Early prisons

• Prisons in this period were not considered a punishment in their own right, but rather a ‘holding area’ where people waited for trials.
• Conditions were very poor. Inmates had to pay prison wardens for food and other basics.
• They had no proper sanitation, and people often died of diseases like typhus.
• In 1556, a new type of prison, or ‘house of correction’ was opened, called Bridewell prison. It was used to punish people who had broken the law, and house poor children. Inmates were made to do ‘hard labour’ .
• During the 17th century, further similar prisons were opened around the country.