Wandsworth Prison - A History

A talk exploring the history of this Victorian prison.

Wandsworth Prison - A History

Join us at London Metropolitan Archives as curator Stewart McLaughlin explores over 150 years of the Prison's eventful history.

Wandsworth Prison was built in 1849 as Surrey House of Correction and was intended for those serving short sentences. It was designed by D R Hill of Birmingham to hold 750 prisoners, with the first male prisoners being admitted in 1851 and the first female prisoners in 1852.

Stewart McLaughlin has published multiple books of the prison's history including 'Wandsworth Prison a history', 'Execution Suite, a history of the gallows at Wandsworth Prison 1878-1993', 'Wandsworth Prison at War 1939-1945' and the only biography of Britain's last executioner, Harry Allen, Britain's Last hangman. Stewart previously worked at Wandsworth prison and is the curator of Wandsworth Prison Museum.