The HM Prison Service Museum Collection has officially opened following its acquisition by the National Centre for Citizenship and the Law (NCCL) Galleries of Justice in
Prison artefacts from the 1800's to the present day, some of which are on show to the public for the first time, are now on display at the historic Shire Hall in
These include the door from Oscar Wilde's prison cell in Reading Gaol, an Electro-Convulsive Therapy (ECT) machine from
The collection was previously housed at the
Director General of the Prison Service, Phil Wheatley said:
“This collection is a valuable resource representing more than one hundred years of British prison history but we could only show a fraction of it at Newbold Revel.
“Its move to the Galleries of Justice means improved public access and a greater space in which the collection can be shown to its best advantage. And it will now be seen in a broader heritage context alongside complementary collections.”
Thanks to recent funding, the Galleries have reopened parts of the Shire Hall, including jail cells dating back from 1833, to accommodate the Prison Service Museum Collection.
Chief Executive of the NCCL Galleries of Justice, Graham Brown added:
“The arrival of the national HM Prison Service Museum Collection is a huge boost for the NCCL Galleries of Justice.
“The various objects from the collection are displayed in an innovative style, taking visitors through a story of prison life.”
For further information, please call the NCCL Galleries of Justice on 0115 952 0555 or visit their website at www.galleriesofjustice.org.uk