H M Prison Dartmoor: The Old Kitchen

H M Prison Dartmoor: The Old Kitchen is a former prison block that dates back to 1812. It was remodeled in 1880-1881 and underwent extensive alterations in the mid-1940s when it was lowered and converted into the prison kitchen, which has not been in use since the 1990s.

The building is constructed from granite stone rubble and features a pitched roof from the 1940s, covered in corrugated metal sheets, with a glazed roof lantern running along most of the ridge. The two chimneys that once adorned the building have been removed.

The structure has a rectangular plan and includes a slightly lower former flour store attached to its southeast corner, as well as a small urinal block on the east elevation, which has a small late-20th century extension. The west elevation is blind, while the east elevation has several boarded-up window openings. The north gable end features an entrance that is now obscured by a late-20th century covered walkway, and the south gable end has two entrances that are also covered up.

The interior could not be inspected in 2015, but plans from the 1940s indicate that the kitchen had an open plan layout. Stoves were located along the west side, with a larder, cook’s room, vegetable store, bread room, proving room, and flour store situated along the east side, adjacent to the windows.