Summary : The current G-, H-, I- and K-Wings of HMP Manchester is the former female prison. It is cruciform in plan with an octagonal centre. Each wing is a different length: G-Wing has 14 bays, H-Wing has 10, I-Wing has seven and K-Wing has 21. The main entrance into the prison used to be in the angle between G- and K-Wings, but it is now blocked by a control and restraint tower. K-Wing was formerly the reception for women prisoners and it had open arcades at basement level. McHardy notes that there were 42 arcades, and the blockings of the doorways are visible beneath the semi-circular windows of this wing. The female prison was originally connected to the male one by a covered way. In 1963 HMP Manchester became male only, the women were moved to HMP Styal and the female prison became a Borstal Allocation Centre and Remand Centre. I-Wing now accommodates special regime prisoners and K-Wing is the induction unit. A plaque unveiled on 21st May 1991 commemorates the refurbishment of this part of the prison. |
More information : Please see source for details. (1)
The current G-, H-, I- and K-Wings of HMP Manchester is the former female prison. It is cruciform in plan with an octagonal centre. Each wing is a different length: G-Wing has 14 bays, H-Wing has 10, I-Wing has seven and K-Wing has 21. The main entrance into the prison used to be in the angle between G- and K-Wings, but it is now blocked by a control and restraint tower. K-Wing was formerly the reception for women prisoners and it had open arcades at basement level. McHardy notes that there were 42 arcades, and the blockings of the doorways are visible beneath the semi-circular windows of this wing. The female prison was originally connected to the male one by a covered way. In 1963 HMP Manchester became male only, the women were moved to HMP Styal and the female prison became a Borstal Allocation Centre and Remand Centre. I-Wing now accommodates special regime prisoners and K-Wing is the induction unit. A plaque unveiled on 21st May 1991 commemorates the refurbishment of this part of the prison. (2)
During the campaign for women's suffrage which began in 1905, around 1085 women served time for the cause in prisons such as Strangeways. They carried out acts of militancy such as arson and window-smashing to draw attention to the campaign which, along with mass demonstrations, could lead to their arrest.
Christabel Pankhurst was imprisoned in Strangeways in October 1905. She was greeted by fellow suffragettes outside the prison gates on her release before attending a celebratory meeting at the Free Trade Hall.
In July 1909, Marion Wallace-Dunlop was the first suffragette to carry out a hunger strike in protest for being sentenced to the second division of Holloway Prison, rather than the first where political prisoners were held. She was the first of many women to undertake hunger strikes in prisons around the country, some of whom were forcibly fed by prison officials. In April1913, what became known as the 'Cat and Mouse Act' was granted Royal Assent, enabling the Home Secretary to release a hunger-striker temporarily. The women were required to sign a form giving the date of their return to prison, however in reality very few attempts were made to re-arrest the 'mice'. Following the outbreak of the First World War, all suffragette prisoners were released, having been granted an amnesty by the government. (3)
Following her arrest for throwing stones at a car taking David Lloyd George to a meeting in Newcastle, Emily Davison was sentenced to one month¿s hard labour in Strangeways prison. She went on a hunger-strike and barricaded her door to prevent prison officials from force-feeding her. In response, a prison officer put a hose-pipe through her cell window and attempted to fill it with water. Before this could happen, however, the door was broken down. On 19th January 1910, Emily was awarded forty shillings in damages for the incident. (4)
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