Her Majesty's Prison: Wings A, B, C and F including former chapel wing

This list entry was subject to a Minor Amendment on 17 May 2023 to amend the address and reformat the text to current standards.

TL 0450 1/10001

ST LOYES STREET Her Majesty's Prison: Wings A, B, C and F including former Chapel Wing

(Formerly listed under DAME ALICE STREET)

II Prison extension. 1848-9 by Thomas Smith. English bond red brick. Slate roofs with pedimental gable ends and hipped over centre. Brick axial stacks and large brick hexagonal ventilation flue.

Plan: T-shaped plan, the wings radiating from central hall have galleried cells giving on to axial wells.

Exterior: three storeys. Mostly small segmental arched windows with stone cills, large recessed round arch windows on ends of wings rising into the gables; brick modillion eaves. Central hall is slightly taller, has splayed corners and large slightly battered hexagonal ventilation flue (plenum system) at apex of hipped roof. Former chapel wing attached to south wing and original block (qv).

Interior not inspected, but said to retain original galleried arrangement.

Note: Bedford Prison was built to the designs of John Wing (1756-1826). In 1848-9 it was extended, the perimeter walls (qv) and front entrance (qv) were rebuilt and the flanking front wings (qv) were added by Thomas Smith, the County Surveyor for Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire. Source: HMP Bedford, Prison Handbook, and notes.

Listing NGR: TL0477550119