Outram Prison

{{Infobox prison

|name=Outram Prison

|image=File:Photograph of Outram Prison (Pearl’s Hill Prison) in the 1850's.jpg

|caption=Outram Prison in the 1850s, then known as the Civil Jail

|image_size=300px

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| map_dot_mark = singapore

| location = Outram, Singapore

| coordinates = {{Coord|1.283094|N|103.837587|E|region:SG_type:landmark|format=dms|display=inline,title}}

|status=Demolished

|former_name=Pearl's Hill Prison
Civil Jail

|opened=1882

|closed=1963

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| street-address = Outram

| city = Singapore

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Outram Prison, also known as Pearl's Hill Prison or Civil Jail, was a prison at Pearl's Hill, Outram, Singapore. Originally occupied and known as the Civil Jail, Outram Prison was opened in 1882 and served as the main prison complex before the construction of Changi Prison in 1936.{{Cite book |last=Chye |first=Kiang Heng |title=50 Years Of Urban Planning In Singapore |date=17 October 2016 |publisher=World Scientific Publishing Company |isbn=9789814656481 |pages=13 |language=en}}

It was demolished in 1963 and replaced by Housing and Development Board (HDB) blocks and a shopping complex.

History

= Civil Jail =

In 1847, Charles Edward Faber built the Civil Jail,{{Cite book |last=Victor R. |first=Savage |title=Singapore Street Names: A Study of Toponymics |last2=Yeoh |first2=Brenda |author-link2=Brenda Yeoh |date=15 October 2022 |publisher=Marshall Cavendish |isbn=9789815009231 |edition=4th |pages=345 |language=en}} also known as Her Majesty's Gaol, at the present site at Pearl's Hill, Outram.{{Cite book |last=Roth |first=Mitchel P. |title=Prisons and Prison Systems: A Global Encyclopedia |date=30 November 2005 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |isbn=9780313060427 |pages=242 |language=en}} Two time capsules were buried at the base of the foundation, containing parchment with revenue figures and different types of currency.{{Cite news |date=11 February 1847 |title=Untitled |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/singfreepressa18470211-1.2.11 |access-date=7 May 2024 |work=The Singapore Free Press |pages=2 |via=NewspaperSG}}

In 1872, a Commission of Inquiry into the prison system suggested that current prison regimes had 'lost sight of the punitive aspect of prison life'. After the riot at Bras Basah Jail, a plan to build an extension that would be more secure was considered at either Bras Basah Jail or the Civil Jail; they later decided to build the extension at Civil Jail.{{Cite news |date=17 January 1879 |title=From the Daily Times, 10th January. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/stoverland18790117-1.2.12 |access-date=8 May 2024 |work=The Straits Times |pages=4 |via=NewspaperSG}}{{Cite news |date=16 November 1878 |title=From the Daily Times, 15th November. PAPERS LAID BEFORE COUNCIL. |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes18781116-1.2.8 |access-date=8 May 2024 |work=The Straits Times |pages=2 |via=NewspaperSG}}

= Outram Prison =

File:J F A McNair, architectural drawing of a proposed prison at Outram, Singapore (1880s).jpg

When Outram Prison was built between 1879 and 1882 at the Civil Jail site by J. F. A. McNair, they adopted a more cellular concept that included stricter control of the prison perimeter. Outram Prison was also built using convict labour from Bras Basah Jail.{{Cite news |date=15 March 1879 |title=MONDAY, 10th MARCH. |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/stoverland18790315-1.2.15 |access-date=8 May 2024 |work=The Straits Times |pages=6 |via=NewspaperSG}}

File:1915 Singapore Mutiny.jpg

After the 1915 Singapore Mutiny, 47 sepoys were publicly executed by firing squad at Outram Prison while others were sentenced to imprisonment for up to 20 years.{{Cite book |last=Wynn |first=Stephen |title=Etaples: Britain's Notorious Infantry Base Depot, 1914–1919 |date=30 December 2020 |publisher=Pen & Sword Books |isbn=9781473846067 |pages=5 |language=en}} The executions were witnessed by an estimated 15,000 people.{{Cite news |date=26 March 1915 |title=The Mutiny. |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19150326-1.2.60 |access-date=7 May 2024 |work=The Straits Times |pages=7 |via=NewspaperSG}}

In the 1930s, Outram Prison suffered from overcrowding and was considered a hazard.{{Cite news |date=23 January 1933 |title=A POTENTIAL PRISON DANGER. |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19330123-1.2.4.71 |access-date=7 May 2024 |work=The Straits Times |pages=12 |via=NewspaperSG}} The prison was designed to hold up to 1,080 prisoners but, in the 1920s, gained an average daily number of convicts of 1,043 and had reached up to 1,311 by 1931.{{Cite news |date=17 January 1933 |title=Possibilities Of Penang Hill Development. |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19330117-1.2.92 |access-date=7 May 2024 |work=The Straits Times |pages=12 |via=NewspaperSG}} This led to plans for a new prison to be built at Changi.

After the construction of Changi Prison, Outram Prison was used to hold convicts serving short sentences whilst Changi Prison was used for longer sentences.{{Cite news |date=31 January 1937 |title=NEW CHANGI GAOL OPENS ITS DOORS |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19370131-1.2.120 |access-date=8 May 2024 |work=The Straits Times |pages=14 |via=NewspaperSG}}

File:Lim Seng Outram Prison.jpg

During the Japanese occupation of Singapore, Outram Prison was known as Outram Road Gaol and was controlled by the Japanese and used to hold prisoners of war. 1,470 prisoners died of starvation, torture, and diseases while only 400 survived by 1945.{{Cite news |date=25 February 1946 |title=DEATHS IN OUTRAM ROAD GAOL DURING JAPANESE OCCUPATION |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19460225-1.2.35 |access-date=8 May 2024 |work=The Straits Times |pages=4 |via=NewspaperSG}} As a result, 44 Japanese officers were convicted of war crimes committed at Outram Prison{{Cite news |date=16 August 1946 |title=OUTRAM GAOL TRIAL |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19460816-1.2.38 |access-date=8 May 2024 |work=The Straits Times |pages=3 |via=NewspaperSG}} with 3 generals executed.{{Cite news |date=18 April 1947 |title=JAP GENERALS HANGED |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19470418-1.2.44 |access-date=8 May 2024 |work=The Straits Times |pages=5 |via=NewspaperSG}} The prison was handed back to the British following the end of the occupation.{{Cite book |last=Piccigallo |first=Philip R. |title=The Japanese On Trial: Allied War Crimes Operations in the East, 1945–1951 |date=26 August 2013 |publisher=University of Texas Press |isbn=9780292758278 |language=en}}

In 1952, a new block for female convicts was made, replacing the block for European convicts.{{Cite news |date=18 June 1952 |title=He wanted gaol without bars |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19520618-1.2.90 |access-date=8 May 2024 |work=The Straits Times |pages=6 |via=NewspaperSG}} In 1954, a new block for remanding convicts was made.{{Cite news |date=12 October 1954 |title=TO EACH A CELL IN THIS GAOL SOON |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19541012-1.2.80 |access-date=8 May 2024 |work=The Straits Times |pages=5 |via=NewspaperSG}} In 1956, a centre for reforming youths was opened at Outram Prison, replacing the remanding block.{{Cite news |date=6 December 1956 |title=BORSTAL INSTEAD OF JAIL NOW —BID TO 'RECLAIM' YOUTHS |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19561206-1.2.61 |access-date=8 May 2024 |work=The Straits Times |pages=7 |via=NewspaperSG}}

Demolition

In 1963, then-Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew announced plans to demolish Outram Prison and replace it with a Housing and Development Board (HDB) estate.{{Cite news |date=16 March 1963 |title=Lee launches spearhead to remodel 'old S'pore' |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19630316-1.2.38 |access-date=8 May 2024 |work=The Straits Times |pages=6 |via=NewspaperSG}} Convicts from Outram Prison were transferred to Changi Prison and Bedok Reformation Centre.{{Cite news |date=21 March 1963 |title=Outram jail is to be demolished |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19630321-1.2.79 |access-date=8 May 2024 |work=The Straits Times |pages=9 |via=NewspaperSG}}

Outram Prison was replaced by Queenstown Remand Prison in 1966, which cost {{SGD|2000000|link=on}} to build.{{Cite news |date=24 September 1966 |title=Wok opens $2 mil. prison at Queenstown |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19660924.2.55 |access-date=8 May 2024 |work=The Straits Times |pages=8 |via=NewspaperSG}} In 1966, works began to build 1,000 housing units and 400 shops.{{Cite news |date=5 October 1966 |title=A prison makes way for 1,000 flats |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19661005-1.2.42 |access-date=8 May 2024 |work=The Straits Times |pages=5 |via=NewspaperSG}} In 1970, public housing and a shopping complex called Outram Park Complex were built.{{Cite news |date=12 May 1970 |title=New homes for 12,500 at the old jail for 760 |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19700512-1.2.28 |access-date=8 May 2024 |work=The Straits Times |pages=4 |via=NewspaperSG}}