HM Prison Portland

Portland's prison opened in 1848 for the holding of adult convicts. The purpose of a prison at Portland was largely to make use of convict labour in the construction of the breakwaters of Portland Harbour and its various defences.{{sfnp|Legg|2000|p=5}} The first convicts, totalling 64, arrived aboard the HM Steamer Driver on 21 November.{{cite web |url=http://www.justice.gov.uk/contacts/prison-finder/verne |title=Verne Prison information |website=Ministry of Justice |access-date=6 June 2014}} The Admiralty Quarries were developed for convicts to work in and once established, convict labour was providing 10,000 tons of stone per week for use on the breakwaters.{{cite web |url=http://www.southampton.ac.uk/~imw/Portland-Quarries.htm |title=Isle of Portland Quarries - Geology |first=Ian |last=West |website=University of Southampton |access-date=10 March 2018}} The conditions within both the prison and its quarries throughout the 19th-century would later help calls for penal reform in the UK, as many prisoners died while quarrying stone.{{NHLE|num=1393113|access-date=29 September 2015}}

From the moment of the prison's inception, the convicts became a tourist attraction.{{cite web |url=http://www.portland-port.co.uk/about/company/history |title=History |website=Portland Port & Harbour Authority |access-date=6 June 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140429190623/http://www.portland-port.co.uk/about/company/history |archive-date=29 April 2014 |df=dmy-all}} The village of the Grove had been developed directly due to the prison, and a number of homeowners decided to open cafes from the upstairs of their houses for tourists to watch the convicts at work.{{sfnp|Legg|2000|p=27}} In 1869 the government announced that the prison, which was originally intended to be temporary, would become a permanent establishment. Although local residents petitioned against this,{{cite book |chapter-url=http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~pbtyc/Portland/PYB/Chronology.html |chapter=Chronology of the Island of Portland 700–1905 AD |title=The Portland Year Book and Island Record |date=April 1905 |publisher=Portland Telegram Office |via=Rootsweb |access-date=10 March 2018}} it did not deter the government's plans.{{sfnp|Legg|2000|p=32}} Between 1870 and 1872, convicts constructed the now-redundant, Grade II* Listed St. Peter's Church just outside the prison.{{cite web |url=http://people.bath.ac.uk/lismd/dorset/churches/portland-grove.html |title=Portland, (St. Peter, The Grove) |first=Michael |last=Day |date=10 December 2012 |website=Dorset Churches |access-date=18 January 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070818162906/http://people.bath.ac.uk/lismd/dorset/churches/portland-grove.html |archive-date=18 August 2007 |df=dmy-all}}{{cite book |last=Mee |first=Arthur |author-link=Arthur Mee |title=Dorset: Thomas Hardy's Country |year=1939 |series=The King's England |publisher=Hodder & Stoughton |pages=186–191}}

In 1921 the prison was converted into a Borstal.{{sfnp|Legg|2000|p=42}} Between 1931 and 1935, the Borstal Boys transformed a disused convict quarry into a sports stadium at the back of St. Peter's Church.{{sfnp|Legg|2000|p=43}} The first sports day took place on 1 August 1936,{{sfnp|Legg|2000|p=44}} while the last event spectated by the public was the Foundation Day Sports event of 1975.{{cite book |title=Official Museum Guide |year=2014 |publisher=Grove Prison Museum |page=28}} During World War II, an air raid on 15 August 1940 saw the Borstal's Rodney House block bombed. This left four boys dead and others severely injured, including five being admitted to hospital.{{sfnp|Legg|2000|p=47}} In 1983, the Borstal changed to Youth Custody Centre.{{cite web |url=https://www.justice.gov.uk/contacts/prison-finder/portland |title=HMP/YOI Portland information |website=Ministry of Justice |access-date=10 March 2018}}

In 1988 the prison was re-rolled as a Young Offenders Institution (YOI, Portland), holding up to 519 young males aged 18 to 21. Accommodation at the prison was divided into seven blocks, Benbow, Raleigh, Drake, Nelson, Grenville, Collingwood and Beaufort.{{sfnp|Legg|2000|pp=54–55}} In 2009, the prison was the setting for Ian Wright's Football Behind Bars, a Sky1 reality TV series showcasing Wright's work to transform the lives of 24 serious young offenders. It was based on socialising the young men by organising them in a football academy.{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1578630/ |title=Football Behind Bars (2009)|website=IMDb |access-date=1 October 2019}}{{cite web |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/news/a170635/ian-wright-for-football-behind-bars.html |title=TV News: Ian Wright for 'Football Behind Bars' |first=Dan |last=French |date=11 August 2009 |website=Digital Spy |access-date=6 June 2014}}

In April 2011 the prison became an Adult/Young Offenders establishment.{{cite web |url=http://www.justice.gov.uk/contacts/prison-finder/portland |title=HMP/YOI Portland information |website=Ministry of Justice |access-date=10 March 2018}} In late 2013, it was announced that it would also be one of a number of resettlement prisons across the UK.{{cite news |url=http://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/10841880.Portland_prison_to_become__resettlement_jail_/ |title=Portland prison to become 'resettlement jail' |first=Catherine |last=Bolado |date=28 November 2013 |newspaper=Dorset Echo |access-date=6 June 2014}} This news coincided with the recent decision to turn HM Prison The Verne, another prison on Portland, into an immigration removal centre. In 2010, with the assistance of the prison, a community project was completed to restore the Governor's Community Garden and open it to the public.{{cite news |url=http://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/8343915.Portland_s_historic_Governor_s_Garden_to_get___46_000_makeover/ |title=Portland's historic Governor's Garden to get £46,000 makeover |first=Dan |last=Goater |date=20 August 2010 |newspaper=Dorset Echo |access-date=10 March 2018}} Around 2011, at the Verne, the Jailhouse Cafe was opened to the public, which was created to reduce re-offending and to offer prisoners work experience. When the Verne was converted to an Immigration Removal Centre in early 2014, the cafe has continued by using prisoners from the YOI.{{cite web |url=http://jailhousecafe.co.uk/about/ |title=About |website=Jailhouse Cafe |access-date=6 June 2014}}

In March 2000, an inspection report by His Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons severely criticised conditions at Portland YOI, including foul-smelling toilets and filthy showers. There were also complaints of rats in food service areas lodged by inmates.{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/684560.stm |title=Young offenders' unit condemned |date=21 March 2000 |website=BBC News |access-date=31 December 2008}} Just over a month later, prison officials were forced to extract 26 prisoners who had for eight hours used furniture to barricade themselves away from their cells.{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/735876.stm |title=Investigation into prison siege |date=4 May 2000 |website=BBC News |access-date=31 December 2008}}

In November 2004, a report from the Chief Inspector of Prisons highlighted racial tension, and distrust between Muslim inmates and staff at Portland Prison{{Citation needed|date=May 2011}}. The report also criticised the fact that inmates were still slopping out, because of poor sanitation facilities at the institute.{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/dorset/4052541.stm |title=Young inmates are 'slopping out' |date=30 November 2004 |website=BBC News |access-date=31 December 2008}}

A further report in June 2007 following an unannounced inspection heavily criticised conditions at Portland YOI. The report stated that some buildings "were unfit for purpose and lacked basic sanitation", with the continued practice of inmates without access to toilet facilities using buckets which they emptied through their windows.{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/dorset/6252372.stm |title=Report slams young offenders unit |date=29 June 2007 |website=BBC News |access-date=31 December 2008}} The report criticised other elements of the prison, including opportunities provided to prisoners for physical activity and training, but indicated that the situation was better in Portland than it had been in 2004 at the time of the last inspection.

In late 2013, it was announced by local news that a museum would be opened to cover the history of HM Prison Portland. The Grove Prison Museum opened in March 2014,{{cite news |url=http://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/10884683.Prison_service_museum_set_to_open_on_Portland/ |title=Prison service museum set to open on Portland |first=Rachel |last=Stretton |date=18 December 2013 |newspaper=Dorset Echo |access-date=6 June 2014}} through the work of retired officers John Hutton, Steve Ashford and Chris Hunt. The museum is based in the former deputy governor's residence, across the road from the main prison entrance. The idea for a museum had dated back over 20 years, when it was agreed to store some prison memorabilia items for a possible future museum. These were left untouched for 20 years in storage.

South Dorset MP Richard Drax visited the deputy governor's building to officially open the prison museum and the Lighthouse Learning Centre.{{cite news |url=http://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/11074060.New_prison_museum_officially_opens/ |title=New prison museum officially opens |first=Oscar |last=Tollast |date=13 March 2014 |newspaper=Dorset Echo |access-date=6 June 2014}}{{cite news |url=http://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/video/135391/ |title=Video: Opening of Grove Prison Museum |date=9 March 2014 |newspaper=Dorset Echo |access-date=6 June 2014}} A year after the museum's opening, it was announced that over 1000 visitors had been to the museum.{{cite news |url=http://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/12932614.More_than_1_000_people_have_visited_a_Portland_prison_museum_since_it_opened_its_doors_last_year/ |title=More than 1,000 people have visited a Portland prison museum since it opened its doors last year |first=Tara |last=Cox |date=6 May 2015 |newspaper=Dorset Echo |access-date=10 March 2018}}

File:Entrance to The Grove Prison - geograph.org.uk - 1276231.jpg

Various features of the prison have been listed. In September 1978, the gatehouse, including the attached VR letter box, became Grade II Listed.{{NHLE|num=1281833 |access-date=6 June 2014}} In May 1993, both the east and west cell blocks became Grade II Listed.{{NHLE|num=1206165 |access-date=6 June 2014}}{{NHLE|num=1203119 |access-date=6 June 2014}} At the same time, the E Hall, a prison cell block with attached punishment block from 1848, became Grade II Listed.{{NHLE|num=1280328 |access-date=6 June 2014}} The Overseer's Hut with inclines became Grade II Listed in May 1993.{{NHLE|num=1281834 |access-date=6 June 2014}}

One of the prison and village's most notable features is a high wall running along the village's main road, Grove Road. This boundary wall remains a significant visual element within the village, and was built in the 19th century to enclose the convict quarry workings. The boundary wall has been Grade II Listed since May 1993.{{NHLE|num=1203091 |access-date=26 June 2014}} The sentry box, along with the gate pier became Grade II Listed in September 1978.{{NHLE|num=1205798 |access-date=26 June 2014}} The boundary wall, and gate piers, running from St Peter's Vicarage to Alma Terrace, and dating from 1875, was Grade II Listed at the same time as the sentry box.{{NHLE|num=1203094 |access-date=26 June 2014}} The early 19th century gate piers at the junction with Grove Road, along with the boundary walls to Ivybank and the Vicarage became Grade II Listed at this same time too.{{NHLE|num=1203098 |access-date=26 June 2014}} In May 1993, the boundary wall west of the prison became Grade II Listed, and this section dates from 1848.{{NHLE|num=1206536 |access-date=26 June 2014}} The prison's north and east boundary walls have been Grade II Listed since May 1993 as well, dating from 1848 and later.{{NHLE|num=1280342 |access-date=26 June 2014}}

Alma Terrace, on Grove Road is a terrace of houses, built in 1854, originally as six large houses for prison wardens, was designated Grade II in September 1978.{{NHLE|num=1203093 |access-date=26 June 2014}} The wash houses and connecting boundary wall to the rear of the terrace has also become Grade II Listed in May 1993.{{NHLE|num=1205657 |access-date=26 June 2014}} The Governor's House (102 Grove Road), with its front boundary wall, has been Grade II Listed since May 1993. The detached house was formerly the Governor's House to the prison, built around 1850.{{NHLE|num=1281835 |access-date=26 June 2014}} Additionally the prison itself has various Grade Listed features. The adjoining School House of Grove Infant School, along with the rear boundary wall, became Grade II Listed at the same time.{{NHLE|num=1281859|access-date=29 September 2015}}

Grove Lime Kiln lies approximately 320 metres north-west of St Peter's Church. The Grade Listed II structure was designated in January 2009.{{NHLE|num=1393113 |access-date=26 June 2014}} Still owned by the prison service, the lime kiln remains in a derelict and uncared for state. It was built and once operated by convicts from the prison, and is an important survival and one of the last vestiges of lime production in Portland. At the top of the nearby, private incline road is the abandoned Old Engine Shed that once served the cable-operated inclined railway that ran to Castletown through the Navy Dockyard that is now Portland Port.{{cite web |url=http://www.theportlandgastrust.org/ContentPages/Home.aspx |title=Background, Aims and Objectives |website=The Portland Gas Trust |access-date=17 November 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130415231349/http://www.theportlandgastrust.org/ContentPages/Home.aspx |archive-date=15 April 2013 |df=dmy-all}}{{cite news |url=http://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/2356228.0/ |title=Visitor centre for Island |first=Harry |last=Walton |date=21 June 2008 |newspaper=Dorset Echo |access-date=17 November 2012}} The shed has been Grade II Listed since January 2001.{{NHLE|num=1389124 |access-date=26 June 2014}}

• Mohammad Amir{{cite web |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/pakistan/content/current/story/551811.html |title=Mohammad Amir released from jail |last=Hopps |first=David |date=1 February 2012 |website=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=1 February 2012}}
• Roy Chubby Brown{{cite book |last=Brown |first=Roy 'Chubby' |title=Common As Muck!: The Autobiography of Roy 'Chubby' Brown |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=S9ub_1cfJ2MC&dq=Roy+%22Chubby%22+Brown+portland&pg=PT62 |date=2 August 2012 |publisher=Little, Brown Book Group |isbn=978-1-4055-2047-8 |page=62 |via=Google Books |access-date=10 March 2018}}
• Tom Clarke{{cite web |url=http://www.theirishstory.com/2012/05/04/thomas-clarke-treason-felony-convict-j464/ |title=Thomas Clarke Treason Felony Convict J464 |first=Shane |last=Kenna |date=4 May 2012 |website=The Irish Story |access-date=10 March 2018}}
• John Daly{{cite web|url=http://limerick1916.ul.ie/john-daly-the-fenian/ |title=John Daly the Fenian |website=Limerick and the 1916 Rising |date=18 March 2016 |access-date=10 March 2018}}
• Michael Davitt{{cite book |last=Sheehy-Skeffington |first=Francis |author-link=Francis Sheehy-Skeffington |title=Michael Davitt, Revolutionary: Agitator and Labour Leader |url=https://archive.org/details/michaeldavittre00sheegoog |year=1908 |publisher=T. F. Unwin |location=London |page=[https://archive.org/details/michaeldavittre00sheegoog/page/n154 122]}}
• George Edalji{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/1150308/jsp/7days/story_7388.jsp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150312101009/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1150308/jsp/7days/story_7388.jsp |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 March 2015 |title=The case of the Parsi lawyer |date=8 March 2015 |newspaper=The Telegraph |location=Kolkata |access-date=10 March 2018}}
• John Babbacombe Lee{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/dna/place-lancashire/A3000952 |title=John 'Babbacombe' Lee |date=5 November 2008 |work=h2g2 |access-date=6 June 2014 |archive-date=14 December 2014 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20141214131940/http://news.bbc.co.uk/dna/place-lancashire/A3000952 |url-status=dead }}
• Jeremiah O'Donovan Rossa{{cite news |first=Shane |last=MacThomáis |url=http://www.anphoblacht.com/contents/25193 |title=Jeremiah O'Donovan Rossa |date=29 July 2015 |newspaper=An Phoblacht |access-date=10 March 2018}}
• Charles Wells

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite book |last=Legg |first=D. R. G. |title=Portland Prison Illustrated (1848-2000) |year=2000 |publisher=Sprint Signs and Graphics |location=Weymouth}}

• {{Commons category inline}}
• [http://www.justice.gov.uk/global/contacts/noms/prison-finder/portland/ Ministry of Justice pages on Portland]{{Dead link|date=April 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

{{Prisons in South West England}}

{{Isle of Portland}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Portland (Hm Prison)}}

Category:1848 establishments in England

Category:Prisons in Dorset

Category:Young offender institutions in England

Prison