GROVE PRISON AND BORSTAL
The original Portland Prison opened in 1848 and held convict adults. It was from here in 1855, that 80 convicts were transported on the ship William Hammond to Western Australia. The prison has also held a number of high profile Irish Republican prisoners. In 1921 Portland convict establishment was converted into a Borstal and in 1988 this was re-rolled as a Young Offenders Institution (YOI, Portland), and has held young males aged 18 to 21 ever since.
For prison pictures please click here and for Borstal pictures please click here
GROVE PRISON
CONVICTS PROCEEDING TO WORK IN QUARRIES, GROVE ROAD, PRE 1900 PRE VERNE PRISON
![RF0125 RF0125](../assets/images/RF0125.jpg)
CONVICTS AT WORK IN PRISON QUARRIES, PRE-1900
THE NEW STONE PRISON WEST BLOCK BEING BUILT TO REPLACE THE TIMBER FRAMED OLD PRISON c1905 THE OLD PRISON (CLASSED AS TEMPORARY) IS THE FRONT SECTION OF THIS BLOCK.
![JH1107 JH1107](../assets/images/JH1107.jpg)
PORTLAND PRISON c1920/21 JUST BEFORE BECOMING A BORSTAL INSTITUTION.
THE PRISON INFIRMARY (BORSTAL RODNEY HOUSE) IN LOWER PICTURE WAS BADLY DAMAGED BY A BOMB IN WW2 AND THE SITE OF IT WAS CLEARED IN THE 1970s. THE BOMBED C of E CHURCH THAT COULD SEAT OVER 1000 PEOPLE IS BETWEEN THE SOUTH END OF THE TWO MAIN PRISON BLOCKS. THE SOUTH EAST CORNER (LEFT FRONT) SHOWS THE OLD WOODEN QUARTERS BEING KNOCKED DOWN TO MAKE WAY FOR AN OFFICERS CLUB.
BUILDING OF NEW OFFICERS QUARTERS c1919
INSIDE NEW PRISON BLOCK C 1910
PORTLAND (GROVE) PRISON c1910.
WHEN BECOMING A BORSTAL IN 1921 THE BOTTOM TWO FLOORS OF CELLS WERE KNOCKED INTO ASSOCIATION ROOMS, DINING ROOM OFFICES ETC
PRISON GATE, GROVE.
PRISONERS WORKING IN QUARRY UNDER SUPERVISION OF ARMED GUARDS 1906, NOTE CHAINS USED FOR LIFTING ON THE CRANE.
CONVICTS BEING SEARCHED ON RETURN FROM WORK.
![DN0104 DN0104](../assets/images/DN0104.jpg)
JAMES BURGESS IN PRISON WARDERS UNIFORM. JOINED GROVE PRISON IN 1850, RETIRED 14/12/1871
![DR0507 DR0507](../assets/images/DR0507.jpg)
CELL 196 CUBIC CAPACITY + "FURNISHINGS" - 1849?
![DR0508 DR0508](../assets/images/DR0508.jpg)
CELL 196 CUBIC CAPACITY + BED MADE - 1849?
![DR0509 DR0509](../assets/images/DR0509.jpg)
CELL GROVE PRISON - 1909
![DR04300 DR04300](../assets/images/DR04300.jpg)
THE NEW HALL, INSIDE PORTLAND PRISON.
![DR04302 DR04302](../assets/images/DR04302.jpg)
PRISONERS AT WORK AT THE GROVE
![DR04304 DR04304](../assets/images/DR04304.jpg)
CONVICTS MARCHING TO WORK AT THE GROVE. LIME KILN STILL EXISTS AND IS SHOWN BELOW IN A MODERN PICTURE.
![DR04311 DR04311](../assets/images/DR04311.jpg)
PRISON QUARRIES. NOTE RAILWAY TO TRANSPORT STONE ONTO MERCHANTS RAILWAY.
![DR04312 DR04312](../assets/images/DR04312.jpg)
BUILDING THE PRISON WORKSHOPS.
CONVICTS WORKING IN STONE CUTTING WORKSHOP c1907.
PRISONERS AT ALMA TERRACE 1893.
THE MODERN RUFUS WAY ESTATE NOW OCCUPIES THE ABANDONED QUARRY BEHIND THE WALL ON THE LEFT. FOR A MODERN VIEW OF THIS SCENE PLEASE SEE BELOW.
![DR04339 DR04339](../assets/images/DR04339.jpg)
PRISON QUARTERS AT THE GROVE c1900. THESE PROPERTIES WERE CONDEMNED AND DEMOLISHED AFTER WORLD WAR 2.
THE PRISON CHAPEL
![DR04359 DR04359](../assets/images/DR04359.jpg)
PORTLAND PRISON CATHOLIC CHURCH, GROVE ROAD
EXTERIOR OF PRISON CHAPEL
OFFICERS AT REST
VIEW OF THE ENTRANCE GATE FROM THE GOVERNOR'S GARDEN.
THE GROVE HOME OF G. FULLEYLOVE, DISPENSER AT THE PRISON, AMONGST OTHERS.
PORTLAND PRISONERS 1898
CHIEF WARDEN WESTLAKE, PORTLAND PRISON 1898
BORSTAL INSTITUTION CIRCA 1930.
LOOKING FROM BORSTAL GARDENS AT COASTGUARD COTTAGES AND BORSTAL OFFICERS ACCOMMODATION, NOTE PEOPLE PLAYING TENNIS IN CENTRE OF PICTURE.
![JH0666 JH0666](../assets/images/JH0666.jpg)
GROVE POINT AND PRISON
THE NEW PRISON c1900
B WING, NOW DRAKE HOUSE, OPPOSITE SHEPHERDS CROFT.
PORTLAND PRISON AND ALMA TERRACE c1907
THE PRISON IS ALMOST FINISHED. THE RIGHT HAND SIX HOUSES OF ALMA TERRACE WERE DEMOLISHED ALONG WITH THE BACHELORS QUARTERS ON THE END IN 1988. THE HUT ON THE RIGHT WAS GROVE MISSION HALL IT WAS OPENED IN 1904 BY THE BIBLE CHRISTIANS WHOSE MINISTER WAS THE REV JOHN PAGE, HE AGAIN CAME TO PORTLAND AND MINISTERED IN 1916/17.
THE MISSION HALL WAS SOLD TO THE PLYMOUTH BRETHREN AND RE-ERECTED IN REFORNE.
THE RUFUS WAY ESTATE NOW STANDS ON THE ABANDONED QUARRY IN THE FOREGROUND.
CONVICTS AT WORK NEAR THE GROVE 1907 TAKEN FROM THE WINDOW OF A PROPERTY. POSSIBLY THE CLIFTON HOTEL.
![JT0174 JT0174](../assets/images/JT0174.jpg)
CONVICTS AT WORK 1907.
![JT0175 JT0175](../assets/images/JT0175.jpg)
CONVICTS AT WORK AT THE GROVE 1907
PRISON WORKSHOPS AT THE GROVE 1907.
THE PRISON GATES c1900.
PORTLAND BORSTAL
BORSTAL BOY LATE 1930s
BORSTAL BOY SHADOW BOXING 1921/35
BORSTAL LADS 1921/35
![RF0104 RF0104](../assets/images/RF0104.jpg)
BORSTAL SPORTS DAY. BETWEEN 1921 AND 1935
BORSTAL SPORTS DAY. COMPETITORS BETWEEN 1921 AND 1935
BORSTAL SPORTS DAY, RAYLEIGH HOUSE 1922 - 1935
BORSTAL SPORTS DAY. HOUSE GROUPS, 1922-1935
![Stadium1 Stadium1](../assets/images/Stadium1.jpg)
ABOVE AND BELOW. MODERN VIEWS OF THE SUNKEN STADIUM.
![RF0108 RF0108](../assets/images/RF0108.jpg)
SPORTS 6.30 BEFORE BREAKFAST 1936 IN NEW STADIUM, CONVERTED QUARRY AT THE GROVE
SPORTS 6.30 BEFORE BREAKFAST IN NEW STADIUM 1936
SPORTS DAY IN NEW STADIUM, BORSTAL, 1936-39
SPORTS DAY IN NEW STADIUM, BORSTAL, 1936-39
12 MEMBERS OF BORSTAL FOOTBALL TEAMS
BORSTAL BOYS SUMMER CAMP, 1930's SHOWING COW SHED AS RITZ HOTEL
BORSTAL BOYS SUMMER CAMP, 1930's.
BORSTAL BOYS ROCK CLIMBING, 1930
![RF0117 RF0117](../assets/images/RF0117.jpg)
BORSTAL HOUSE GROUP, 1930's ON CAMPING TRIP NOTE NO. OF OFFICERS
BORSTAL HOUSE GROUP, 1930's
BORSTAL SUMMER CAMP FARM BUILDING, 1930's
1930's BORSTAL GYM TEAM, SOUTH OF INSTITUTION. SHOWING DISPLAY TEAM PLUS INSTRUCTOR
BORSTAL ANNUAL SWIMMING EVENTS, FOLLY PIER, 1927. THESE WERE RESERVOIRS FOR THE PORTLAND WATERWORKS. THE PICTURES BELOW SHOW THE WATERWORKS IN VICTORIAN TIMES AND THE RESERVOIRS IN MODERN TIMES.
THE REMARKABLE PHOTOGRAPH ABOVE SHOWS A HUGE WATERWORKS THAT EXISTED IN VICTORIAN TIMES BETWEEN THE RAILWAY TRACK AND THE SEA BELOW THE BORSTAL. THIS WAS CLOSED DUE TO AN OUTBREAK OF TYPHOID WHICH KILLED SEVERAL PRISONERS WHO DRANK THE WATER. ALL THAT NOW REMAINS ARE THE FOUNDATIONS OF THE BUILDING WHICH ARE WHOLLY OVERGROWN.
BENEATH THIS TANGLE OF BRAMBLES LIE A FEW LOW BROKEN STONE FOUNDATIONS AND WALLS. EVEN FEW PORTLANDERS KNOW WHAT THESE SMOTHERED RUINS ONCE WERE.
HOWEVER, IN 1989 MY CHILDREN HELPED ME, WITH THE ADD OF SHEARS AND KNIVES, TO CUT AWAY ENOUGH OF THE BRAMBLES TO BE ABLE TO TRACE THE FOUNDATIONS
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