Untitled (Liverpool 0763)

Caption

At HMP Liverpool, H Wing has been renovated to install a new steel staircase, higher landing railings, and a new steel structure to support the suicide netting. Adding these safety features has changed the acoustic and visual environment of the wings, with some prisoners and staff reporting that it is now harder to see and hear what is happening on the wings.

Medium

Photograph

Form

Digital

Artist / Maker

Andy Aitchison

Why have we collected this work?

We want to understand what these prisons are like to live and work in, and how has this changed over time. We are examining the ways that these prison buildings carry traces of the past, while operating in the present day.

The project considers how and why these buildings have survived for so long, and asks how we will know when they have reached the end of their operational lives. We consider the significance of the Victorian prison in shaping public and professional ideas of what prison should be like. Crucially, this project explores the implications of the continued operation of Victorian-era prisons for the contemporary prison service, and aims to inform policy development.

Skip to content