HMP Strangeways
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HM Prison Manchester is a Category A and B men's prison in Manchester, England, operated by
His Majesty's Prison Service His Majesty's Prison Service (HMPS) is a part of HM Prison and Probation Service (formerly the National Offender Management Service), which is the part of His Majesty's Government charged with managing most of the prisons within England and Wale ...
. It is still commonly referred to as Strangeways, which was its former official name derived from the area in which it is located, until it was rebuilt following a major riot in 1990. It is a local prison, holding prisoners remanded into custody from courts in the Manchester area and Category A prisoners (those held under maximum security conditions). The prison featured an execution chamber prior to the abolition of
capital punishment in the United Kingdom Capital punishment in the United Kingdom predates the formation of the UK, having been used within the British Isles from ancient times until the second half of the 20th century. The last executions in the United Kingdom were by hanging, and t ...
in the 1960s; the last execution at the prison took place in 1964. Strangeways was designed by
Alfred Waterhouse Alfred Waterhouse (19 July 1830 – 22 August 1905) was an English architect, particularly associated with the Victorian Gothic Revival architecture, although he designed using other architectural styles as well. He is perhaps best known f ...
and opened in 1868 alongside the demolished Manchester Assize Courts. The prison is known for its prominent ventilation tower and imposing design, structured by the principles of the separate system.


History

Construction of the
Grade II listed In the United Kingdom, a listed building or listed structure is one that has been placed on one of the four statutory lists maintained by Historic England in England, Historic Environment Scotland in Scotland, in Wales, and the Northern Irel ...
prison was completed in 1869, and it was opened on 25 June 1869, to replace the New Bailey Prison in Salford, which closed in 1868. The prison, designed by
Alfred Waterhouse Alfred Waterhouse (19 July 1830 – 22 August 1905) was an English architect, particularly associated with the Victorian Gothic Revival architecture, although he designed using other architectural styles as well. He is perhaps best known f ...
in 1862 with input from Joshua Jebb, cost £170,000 () and had a capacity of 1,000 inmates. Its ventilation tower (often mistaken for a watchtower) has become a local landmark. The prison's walls, which are rumoured to be 16 feet thick, are said to be impenetrable from either inside or out. The prison has an element of the separate system with its plan in the form of a star or a snowflake, with two blocks housing ten wings that emanate from a central core where the ventilation tower is situated. The prison consists of two radial blocks branching from the central core with a total of ten wings (A, B, C, D, E, F in one block, and G, H, I, K in the second). The jail was built on the grounds of Strangeways Park and Gardens, from which it was named. Strangeways was recorded in 1322 as ''Strangwas'' from the
Anglo-Saxon The Anglo-Saxons were a Cultural identity, cultural group who inhabited England in the Early Middle Ages. They traced their origins to settlers who came to Britain from mainland Europe in the 5th century. However, the ethnogenesis of the Anglo- ...
''Strang'' and ''gewæsc'' meaning " place bya stream with a strong current". The prison was open to male and female prisoners until 1963 when the facility became male-only, and in 1980 it began to accept remand prisoners. As of 2005 the prison held more than 1,200 inmates.


As a place of execution

Originally, the prison contained an execution shed in B wing and after World War I a special execution room and cell for the condemned criminal was built. Strangeways was one of the few prisons to have permanent gallows. The first execution at Strangeways was that of twenty-year-old murderer Michael Johnson, who was hanged by William Calcraft on 29 March 1869. Twenty-nine hangings took place over the next twenty years and 71 took place in the 20th century, bringing the total number to 100. During the second half of the century, the number of executions decreased, with no hangings between 1954 and 28 November 1962, when James Smith was executed. John Robson Walby (alias
Gwynne Owen Evans The murder of John Alan West on 7 April 1964 was the crime which led to the last death sentences being carried out in the United Kingdom. West, a 53-year-old van driver for a laundry company, was beaten and stabbed to death by Gwynne Evans and ...
), one of the last two people to be hanged in England, was executed here on 13 August 1964. Out of the 100 hangings, four were double hangings, while the rest were done individually. The "quickest hanging" of
James Inglis James or Jimmy Inglis may refer to: *James Charles Inglis (1851–1911), British civil engineer *James Inglis (evangelist) (1813–1872), American preacher and editor *James Inglis (murderer) (1922–1951), Scottish man executed for murder *James I ...
, in seven seconds, carried out by Albert Pierrepoint, took place here.


Other executions

*John Jackson was executed on 7 August 1879. *
Mary Ann Britland Mary Ann Britland (''née'' Hague, 1847 – 9 August 1886) was an English serial killer. She was the first woman to be executed by hanging at Strangeways Prison in Manchester by James Berry. Early life Mary Ann Britland was born in 1847 in ...
(38) was executed on 9 August 1886 for the murder of two family members and her neighbour. She was the first woman to be executed at the prison. *Thom Davies was hanged on 9 January 1889 for
sexual deviancy Paraphilia (previously known as sexual perversion and sexual deviation) is the experience of intense sexual arousal to atypical objects, situations, fantasies, behaviors, or individuals. It has also been defined as sexual interest in anything ot ...
charges. *Lieutenant Frederick Rothwell Holt was hanged on 13 April 1920 for the murder of twenty-six-year-old Kathleen Breaks. *Louie Calvert was hanged on 24 June 1926. *Doctor Buck Ruxton was executed on 12 May 1936 for the murder of his wife. A petition for clemency was signed by 10,000 people, both sympathetic locals with high regard for this "people's doctor" and abolitionists who mounted a large demonstration on the day of his execution. * Margaret Allen was hanged on 12 January 1949 by Albert Pierrepoint for the murder of an elderly widower. Her execution was the first of a woman in Britain for twelve years and the third execution of a woman at Strangeways. * After the seven second hanging, Albert Pierrepoint executed
Louisa May Merrifield Louisa May Merrifield (3 December 1906 – 18 September 1953, née Highway) was a British murderer and the third-last woman to be hanged in the United Kingdom. She was executed by Albert Pierrepoint at Strangeways Prison in Manchester for pois ...
on 18 September 1953. She was the fourth and last woman to be executed at the prison. The bodies of executed criminals were buried in unmarked graves within the prison walls, as was the custom. During prison rebuilding work in 1991, the remains of 63 executed prisoners (of which 45 were identifiable) were exhumed from unmarked graves in the prison cemetery and cremated at Blackley Crematorium in Manchester. The cremated remains were re-interred in two graves (plot C2710 and C2711) at the adjacent cemetery. The following people were hanged at Manchester Prison between 1869 and 1964:


Strangeways riots

Between 1 April and 25 April 1990, 147 staff and 47 prisoners were injured in a series of riots by prison inmates. There was one fatality among the prisoners, and one prison officer died from heart failure. Much of the old prison was damaged or destroyed in the rioting. Several inmates were charged with various offences, and Paul Taylor and Alan Lord faced a five-month trial as ringleaders. The riots resulted in the Woolf Inquiry, and the prison was rebuilt and renamed Her Majesty's Prison, Manchester. Repair and modernisation cost more than £80 million after the riot, and rebuilding was completed in 1994.


The prison post-1994

The prison is a high-security category A prison for adult males and has a maximum capacity of 1,269 as of 4 August 2008. Operation of the prison was put out to tender in 1994 and 2001. Accommodation is divided into nine wings in two radial blocks. Cells are a mixture of single and double occupancy, all having in-cell power points and integral sanitation. The prison has become known for a high suicide rate following its reopening in 1994. From 1993 to 2003, Strangeways prison had the second highest number of suicides among inmates of any prison in the United Kingdom and, in 2004, Strangeways had the highest number of suicides in the country. Education and vocational training is provided by the
Manchester College Manchester College might refer to: England * Manchester College, a former name of Harris Manchester College, Oxford *Manchester Metropolitan University, formerly Manchester Polytechnic, formed in 1977 by a merger between Manchester College of Art ...
. Courses offered include information technology, ESOL,
numeracy Numeracy is the ability to understand, reason with, and to apply simple numerical concepts. The charity National Numeracy states: "Numeracy means understanding how mathematics is used in the real world and being able to apply it to make the bes ...
, industrial cleaning, bricklaying, painting and decorating, plastering,
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and
laundry Laundry refers to the washing of clothing and other textiles, and, more broadly, their drying and ironing as well. Laundry has been part of history since humans began to wear clothes, so the methods by which different cultures have dealt with t ...
. The prison's gym runs courses in physical education and offers recreational sport and fitness programmes. In 2015, '' The Daily Telegraph'' reported that a drone aircraft was being used in an attempt to deliver drugs and smartphones to precise locations within the prison. In 2016, Nicky Reilly, also known as Mohammed Saeed Alim, a Muslim convert was found dead in his cell after hanging himself. Reilly had a chronic history of self harm, he suffered from Asperger's Syndrome and a personality disorder. A jury decided it was "more likely than not" that he did not intend to die and "acted impulsively." It is unclear if Reilly understood the concept of death or could form the intent to die. Senior coroner, Joanne Kearsley said evidence given at the court raised "significant concerns." Kearsley said she was not convinced the prison had a clear plan and awareness of his needs and she questioned why he was not under a care programme approach (CPA) where care coordinators are given to individual prisoners. The coroner asked whether a type of review should be considered for prisoners with recognised lifelong mental health problems and chronic risk of self-harm. In 2017, a report by the Independent Monitoring Board described Manchester Prison as squalid, vermin infested and reminiscent of
Dickensian Charles John Huffam Dickens (; 7 February 1812 – 9 June 1870) was an English writer and social critic. He created some of the world's best-known fictional characters and is regarded by many as the greatest novelist of the Victorian e ...
England. The report added that the prison urgently needed modernisation and assaults on staff have risen owing to staff shortages. In 2022, Manchester City Council leader Bev Craig called on the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) to move HMP Manchester elsewhere in the region, as the building is "not suitable for the significant remodelling or expansion it would need to meet modern-day requirements for a prison". However, the MoJ said there were "no plans to close or relocate" the jail.


Notable inmates

* Joey Barton, footballer jailed for assault. * Brendan Behan, Irish republican, playwright and poet, imprisoned in Strangeways in 1947 for attempting to free an IRA prisoner. * Ian Brady, held for theft prior to the Moors murders. * Mark Bridger – a paedophile who abducted and murdered a 5-year-old girl. Was held at Strangeways on remand; moved to
HM Prison Wakefield His Majesty's Prison Wakefield is a Category A men's prison in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, England, operated by His Majesty's Prison Service. The prison has been nicknamed the "Monster Mansion" due to the large number of high-profile, high-risk ...
after being sentenced. * David Britton, author of ''Lord Horror'', the last publication to be banned under the Obscene Publications Act. *
Charles Bronson Charles Bronson (born Charles Dennis Buchinsky; November 3, 1921 – August 30, 2003) was an American actor. Known for his "granite features and brawny physique," he gained international fame for his starring roles in action, Western, and war ...
, a criminal who has been referred to in the British press as the "most violent prisoner in Britain" and "Britain's most notorious prisoner". *
Ian Brown Ian George Brown (born 20 February 1963) is an English singer and multi-instrumentalist. He was the lead singer of the alternative rock band The Stone Roses from their formation in 1983. Following the split in 1996, he began a solo career, re ...
, musician and singer-songwriter jailed for "air rage". Wrote three songs inside: "Free My Way", "So Many Soldiers", and "Set My Baby Free". Released in December 1999. * Dale Cregan, held there on remand whilst awaiting trial for murder. * Emily Davison, suffragette, sentenced to a month's hard labour in 1909 after throwing rocks at the carriage of chancellor David Lloyd George. Hunger strike led to force feeding. Blockaded herself in her cell and sued Strangeways for using a water cannon. * David Dickinson, TV presenter specialising in antiques, imprisoned for fraud in pre-celebrity days. *
James Inglis James or Jimmy Inglis may refer to: *James Charles Inglis (1851–1911), British civil engineer *James Inglis (evangelist) (1813–1872), American preacher and editor *James Inglis (murderer) (1922–1951), Scottish man executed for murder *James I ...
, the world's fastest hanging. *
Benjamin Mendy Benjamin Mendy (born 17 July 1994) is a French professional footballer who plays as a left-back for club Manchester City. He played for the France national team from 2017 until 2019. After coming through Le Havre's youth academy, Mendy beg ...
, French football player. * Christabel Pankhurst, suffragette, was held for a week. * Gordon Park, convicted in 2005 of murdering his first wife, Carol Park, in 1976. * Dr Harold Shipman, serial killer, who was held there on remand whilst awaiting trial. *
Reynhard Sinaga Reynhard Tambos Maruli Tua Sinaga (born 19 February 1983) is an Indonesian sex offender who was convicted of 159 sex offences, including 136 rapes of young men committed in Manchester, England, between 2015 and 2017, where he was living as a st ...
, an Indonesian serial rapist found guilty of assaulting 48 men, including 136 counts of rape. * Ray Teret – former radio DJ and friend of Jimmy Savile convicted of a series of sexual offences, including seven rapes, for which he was sentenced to 25 years in prison. Died at HMP Manchester in 2021. * Catherine Tolson and Helen Tolson, suffragette sisters imprisoned in 1909 for breaking glass at White City in Manchester.


Cultural references

*"Strangeways", a track on the 1987 rock album '' The House of Blue Light'' by
Deep Purple Deep Purple are an English rock band formed in London in 1968. They are considered to be among the pioneers of heavy metal music, heavy metal and modern hard rock music, but their musical style has changed over the course of its existence. Ori ...
. *'' Strangeways, Here We Come'', 1987 album by The Smiths. *'' Strangeways, Here We Come'', a 2017 comedy drama filmed in Salford. *'Mad' Frankie Fraser (1982) was held on 'A' Wing and excused boots for supposed fallen arches. *Eric Allison (1970) went on to be '' The Guardian'' Prison Reporter and author of ''A Serious Disturbance'', an account of the Strangeways Riot. A chapter of Eric's book was written by former Strangeways Hospital Officer John G. Sutton. *In the song " There Goes a Tenner" from the album '' The Dreaming'', Kate Bush sings of being "a star in Strangeways". The song is about a botched bank robbery. *The song "Fallowfield Hillbilly", from the album ''
St. Jude Jude ( grc-gre, Ἰούδας Ἰακώβου translit. Ioúdas Iakóbou) was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus according to the New Testament. He is generally identified as Thaddeus ( grc-gre, Θαδδαῖος; cop, ⲑⲁⲇⲇⲉⲟⲥ; ...
'' by Manchester band The Courteeners, refers to Strangeways and the type of people that "indie snobs" perceive to be its inmates. *In the comic '' Hellblazer'', issue 34 (October 1990), the main character John Constantine refers to Strangeways prison "exploding with xcrementand blood," and describes its holding cells as "Victorian pressure cookers" into which government officials who turn a blind eye should be squeezed to "see what pops out of
heir Inheritance is the practice of receiving private property, titles, debts, entitlements, privileges, rights, and obligations upon the death of an individual. The rules of inheritance differ among societies and have changed over time. Officiall ...
pimple." *In his poem "Are You the Business?", John Cooper Clarke asks "Is Strangeways full of prisoners?". *In the TV series '' Shameless'', Frank Gallagher often refers to his time in Strangeways. *In the TV series ''
Beautiful People Beautiful People may refer to: Film, television, and theater * ''Beautiful People'' (film), a 1999 British comedy * ''Beautiful People'' (1974 film) or ''Animals Are Beautiful People'', a South African wildlife documentary * ''Beautiful Peopl ...
'', Debbie Doonan, who dislikes the police, shouts to an officer "them blokes from Strangeways had the right idea," a reference to the
Strangeways Prison riot The 1990 Strangeways Prison 'riot' was a 25-day prison protest and occupation at Strangeways Prison in Manchester, England. The protest began on 1 April 1990 when prisoners took control of the prison chapel, and quickly spread throughout most o ...
. * Graham Fellows, in his comedic persona of John Shuttleworth, wrote a song that began, "You're like Manchester, you've got strange ways". *"Strangeways Hotel", a song by Mike Harding. * In the book ''
Pollen Pollen is a powdery substance produced by seed plants. It consists of pollen grains (highly reduced microgametophytes), which produce male gametes (sperm cells). Pollen grains have a hard coat made of sporopollenin that protects the gametophyt ...
'' by Mancunian author Jeff Noon two of the central characters visit Strangeways in order to speak to a prisoner. The prison has become a "Virtual" (sic) prison, where the inmates are kept locked in drawers on large amounts of a psychoactive drug that puts them into a permanent, pleasant dreamlike state. * Strangeways was the name of the "prison cat" in the 1960 movie '' Two-Way Stretch'', a comedy set inside a fictitious Manchester Prison which starred Peter Sellers, Lionel Jefferies and Wilfrid Hyde-White. * In an episode of '' Hancock's Half Hour'', Bill Kerr defends Sid James's character with the words - "He's not a criminal - he's just got strange ways." * In the
Welsh Welsh may refer to: Related to Wales * Welsh, referring or related to Wales * Welsh language, a Brittonic Celtic language spoken in Wales * Welsh people People * Welsh (surname) * Sometimes used as a synonym for the ancient Britons (Celtic peopl ...
sitcom '' High Hopes'', Richard 'Fagin' Hepplewhite served eight years in Strangeways for second degree murder.


See also

* Listed buildings in Manchester-M60


References


Bibliography

* * *


External links


Capital punishments executed at Strangeways, Manchester in the 20th centuryMinistry of Justice pages on Manchester
{{DEFAULTSORT:Manchester (Hm Prison) Government buildings completed in 1869 Infrastructure completed in 1869 Category A prisons in England Prisons in Greater Manchester 1869 establishments in England Grade II listed buildings in Manchester Alfred Waterhouse buildings Execution sites in England