HM Prison Holloway was a closed category prison for adult women and young offenders in Holloway, London, England, operated by His Majesty's Prison Service. It was the largest women's prison in western Europe, [2] until its closure in 2016.

Five years after the last women left its gates, the former Holloway prison site stands empty and deserted, a reminder both of the long struggle for women’s rights and liberation, and the thousands of women who lived there deprived of their freedom.

Holloway Prison, known as the New City of London Prison upon first opening in 1852, became the largest female only prison in Europe by 1902. Although initially a mixed sex prison, totaling 436 cells with only 60 filled by women, in 1903 it became a women’s prison with the capacity for 949 female inmates [2] .

Oct 28, 2024 · Gerrah, who was sentenced to four years for offences relating to animal rights activism, is one of six former inmates who returned to what was Europe's largest jail for women, along with the makers...

More than 300 suffragettes were incarcerated at Holloway prison during the early 20th century in one of the darker aspects of the campaign for the vote for women, and one that has historical and contemporary resonance for the women’s liberation movement.

It was the main prison for the City of London and had cost £91,547 10s 8d. There were 436 cells, 283 for males, 60 for females, 62 for juveniles, 18 refractory cells, 14 reception cells and 14 workrooms.

Dec 14, 2016 · Samuel Agbamu tells the story of North London’s H.M. Prison Holloway and explains why it is a key site of struggle in the fight against social cleansing, as well as institutionalised sexism and racism.

Holloway prison was built in 1852 and for the first 50 years was a local prison, the New City of London prison, holding both male and female prisoners. In 1877 all local prisons were centralised and in 1902 Holloway was re-designated as the first female-only local prison.

Aug 21, 2022 · The imposing structure, nicknamed Holloway Castle, was the largest women’s prison in western Europe until its closure in 2016. Its gothic brick walls held the likes of Moors murderer Myra...

Holloway Prison opened in 1852 as a mixed-sex prison but became a female-only prison due to a growing demand for space for female prisoners. Find out more.