although areas of Cheshire south of the River Mersey were incorporated in the 20th century . The first to be included , Wythenshawe , was added to the city in 1931 . Throughout the Middle Ages Manchester remained a manorial township , but began to expand at an astonishing rate around the turn of the 19th century . Manchester 's unplanned urbanisation was brought on by a boom in textile manufacture during the Industrial Revolution , and resulted in it becoming the world 's first industrialised city . Manchester achieved city status in 1853 . The Manchester Ship Canal opened in 1894 , creating the Port of Manchester and directly linking the city to the Irish Sea , 36 miles ( 58 km ) to the west . Its fortune declined after the Second World War , owing to deindustrialisation , but the IRA bombing in 1996 led to extensive investment and regeneration .
Greater Manchester is a metropolitan county and combined authority area in North West England , with a population of 2.8 million ; the third largest in England after Greater London and the West Midlands . It encompasses one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United Kingdom and comprises ten metropolitan boroughs : Bolton , Bury , Oldham , Rochdale , Stockport , Tameside , Trafford , Wigan , and the cities of Manchester and Salford . Greater Manchester was created on 1 April 1974 as a result of the Local Government Act 1972 , and designated a functional city region on 1 April 2011 . Greater Manchester spans 493 square miles ( 1,277 km2 ) , which roughly covers the territory of the Greater Manchester Built-up Area , the second most populous urban area in the UK . It is landlocked and borders Cheshire ( to the south-west and south ) , Derbyshire ( to the south-east ) , West Yorkshire ( to the north-east ) , Lancashire ( to the north ) and Merseyside ( to the west ) . There is a mix of high-density urban areas , suburbs , semi-rural and rural locations in Greater Manchester , but land use is mostly urban - the product of concentric urbanisation and industrialisation which occurred mostly during the 19th century when the region flourished as the global centre of the cotton industry . It has a focused central business district , formed by Manchester city centre and the adjoining parts of Salford and Trafford , but Greater Manchester is also a polycentric county with ten metropolitan districts , each of which has at least one major town centre and outlying suburbs . Greater Manchester is governed by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority ( GMCA ) , which consists of political leaders from each of the ten metropolitan borough councils , plus a directly elected mayor , with responsibility for economic development , regeneration and transport . Andy Burnham is the inaugural Mayor of Greater Manchester , elected in 2017 . For the 12 years following 1974 the county had a two-tier system of local government ; district councils shared power with the Greater Manchester County Council . The county council was abolished in 1986 , and so its districts ( the metropolitan boroughs ) effectively became unitary authority areas . However , the metropolitan county continued to exist in law and as a geographic frame of reference , and as a ceremonial county , with a Lord Lieutenant and a High Sheriff .
HM Prison Blundeston was a Category C men 's prison , located in the Village of Blundeston in Suffolk , England . The prison was operated by Her Majesty 's Prison Service , and closed in January 2014 .
Blundeston is a village and civil parish in the East Suffolk district of the English county of Suffolk . It is situated in the north of the county , about 2 miles ( 3 km ) inland between Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft , close to the North Sea coast . Blundeston Prison was located on the southern edge of the village but closed and sold in 2016 . The old prison site is being redeveloped to include housing and community facilities .
Suffolk ( /ˈsʌfək/ ) is an East Anglian county of historic origin in England . It has borders with Norfolk to the north , Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south . The North Sea lies to the east . The county town is Ipswich ; other important towns include Lowestoft , Bury St Edmunds , Newmarket , and Felixstowe , one of the largest container ports in Europe . The county is low-lying but it has quite a few hills ( especially more to the west ) , and has largely arable land with the wetlands of the Broads in the north . The Suffolk Coast and Heaths are an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty .
The Bocardo Prison in Oxford , England existed until 1771 . Its origins were medieval , and its most famous prisoners were the Protestant Oxford martyrs ( Thomas Cranmer , Hugh Latimer and Nicholas Ridley ) in 1555 .
Oxford ( /ˈɒksfəd/ OKS-fəd ) is a university city in Oxfordshire , England , with a population of 155,000 . It is 56 miles ( 90 km ) northwest of London , 64 miles ( 103 km ) from Birmingham and 24 miles ( 39 km ) from Reading by road . The city is home to the University of Oxford , the oldest in the English-speaking world , and has buildings in every style of English architecture from late Anglo-Saxon . Oxford 's industries include motor manufacturing , education , publishing , information technology and science .
Bodmin Jail ( alternatively Bodmin Gaol ) is an historic former prison situated in Bodmin , on the edge of Bodmin Moor in Cornwall . Built in 1779 and closed in 1927 , the large range of buildings is now largely in ruins , although parts of the prison have been turned into a tourist attraction .
Bodmin ( Cornish : Bosvena ) is a civil parish and historic town in Cornwall , England , United Kingdom . It is situated south-west of Bodmin Moor . The extent of the civil parish corresponds fairly closely to that of the town so is mostly urban in character . It is bordered to the east by Cardinham parish , to the southeast by Lanhydrock parish , to the southwest and west by Lanivet parish , and to the north by Helland parish . Bodmin had a population of 14,736 as of the 2011 Census . It was formerly the county town of Cornwall until the Crown Courts moved to Truro which is also the administrative centre ( before 1835 the county town was Launceston ) . Bodmin was in the administrative North Cornwall District until local government reorganisation in 2009 abolished the District ( see also Cornwall Council ) . The town is part of the North Cornwall parliamentary constituency , which is represented by Scott Mann MP . Bodmin Town Council is made up of sixteen councillors who are elected to serve a term of four years . Each year , the Council elects one of its number as Mayor to serve as the town 's civic leader and to chair council meetings .
Cornwall ( /ˈkɔːrnwɔːl , -wəl/ ; Cornish : Kernow [ ˈkɛrnɔʊ ] ) is a ceremonial county in South West England , bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea , to the south by the English Channel , and to the east by Devon , the River Tamar forming the border between them . Cornwall is the westernmost part of the South West Peninsula of the island of Great Britain . The southwesternmost point is Land 's End and the southernmost Lizard Point . Cornwall has a population of 568,210 and an area of 3,563 km2 ( 1,376 sq mi ) . The county has been administered since 2009 by the unitary authority , Cornwall Council . The ceremonial county of Cornwall also includes the Isles of Scilly , which are administered separately . The administrative centre of Cornwall is Truro , its only city . Cornwall is the homeland of the Cornish people and the cultural and ethnic origin of the Cornish diaspora . It retains a distinct cultural identity that reflects its history , and is recognised as one of the Celtic nations . It was formerly a Brythonic kingdom and subsequently a royal duchy . The Cornish nationalist movement contests the present constitutional status of Cornwall and seeks greater autonomy within the United Kingdom in the form of a devolved legislative Cornish Assembly with powers similar to those in Wales and Scotland . In 2014 , Cornish people were granted minority status under the European Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities , giving them recognition as a distinct ethnic group .
HM Prison Bullwood Hall is a former Category C women 's prison and Young Offenders Institution , located in Hockley , Essex , England . The prison was operated by Her Majesty 's Prison Service .
Hockley is a large village and civil parish in Essex in the East of England located between Chelmsford and Southend-on-Sea , or , more specifically , between Rayleigh and Rochford . It came to prominence during the coming of the railway in the 1890s and at the 2001 census had a population of 13,616 people , reducing to 9,616 at the 2011 Census , many of whom commute to London . The parish of Hockley itself has a population of 8,909 ( 2001 census ) , while the urban area runs into the neighbouring parish of Hawkwell . Hockley railway station serves the village .
Essex ( /ˈɛsɪks/ ) is a county in the southeast of England , northeast of London . One of the home counties , it borders Suffolk and Cambridgeshire to the north , Hertfordshire to the west , Kent across the estuary of the River Thames to the south , and London to the southwest . The county town is Chelmsford , the only city in the county . For government statistical purposes Essex is placed in the East of England region . There are three definitions of the extent of Essex , the widest being the Ancient County , the more usual being the smaller Ceremonial County and smallest being the administrative county - the area administered by the County Council and which excludes the two unitary authorities of Thurrock and Southend-on-Sea . The Ceremonial County occupies the eastern part of what was , during the Early Middle Ages , the Kingdom of Essex . As well as rural areas , the county also includes London Stansted Airport , the new towns of Basildon and Harlow , Lakeside Shopping Centre , the port of Tilbury and the borough of Southend-on-Sea .
HMP Isle of Wight - Camp Hill Barracks is a former Category C men 's prison , located on the outskirts of Newport , Isle of Wight . The former prison lies adjacent to Albany and Parkhurst , both part of HMP Isle of Wight .
Newport is the county town of the Isle of Wight , an island off the south coast of England . The town is in the civil parish of Newport and Carisbrooke . The civil parish had a population of 23,957 at the time of the 2001 census , rising to 25,496 at the 2011 census . The town is slightly north of the centre of the Island . It has a quay at the head of the navigable section of the River Medina , which flows northward to Cowes and the Solent .
The Isle of Wight ( /waɪt/ ) is a county and the largest and second-most populous island in England . It is in the English Channel , between 2 and 5 miles off the coast of Hampshire , separated by the Solent . The island has resorts that have been holiday destinations since Victorian times , and is known for its mild climate , coastal scenery , and verdant landscape of fields , downland and chines . The island is designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve . The island has been home to the poets Swinburne and Tennyson and to Queen Victoria , who built her much-loved summer residence and final home Osborne House at East Cowes . It has a maritime and industrial tradition including boat-building , sail-making , the manufacture of flying boats , the hovercraft , and Britain 's space rockets . The island hosts annual music festivals including the Isle of Wight Festival , which in 1970 was the largest rock music event ever held . It has well-conserved wildlife and some of the richest cliffs and quarries for dinosaur fossils in Europe . The isle was owned by a Norman family until 1293 and was earlier a kingdom in its own right . In common with the Crown dependencies , the British Crown was then represented on the island by the Governor of the Isle of Wight [ n 1 ] until 1995 . The island has played an important part in the defence of the ports of Southampton and Portsmouth , and been near the front-line of conflicts through the ages , including the Spanish Armada and the Battle of Britain . Rural for most of its history , its Victorian fashionability and the growing affordability of holidays led to significant urban development during the late 19th and early 20th centuries .
HMP Canterbury is a former prison in Canterbury , Kent , England . The prison was operated by Her Majesty 's Prison Service . The former prison site was bought by Canterbury Christ Church University in April 2014 .
Canterbury ( /ˈkæntərbəri/ ( listen ) , /-bɛri/ ) is a historic English cathedral city and UNESCO World Heritage Site , situated in the heart of the City of Canterbury , a local government district of Kent , England . It lies on the River Stour . The Archbishop of Canterbury is the primate of the Church of England and the worldwide Anglican Communion owing to the importance of St Augustine , who served as the apostle to the pagan Kingdom of Kent around the turn of the 7th century . The city 's cathedral became a major focus of pilgrimage following the 1170 martyrdom of Thomas Becket , although it had already been a well-trodden pilgrim destination since the murder of St Alphege by the men of King Canute in 1012 . A journey of pilgrims to Becket 's shrine served as the frame for Geoffrey Chaucer 's 14th century classic The Canterbury Tales . Canterbury is a popular tourist destination : consistently one of the most-visited cities in the United Kingdom , the city 's economy is heavily reliant upon tourism . The city has been occupied since Paleolithic times and served as the capital of the Celtic Cantiaci and Jute Kingdom of Kent . Many historical structures fill the area , including a city wall founded in Roman times and rebuilt in the 14th century , the ruins of St Augustine 's Abbey and a Norman castle , and the oldest extant school in the world , the King 's School . Modern additions include the Marlowe Theatre and the St Lawrence Ground , home of the Kent County Cricket Club . There is also a substantial student population , brought about by the presence of the University of Kent , Canterbury Christ Church University , the University for the Creative Arts , and the Girne American University Canterbury campus . Canterbury remains , however , a small city in terms of geographical size and population , when compared with other British cities .
The Clink was a prison in Southwark , England , which operated from the 12th century until 1780 . The prison served the Liberty of the Clink , a local manor area owned by the Bishop of Winchester rather than by the reigning monarch . As the Liberty owner , the Bishop kept all revenues from the Clink Liberty , and could put people in prison for failing to make their payments . As the Bishop , he could also imprison heretics . The Clink prison was situated next to the Bishop 's London-area residence of Winchester Palace . The Clink was possibly the oldest men 's prison and probably the oldest women 's prison in England . It is uncertain whether the prison derived its name from , or bestowed it on , the Liberty that it served . The origins of the name The Clink are possibly onomatopoeic , deriving from the sound of striking metal as the prison 's doors were bolted , or the rattling of the chains the prisoners wore . The name has become slang as a generic term for prison or a jail cell .
Southwark ( /ˈsʌðək/ SUDH-ək ) is a district of Central London and is the north-west of the London Borough of Southwark . Centred 1 1⁄2 miles ( 2.4 km ) east of Charing Cross , it fronts the River Thames and the City of London to the north . It was at the lowest bridging point of the Thames in Roman Britain , providing a crossing from Londinium , and for centuries had the only Thames bridge in the area , until a bridge was built upstream more than 10 miles ( 16 km ) to the west . [ n 1 ] It was a 1295-enfranchised ( nationally represented ) borough in the county of Surrey , apparently created a burh in 886 , containing various parishes by the high medieval period , lightly succumbing to City attempts to constrain its free trade and entertainment . Its entertainment district , in its heyday at the time of Shakespare 's Globe Theatre ( which stood 1599-1642 ) has revived in the form of the Southbank which overspills imperceptibly into the ancient boundaries of Lambeth and commences at the post-1997 reinvention of the original theatre , Shakespeare 's Globe , incorporating other smaller theatre spaces , an exhibition about Shakespeare 's life and work and which neighbours Vinopolis and the London Dungeon . After the 18th-century decline of Southwark 's small wharves , the borough rapidly grew in population and saw the growth of great docks , printing/paper , railways , goods yards , small artisan and other often low-wage industries and Southwark was among many such inner districts to see slum clearance and replacement largely with social housing during the late 19th and early 20th centuries . It is now at an advanced stage of regeneration and has the City Hall offices of the Greater London Authority . At its heart is the area known as Borough , which has an eclectic covered and semi-covered market and numerous food and drink venues as well as the skyscraper The Shard . Another landmark is Southwark Cathedral , a priory then parish church , created a cathedral in 1905 , noted for its Merbecke Choir . The area has three main tube stations : Borough , Southwark nearby and one close to the river which is combined with a major railway station above , London Bridge .
London is the capital and largest city of England and of the United Kingdom . Standing on the River Thames in the south-east of England , at the head of its 50-mile ( 80 km ) estuary leading to the North Sea , London has been a major settlement for two millennia . Londinium was founded by the Romans . The City of London , London 's ancient core − an area of just 1.12 square miles ( 2.9 km2 ) and colloquially known as the Square Mile − retains boundaries that closely follow its medieval limits . [ note 1 ] The City of Westminster is also an Inner London borough holding city status . Greater London is governed by the Mayor of London and the London Assembly . [ note 2 ] London is considered to be one of the world 's most important global cities and has been termed the world 's most powerful , most desirable , most influential , most visited , most expensive , innovative , sustainable , most investment friendly , and most popular for work city . London exerts a considerable impact upon the arts , commerce , education , entertainment , fashion , finance , healthcare , media , professional services , research and development , tourism and transportation . London ranks 26th out of 300 major cities for economic performance . It is one of the largest financial centres and has either the fifth or the sixth largest metropolitan area GDP . [ note 3 ] It is the most-visited city as measured by international arrivals and has the busiest city airport system as measured by passenger traffic . It is the leading investment destination , hosting more international retailers and ultra high-net-worth individuals than any other city .
Coldbath Fields Prison , also formerly known as the Middlesex House of Correction and Clerkenwell Gaol and informally known as the Steel , was a prison in the Mount Pleasant area of Clerkenwell , London . Founded in the reign of James I ( 1603-1625 ) it was completely rebuilt in 1794 and extended in 1850 . It housed prisoners on short sentences of up to two years . Blocks emerged to segregate felons , misdemeanants and vagrants .
Clerkenwell ( /ˈklɑːrkənwɛl/ ) is an area of central London , England . The area includes the sub-district of Finsbury . Clerkenwell was an ancient parish from the mediaeval period onwards , becoming part of the Metropolitan Borough of Finsbury from 1900 to 1965 , an authority which in turn merged into the modern London Borough of Islington . The well after which it was named was rediscovered in 1924 . The watchmaking and watch repairing trades were once of great importance .
Eden Camp Modern History Theme Museum is a large Second World War-related museum near Malton in North Yorkshire in England . It occupies a former Second World War prisoner-of-war camp of 33 huts . After the prisoners left , the camp was used for storage and then abandoned . Its grounds then became overgrown . As the museum was being set up , much clearing , as well as repair and renovation of the buildings , was required . One of its buildings contains three human torpedoes and a Sleeping Beauty Motorised Submersible Canoe.The museum is also restoring a Super Sherman ( M50 ) to its original working classic . The museum also has a reproduction V1 .
Malton is a market town , civil parish , food capital and electoral ward in North Yorkshire , England . Historically part of the North Riding of Yorkshire , the town is the location of the offices of Ryedale District Council and has a population of around 13,000 people , measured for both the civil parish and the electoral ward at the 2011 Census as 4,888 . It is located to the north of the River Derwent which forms the historic boundary between the North and East Ridings of Yorkshire . Facing Malton on the other side of the Derwent is Norton . The Karro Food Group ( formerly known as Malton Bacon Factory ) , Malton bus station and Malton railway station are located in Norton-on-Derwent . Malton is the local area 's commercial and retail centre . In the town centre there are small traditional independent shops and high street names . The market place has recently become a meeting area with a number of coffee bars and cafés opening all day to complement the public houses . Malton was voted one of the best places to live in Britain by The Sunday Times in both the 2017 and 2018 lists .
North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan county ( or shire county ) and the largest ceremonial county in England by area . It is located primarily in the region of Yorkshire and the Humber but partly in the region of North East England . The estimated ( by ONS ) population of North Yorkshire was 602,300 in mid-2016 ( not including the unitary districts of York , Middlesbrough , Stockton and Redcar & Cleveland ) . Created by the Local Government Act 1972 , it covers an area of 8,654 square kilometres ( 3,341 sq mi ) , making it the largest county in England . The majority of the Yorkshire Dales and the North York Moors lie within North Yorkshire 's boundaries , and around 40% of the county is covered by National Parks . The largest towns are Middlesbrough ( 174,700 ) , York ( 152,841 ) , Harrogate ( 73,576 ) and Scarborough ( 61,749 ) ; the county town , Northallerton , has a population of 16,832 .
HM Prison Dorchester was a local men 's prison , located in Dorchester in Dorset , England . The prison was operated by Her Majesty 's Prison Service , and closed in January 2014 .
Dorchester ( /ˈdɔːrtʃɛstər/ DOR-ches-tər ) is the county town of Dorset , England . It is situated between Poole and Bridport on the A35 trunk route . A historic market town , Dorchester is on the banks of the River Frome to the south of the Dorset Downs and north of the South Dorset Ridgeway that separates the area from Weymouth , 7 miles ( 11 km ) to the south . The civil parish includes the small town of Poundbury and the suburb of Fordington . The area around the town was first settled in prehistoric times . The Romans established a garrison there after defeating the Durotriges tribe , calling the settlement that grew up nearby Durnovaria ; they built an aqueduct to supply water and an amphitheatre on an ancient British earthwork . After the departure of the Romans , the town diminished in significance , but during the medieval period became an important commercial and political centre . It was the site of the Bloody Assizes presided over by Judge Jeffreys after the Monmouth Rebellion , and later the trial of the Tolpuddle Martyrs . In the 2011 census , the population of Dorchester was 19,060 , with further people coming from surrounding areas to work in the town which has six industrial estates . The Brewery Square redevelopment project is taking place in phases , with other development projects planned . The town has a land-based college , Kingston Maurward College , The Thomas Hardye School , three middle schools and thirteen first schools . The Dorset County Hospital offers an accident and emergency service , and the town is served by two railway stations .
Dorset ( /ˈdɔːrsɪt/ ; archaically : Dorsetshire ) is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast . The ceremonial county comprises the unitary authority areas of Bournemouth , Christchurch and Poole and Dorset . Covering an area of 2,653 square kilometres ( 1,024 sq mi ) , Dorset borders Devon to the west , Somerset to the north-west , Wiltshire to the north-east , and Hampshire to the east . The county town is Dorchester which is in the south . After the reorganisation of local government in 1974 the county 's border was extended eastward to incorporate the Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch . Around half of the population lives in the South East Dorset conurbation , while the rest of the county is largely rural with a low population density . The county has a long history of human settlement stretching back to the Neolithic era . The Romans conquered Dorset 's indigenous Celtic tribe , and during the Early Middle Ages , the Saxons settled the area and made Dorset a shire in the 7th century . The first recorded Viking raid on the British Isles occurred in Dorset during the eighth century , and the Black Death entered England at Melcombe Regis in 1348 . Dorset has seen much civil unrest : in the English Civil War , an uprising of vigilantes was crushed by Oliver Cromwell 's forces in a pitched battle near Shaftesbury ; the doomed Monmouth Rebellion began at Lyme Regis ; and a group of farm labourers from Tolpuddle were instrumental in the formation of the trade union movement . During the Second World War , Dorset was heavily involved in the preparations for the invasion of Normandy , and the large harbours of Portland and Poole were two of the main embarkation points . The former was the sailing venue in the 2012 Summer Olympics , and both have clubs or hire venues for sailing , Cornish pilot gig rowing , sea kayaking and powerboating .
HMYOI Finnamore Wood , formerly known as HMYCC Finnamore Wood or Finnamore Wood Borstal , was an open prison located 1km North of the town of Marlow , Buckinghamshire , England . The prison was operated by Her Majesty 's Prison Service .
Marlow ( /ˈmɑːrloʊ/ ; historically Great Marlow or Chipping Marlow ) is a town and civil parish within Wycombe district in south Buckinghamshire , England . It is located on the River Thames , 4 miles ( 6 km ) south south-west of High Wycombe , 5 miles ( 8 km ) west north-west of Maidenhead and 33 miles ( 53 km ) west of central London .
Buckinghamshire ( /ˈbʌkɪŋəmʃər , -ʃɪər/ ) , abbreviated Bucks. , is a ceremonial county in South East England which borders Greater London to the south east , Berkshire to the south , Oxfordshire to the west , Northamptonshire to the north , Bedfordshire to the north east and Hertfordshire to the east . Buckinghamshire is one of the home counties and towns such as High Wycombe , Amersham , Chesham and the Chalfonts in the east and southeast of the county are parts of the London commuter belt , forming some of the most densely populated parts of the county . Development in this region is restricted by the Metropolitan Green Belt . Other large settlements include the county town of Aylesbury , Marlow in the south near the Thames and Princes Risborough in the west near Oxford . Some areas without direct rail links to London , such as around the old county town of Buckingham and near Olney in the northeast , are much less populous . The largest town is Milton Keynes in the northeast , which with the surrounding area is administered as a unitary authority separately to the rest of Buckinghamshire . The remainder of the county is administered by Buckinghamshire County Council as a non-metropolitan county , and four district councils . In national elections , Buckinghamshire is considered a reliable supporter of the Conservative Party . A large part of the Chiltern Hills , an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty , runs through the south of the county and attracts many walkers and cyclists from London . In this area older buildings are often made from local flint and red brick . Many parts of the county are quite affluent and like many areas around London this has led to high housing costs : several reports have identified the market town of Beaconsfield as having among the highest property prices outside London . Chequers , a mansion estate owned by the government , is the country retreat of the incumbent Prime Minister .
Salisbury ( locally /ˈsɔːzbəri/ SAWZ-bər-ee ) [ a ] is a cathedral city in Wiltshire , England , with a population of 40,302 , at the confluence of the rivers Avon , Nadder , Ebble , Wylye and Bourne . The city is approximately 20 miles ( 32 km ) from Southampton and 30 miles ( 48 km ) from Bath . Salisbury is in the southeast of Wiltshire , near the edge of Salisbury Plain . Salisbury Cathedral was formerly north of the city at Old Sarum . Following the cathedral 's relocation , a settlement grew up around it which received a city charter in 1227 as New Sarum , which continued to be its official name until 2009 , when Salisbury City Council was established . Salisbury railway station is an interchange between the West of England Main Line and the Wessex Main Line . Stonehenge , a UNESCO World Heritage Site , is 8 miles ( 13 km ) northwest of Salisbury .
Wiltshire ( /ˈwɪlt.ʃər , -ʃɪər/ ; abbreviated Wilts ) is a county in South West England with an area of 3,485 km2 ( 1,346 square miles ) . It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset , Somerset , Hampshire , Gloucestershire , Oxfordshire and Berkshire . The county town was originally Wilton , after which the county is named , but Wiltshire Council is now based in the county town of Trowbridge . Within the county 's boundary are two unitary authority areas , Wiltshire and Swindon , governed respectively by Wiltshire Council and Swindon Borough Council . Wiltshire is characterised by its high downland and wide valleys . Salisbury Plain is noted for being the location of the Stonehenge and Avebury stone circles and other ancient landmarks , and as a training area for the British Army . The city of Salisbury is notable for its medieval cathedral . Important country houses open to the public include Longleat , near Warminster , and the National Trust 's Stourhead , near Mere .
Fleet Prison was a notorious London prison by the side of the River Fleet . The prison was built in 1197 , was rebuilt several times , and was in use until 1844 . It was demolished in 1846 .
Holborn ( /ˈhoʊbən/ HOH-bə ( r ) n or /ˈhɒlbərn/ [ a ] ) is a district in the London boroughs of Camden and City of Westminster and a locality in the ward of Farringdon Without in the City of London . The area is sometimes described as part of the West End of London .
The National Justice Museum ( formerly the Galleries of Justice Museum and historically known as the Shire Hall and County Gaol ) , is an independent museum on High Pavement in the Lace Market area of Nottingham , England . The museum is housed in what was once a Victorian courtroom , gaol and police station , and is therefore a historic site where an individual could be arrested , sentenced and executed . The courtrooms date back to the 14th century and the gaol to at least 1449 . The building is a Grade II* listed building and the museum is a registered charity .
Nottingham ( /ˈnɒtɪŋəm/ ( listen ) NOT-ing-əm ) is a city and unitary authority area in Nottinghamshire , England . Part of the East Midlands region , it is 128 miles ( 206 km ) north of London and 45 miles ( 72 km ) northeast of Birmingham . To the west lies Derby , separated by the M1 motorway . Nottingham has links to the legend of Robin Hood and to the lace-making , bicycle ( notably Raleigh bikes ) , and tobacco industries . It was granted its city charter in 1897 as part of Queen Victoria 's Diamond Jubilee celebrations . Nottingham is a tourist destination ; in 2018 , the city received the second highest amount of overnight visitors in the Midlands and the highest amount in the East Midlands . In 2017 , Nottingham had an estimated population of 329,200 . The population of the city proper , compared to its regional counterparts , has been attributed to its historical and tightly-drawn city boundaries . The wider conurbation , which includes many of the city 's suburbs , has a population of 768,638 . It is the largest urban area in the East Midlands and the second-largest in the Midlands . Its Functional Urban Area , also the largest in the East Midlands , has a population of 919,484 . The population of the Nottingham/Derby metropolitan area is estimated to be 1,610,000 .
Nottinghamshire ( pronounced /ˈnɒtɪŋəmʃər , -ʃɪər/ ; abbreviated Notts . ) is a county in the East Midlands region of England , bordering South Yorkshire to the north-west , Lincolnshire to the east , Leicestershire to the south , and Derbyshire to the west . The traditional county town is Nottingham , though the county council is based at County Hall in West Bridgford in the borough of Rushcliffe , at a site facing Nottingham over the River Trent . The districts of Nottinghamshire are Ashfield , Bassetlaw , Broxtowe , Gedling , Mansfield , Newark and Sherwood , and Rushcliffe . The City of Nottingham was administratively part of Nottinghamshire between 1974 and 1998 , but is now a unitary authority , remaining part of Nottinghamshire for ceremonial purposes . In 2017 , the county was estimated to have a population of 785,800 . Over half of the population of the county live in the Greater Nottingham conurbation ( which continues into Derbyshire ) . The conurbation has a population of about 650,000 , though less than half live within the city boundaries . [ citation needed ]
Gatehouse Prison was a prison in Westminster , built in 1370 as the gatehouse of Westminster Abbey . It was first used as a prison by the Abbot , a powerful churchman who held considerable power over the precincts and sanctuary . It was one of the prisons which supplied the Old Bailey with information on former prisoners ( such as their identity or prior criminal records ) for making indictments against criminals While he was imprisoned in the Gatehouse for petitioning to have the Clergy Act 1640 annulled , Richard Lovelace wrote To Althea , from Prison , with its famous line
The City of Westminster is an Inner London borough that also holds city status . It occupies much of the central area of Greater London including most of the West End . Historically in Middlesex , it is to the west of the ancient City of London , directly to the east of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea , and its southern boundary is the River Thames . The London borough was created with the 1965 establishment of Greater London . Upon its creation , it inherited the city status previously held by the smaller Metropolitan Borough of Westminster from 1900 , which was first awarded to Westminster in 1540 . Aside from numerous large parks and open spaces , the population density of the district is high . Many sites commonly associated with London are in the borough , including St James 's Palace , Buckingham Palace , the Palace of Westminster ( Houses of Parliament ) and 10 Downing Street . The borough is divided into a number of localities including the ancient political district of Westminster ; the shopping areas around Oxford Street , Regent Street , Piccadilly and Bond Street ; and the night-time entertainment district of Soho . Much of the borough is residential , and in 2008 it was estimated to have a population of 236,000 . The local government body is Westminster City Council . A study in 2017 by Trust for London and The New Policy Institute found that Westminster has the third-highest pay inequality of the 32 London boroughs . It also has the second-least affordable private rent for low earners in London , behind only Kensington and Chelsea .