Swansea (HM Prison)
Encyclopedia
HM Prison Swansea is a Category B/C
men's prison
, located in the Sandfields
area of Swansea
, Wales
. The prison is operated by Her Majesty's Prison Service
, and is colloquially known as 'Cox's farm', after a former governor.
prison built between 1845 and 1861 to replace former prison accommodation at Swansea Castle
. Both male and female inmates were incarcerated there until 1922, at which point all females were transferred to Cardiff Prison
.
. Their names, ages and dates of execution are:
Note: The execution of Jones & Mackintosh in 1949 was notable for being a double hanging i.e. both condemned men were executed simultaneously, whilst standing together on the same gallows. Jones & Mackintosh had committed unrelated murders. Double executions were already rare in the UK and the practice ended in 1952.
The remains of all executed prisoners were buried in unmarked grave
s within the prison walls, as was customary.
condemned conditions for inmates at Swansea Prison. The report called on the prison to improve cleanliness and sanitation, particularly for vulnerable inmates who are housed away from other prisoners. The report also highlighted the lack of showers in all areas, which meant that not all inmates were able to shower every day. However the prison was praised for its rehabilitation of inmates.
Four months later, a survey of prison numbers revealed that HMP Swansea was Wales's most overcrowded jail, and one of the top five most densely-populated in Britain. Statistics showed that Swansea was holding 145 more inmates than the 219 it should have been accommodating. Overcrowding has been an issue at the prison ever since.
Prisoners are employed in the prisons workshops, kitchen and recycling units. Full and part time education is also provided. Other features include a Prisoner And Liaison Support Scheme, a Swansea City Football Club Social inclusion officer scheme, Prisoner elected councils, Job Centre Plus, Housing Officers and Community Chaplaincy.
In the early 1980s, Swansea started the Samaritans
trained 'Prisoner Listener Scheme', that has now been developed in most prisons in the UK.
Prison security categories in the United Kingdom
There are four prisoner security categories in the United Kingdom used to classify every adult prisoner for the purposes of assigning them to a prison. The categories are based upon the severity of the crime and the risk posed should the person escape....
men's prison
Prison
A prison is a place in which people are physically confined and, usually, deprived of a range of personal freedoms. Imprisonment or incarceration is a legal penalty that may be imposed by the state for the commission of a crime...
, located in the Sandfields
Sandfields, Swansea
Sandfields is a district in Swansea, Wales bounded by St. Helen's Road to the north, Oystermouth Road and Swansea Bay to the south and Dillwyn Street to the east.The area is adjacent to and immediately west of Swansea city centre.-Description:...
area of Swansea
Swansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. The prison is operated by Her Majesty's Prison Service
Her Majesty's Prison Service
Her Majesty's Prison Service is a part of the National Offender Management Service of the Government of the United Kingdom tasked with managing most of the prisons within England and Wales...
, and is colloquially known as 'Cox's farm', after a former governor.
History
Swansea is a VictorianVictorian architecture
The term Victorian architecture refers collectively to several architectural styles employed predominantly during the middle and late 19th century. The period that it indicates may slightly overlap the actual reign, 20 June 1837 – 22 January 1901, of Queen Victoria. This represents the British and...
prison built between 1845 and 1861 to replace former prison accommodation at Swansea Castle
Swansea Castle
Swansea Castle was founded by Henry de Beaumont in 1106 as the caput of the lordship of Gower, in Swansea, Wales.-History:The original castle seems to have been a sub-rectangular/oval enclosure overlooking the River Tawe on the east, surrounded on the north, west and south sides by a larger...
. Both male and female inmates were incarcerated there until 1922, at which point all females were transferred to Cardiff Prison
Cardiff (HM Prison)
HM Prison Cardiff is a Category B men's prison, located in the Adamsdown area of Cardiff, Wales. The prison is operated by Her Majesty's Prison Service.-History:...
.
Execution site
A total of 15 judicial executions took place at Swansea prison between 1858 and 1958. All of the condemned prisoners were hanged for the crime of murderMurder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
. Their names, ages and dates of execution are:
- Panotis Alepis, 23 yrs & Manoeli Selapatana, 28 yrs, 20 March 1858 (executioner: William CalcraftWilliam CalcraftWilliam Calcraft was the most famous English hangman of the 19th century. One of the most prolific British executioners of all time, it is estimated that he carried out 450 executions during his 45-year career...
) First public hanging, at the front of the prison - Robert Coe, 12 April 1866 (executioner: William CalcraftWilliam CalcraftWilliam Calcraft was the most famous English hangman of the 19th century. One of the most prolific British executioners of all time, it is estimated that he carried out 450 executions during his 45-year career...
) Final public hanging at the prison - Thomas Nash, 1 March 1886 (executioner: James BerryJames BerryJames Berry may refer to:*James Berry , English executioner, 1884–1891*James Berry, Puritan leader of Seat Pleasant, Maryland*James Henderson Berry , Governor and U.S...
) First private hanging, out of public view inside the prison walls - Thomas Allen, 10 April 1889 (executioner: James BerryJames BerryJames Berry may refer to:*James Berry , English executioner, 1884–1891*James Berry, Puritan leader of Seat Pleasant, Maryland*James Henderson Berry , Governor and U.S...
, and an assistant) - Joseph Lewis, 30 August 1898 (executioner: James BillingtonJames BillingtonJames Billington may refer to:* James Billington , executioner for the British government* James H. Billington , American librarian and academic...
, assisted by his son Thomas) - William Joseph Foy, 25 yrs, 8 May 1909 (executioner: Henry PierrepointHenry PierrepointHenry Albert Pierrepoint was one of the United Kingdom's executioners from 1901 until 1910. He was the father of Albert and brother of Thomas....
, assisted by John EllisJohn Ellis-Politics:* Sir John Ellis, 1st Baronet , British Member of Parliament for Mid Surrey 1884–1885, Kingston 1885–1892* John Ellis , Irish Fianna Fáil politician...
) - Henry Phillips, 44 yrs, 14 December 1911 (executioner: John EllisJohn Ellis (executioner)John Ellis was a Rochdale hairdresser and newsagent who served as one of the United Kingdom's executioners for 23 years, from 1901 to 1924....
, and an assistant) - Daniel Sullivan, 38 yrs, 6 September 1916 (executioner: John EllisJohn Ellis (executioner)John Ellis was a Rochdale hairdresser and newsagent who served as one of the United Kingdom's executioners for 23 years, from 1901 to 1924....
, assisted by George Brown) - Trevor Edwards, 21 yrs, 11 December 1928 (executioner: Robert BaxterRobert Baxter (executioner)Robert Orridge Baxter was an English executioner from Hertfordshire. His career lasted from 1915 to 1935, during which he carried out 44 hangings and assisted at 53 others.-Career:...
, assisted by Alfred Allen) - Rex Harvey Jones, 21 yrs, 4 August 1949 (executioner: Albert PierrepointAlbert PierrepointAlbert Pierrepoint is the most famous member of the family which provided three of the United Kingdom's official hangmen in the first half of the 20th century...
, and an assistant) - Robert Mackintosh, 21 yrs, 4 August 1949 (executioner: Albert PierrepointAlbert PierrepointAlbert Pierrepoint is the most famous member of the family which provided three of the United Kingdom's official hangmen in the first half of the 20th century...
, and an assistant) - Albert Jenkins, 38 yrs, 19 April 1950 (executioner: Albert PierrepointAlbert PierrepointAlbert Pierrepoint is the most famous member of the family which provided three of the United Kingdom's official hangmen in the first half of the 20th century...
, and an assistant) - Thomas Harries, 25 yrs, 28 April 1954 (executioner: Albert PierrepointAlbert PierrepointAlbert Pierrepoint is the most famous member of the family which provided three of the United Kingdom's official hangmen in the first half of the 20th century...
, assisted by Robert StewartRobert Leslie StewartRobert Leslie Stewart , from Edinburgh, Scotland, also known as Jock Stewart, was one of the last executioners in the United Kingdom, officiating between 1950 and 1964....
) - Vivian Teed, 24 yrs, 6 May 1958 (executioner: Robert StewartRobert Leslie StewartRobert Leslie Stewart , from Edinburgh, Scotland, also known as Jock Stewart, was one of the last executioners in the United Kingdom, officiating between 1950 and 1964....
, assisted by Harry Robinson)
Note: The execution of Jones & Mackintosh in 1949 was notable for being a double hanging i.e. both condemned men were executed simultaneously, whilst standing together on the same gallows. Jones & Mackintosh had committed unrelated murders. Double executions were already rare in the UK and the practice ended in 1952.
The remains of all executed prisoners were buried in unmarked grave
Unmarked grave
The phrase unmarked grave has metaphorical meaning in the context of cultures that mark burial sites.As a figure of speech, a common meaning of the term "unmarked grave" is consignment to oblivion, i.e., an ignominious end. A grave monument is a sign of respect and fondness, erected with the...
s within the prison walls, as was customary.
Recent history
In April 2002, an inspection report from Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of PrisonsHer Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons
Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons is the head of HM Inspectorate of Prisons and the senior inspector of prisons, young offender institutions and immigration service detention and removal centres in England and Wales...
condemned conditions for inmates at Swansea Prison. The report called on the prison to improve cleanliness and sanitation, particularly for vulnerable inmates who are housed away from other prisoners. The report also highlighted the lack of showers in all areas, which meant that not all inmates were able to shower every day. However the prison was praised for its rehabilitation of inmates.
Four months later, a survey of prison numbers revealed that HMP Swansea was Wales's most overcrowded jail, and one of the top five most densely-populated in Britain. Statistics showed that Swansea was holding 145 more inmates than the 219 it should have been accommodating. Overcrowding has been an issue at the prison ever since.
The prison today
Swansea is a Category B/C prison for adult males remanded into custody from the local courts, as well as convicted and sentenced prisoners.Prisoners are employed in the prisons workshops, kitchen and recycling units. Full and part time education is also provided. Other features include a Prisoner And Liaison Support Scheme, a Swansea City Football Club Social inclusion officer scheme, Prisoner elected councils, Job Centre Plus, Housing Officers and Community Chaplaincy.
In the early 1980s, Swansea started the Samaritans
Samaritans (charity)
Samaritans is a registered charity aimed at providing emotional support to anyone in emotional distress or at risk of suicide throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland, often through their telephone helpline. The name comes from the Biblical parable of the Good Samaritan, though the organisation...
trained 'Prisoner Listener Scheme', that has now been developed in most prisons in the UK.