The Women's Prison at

Christianshavn Christianshavn () is a neighbourhood in Copenhagen, Denmark. Part of the Indre By District, it is located on several artificial islands between the islands of Zealand and Amager and separated from the rest of the city centre by the Inner Harbour, ...

Copenhagen Copenhagen ( ) is the capital and most populous city of Denmark, with a population of 1.4 million in the Urban area of Copenhagen, urban area. The city is situated on the islands of Zealand and Amager, separated from Malmö, Sweden, by the ...

Denmark Denmark is a Nordic countries, Nordic country in Northern Europe. It is the metropole and most populous constituent of the Kingdom of Denmark,, . also known as the Danish Realm, a constitutionally unitary state that includes the Autonomous a ...

, was a correctional facility which existed under various names from the mid 17th century until 1921. From 1870 it served as a women's prison. Earlier names included Børnehuset and Tugt- og Rasphuset. Its last building, which dated from 1861, was torn down in 1928 to make way for an expansion of

Torvegade Torvegade () is the central thoroughfare of Christianshavn in Copenhagen, Denmark, linking the city centre by way of Knippel Bridge with Amagerside Copenhagen at Christmas Møllers Plads. The street crosses Christianshavn Canal at Christianshavn ...

History

The institution ''Børnehuset'', a royal orphanage, was established at the site in 1622. It was gradually converted into a prison. The old building was replaced by a new one designed in the

Baroque The Baroque ( , , ) is a Western Style (visual arts), style of Baroque architecture, architecture, Baroque music, music, Baroque dance, dance, Baroque painting, painting, Baroque sculpture, sculpture, poetry, and other arts that flourished from ...

style by

Philip de Lange Philip de Lange (c. 1705 – 17 September 1766) was a leading Dutch-Danish architect who designed many different types of building in various styles including Dutch Baroque and Rococo. Early life and family Philip de Lange was probably born ...

and constructed between 1739 and 1742. Lange's building was demolished in the early 1860s to make way for a new prison building completed in 1864 to designs by

Niels Sigfred Nebelong Niels Sigfred Nebelong (14 October 1806 – 9 October 1871) was a Danish architect who worked in the Historicist style. He was city architect in Copenhagen from 1863 and also designed many lighthouses around Denmark in his capacity as reside ...

. From 1870 it was known as ''Christianshavns Straffeanstalt'' (Christianshavn Penitentiary) and served as a prison for women. Christianshavn Penitentiary was demolished in 1928 in connection with a widening of Torvegade.

References

External links

Prisons in Denmark History of Copenhagen 1921 disestablishments in Denmark 1861 establishments in Denmark Niels Sigfred Nebelong buildings Buildings and structures demolished in 1928 Demolished buildings and structures in Denmark History of women in Denmark {{prison-stub