The entrance to the Victoria Prison located at Old Bailey Street is mainly used by correctional officers and visitors. Passing a blue gate, one reaches the reception room and detainment room. From there, past a narrow passageway, one arrives at Prison Yard, on the both sides of which are high walls (on one of the sides lies the F Hall). From here only a sliver of sky is visible, which is why this place used to be called “the dark valley”.
The prison took up an area of 6,000 square metres. Now six prison halls are left: A, B, C, D, E, F; together with one Superintendent’s House and one Bauhinia House. D Hall and Bauhinia House can be dated back to 1858, and is the longest standing buildings in the Central Police Station (CPS) Compound. Other halls for example B Hall (1910), E Hall (1915), C Hall (1920s) and A Hall (1940s) are reminiscent of old British style prisons.
The Prison Yard is surrounded by D, E, and F Halls. On another side (Chancery Lane) are high walls, beyond which commercial and residential buildings sit just a stone’s throw away, presenting a stark contrast to the prison. At the centre of the Prison Yard are two stout Candlenut Trees. On the yard inmates took turns resting, taking part in leisure and sport activities, and stretching their bodies.
