Entrance Lodge, Octagonal Perimeter Wall, Octagon and A, B and C Wings, former Her Majesty's Prison Canterbury

Entrance Lodge, Octagonal Perimeter Wall, Octagon and A, B and C Wings, former Her Majesty's Prison Canterbury

ENTRANCE LODGE

Built in 1808 by architect George Byfield, the entrance lodge is constructed from Portland stone with a slate roof. The structure features a central archway flanked by angled corner buttresses, built integral with the brick prison perimeter wall. The exterior displays rusticated stonework with a raised band at impost level, plinth, projecting parapet and modillion cornice. The parapet bears the inscription 'COUNTY GAOL AND HOUSE OF CORRECTION'. Below this is a central recessed round-headed entrance set within a rusticated and vermiculated stone surround. The fanlight comprises a faux portcullis made of a studded iron grille, and the impost band is inscribed with the date of construction in Roman numerals. The double doors, which were originally reported to have 16 panels, have been replaced with later 20th-century double doors featuring diagonal panels. The sides are formed by two angled rusticated and vermiculated corner buttresses. The architect's name, 'G BYFIELD ARCHT', is recorded at the top of the eastern buttress. Later 20th-century additions to the rear are not of special interest. The interior retains no original features.

OCTAGONAL PERIMETER WALLS

The perimeter wall is constructed from red brick in Flemish bond to a height of approximately 19 feet. It follows an octagonal plan with long sides to the north, south, east and west and much shorter angled corners. The walls are attached to the entrance lodge. The eastern part dates to circa 1808, while the western part dates to circa 1858–9. On the south side, the wall flanks the entrance lodge, with some brick buttresses present at the west end and along the eastern half of the south side.

THE OCTAGON

Dating to 1808 and designed by George Byfield with Charles Hedge as contractor, the Octagon was originally the prison governor's house with a first-floor chapel. The building was heightened by one storey in 1849 by John Whichcord, the County Surveyor, to provide a larger chapel. It is constructed from red brick in Flemish bond with a stone door surround and window cills, and has a slate roof.

The plan is octagonal with longer sides to the north, south, east and west and narrower projecting angled corners. The east and north sides are now concealed by later cell blocks A and C. The ground and first floors are divided into four rooms accessed from a central hall with staircase. Originally the ground floor contained a kitchen, parlour, committee room and keeper's hall with three bedrooms and a chapel above, but after 1849 the chapel was relocated to the new second floor. By the late 20th century the building was used for administration.

The exterior displays three storeys and a basement. The principal front faces south on an axis with the entrance lodge. It features a brick modillion cornice and two cambered-headed sash windows to the second floor. A giant central blank round-headed arch spans between ground and first floor, with a first-floor cambered-headed sash window and stone Gibbs surround to a central doorcase approached by three steps, with a 20th-century fielded panelled door. The angled corners have tripartite sash windows with cambered heads at ground and first-floor levels. The west side has three cambered-headed sash windows to the second floor and a giant blank round-headed arch on the first floor incorporating one sash window.

The interior retains an original central spiral staircase. The basement contains a cambered brick fireplace arch and a brick floor.

A-WING

Constructed between 1846 and 1849 on the site of George Byfield's original east wing to the designs of John Whichcord, County Surveyor, the A-wing originally consisted of six bays which were extended by seventeen bays in 1858–9. It is built from red brick in Flemish bond with stone window architraves and a slate roof incorporating six brick roof lights.

The plan comprises three storeys and a basement with three storeys of cells on the north and south sides with a central well. It is attached to the Octagon at the west end. In 1877, the ground floor housed four punishment cells, a surgery and 40 cells, one used for shoemaking. The first floor contained 45 cells including a tailor's shop and store, with two officer's rooms occupying four cell spaces. The second floor had 48 cells. In 1995 the wing was divided into A (east) and A (west) wings and housed remand and vulnerable prisoners.

The south side features a series of mainly square sash windows but some longer rectangular windows, all barred. The north side has a series of narrow barred sashes with two bays of longer sash windows. Towards the eastern end the elevation has been interrupted by the insertion of the circa 1880 B-wing. The east end has a further bay with lower roof housing the plenum tower, which features a chamfered brick base and moulded band beneath the octagonal tower.

The interior features a painted brick jack-arched ceiling with central roof-lights. Each floor has metal balconies supported on iron brackets. Individual cells measure 13 feet by 7 feet by 9 feet and retain iron doors. The basement retains original arched brick recesses, brick floors and some plank doors.

B-WING

Constructed after 1877, possibly circa 1880, the B-wing is built from red brick in English bond with a slate roof hipped at the south end, featuring three roof-lights and an octagonal plenum tower at the north end. It comprises four storeys across nine bays and is attached to A-wing towards the eastern end of its north side.

Both east and west sides display deep stepped cornices of eight courses of brick. The east and west sides feature a series of cambered-headed barred windows, though the east side has only six windows due to a full-height projection towards the northern end. The north side has a gable end with a round-headed arch and narrow windows.

The interior features a sixteen-bay clerestory with blank round-headed arches and a king-post roof. The cells retain original doors.

C-WING

Constructed after 1877, probably circa 1880–1, on the site of George Byfield's original north wing, the C-wing is built from red brick in English bond with a slate roof featuring three roof-lights. It is a single-sided wing of three storeys and nine bays with a corridor on the east side. In 1903 it was in use as the female wing with reception at the north end and female officers' rooms at the south end. The building was later used as the hospital and subsequently housed juveniles. In 1995 it was in use for category D prisoners.

Both east and west sides display deep stepped cornices of eight courses of brick. The west side has nine cambered-headed barred casement windows. The east side has windows only in the southern two bays. The north side has a gable end and a tall square tower with windows on the west side.

The interior features a king-post roof and iron balconies on the west side supported on iron brackets.