History!
Prison was constructed on the site of a World War II US Army base (home to part of the 82nd Airborn Division), and first opened in 1955 as an open prison for adult male prisoners. In October 1987 it was converted to an Adult Male Category C establishment.
The prison, which had a capacity of 619, housed adult men and was described as operating a relatively relaxed regime. Improvements were been carried out at the jail after safety concerns were raised in a report by the Chief Inspector of Prisons. Among the measures were the installation of CCTV and steps to tackle drug abuse.
In 2003, four prisoners smashed computers and windows in a wrecking spree that caused £10,000 worth of damage. The trouble started when an officer found an inmate had been drinking alcohol in his cell. The officer was attacked by the inmate, who then barricaded himself into a room with three other prisoners. Despite this incident Ashwell achieved Resettlement Stage 1 accreditation in the same year.
Lee Hughes, a professional footballer spent time in Ashwell from 2004 after being convicted of death by dangerous driving. Hughes went on to become manager of the prison's football team.
A 2005 inspection report of Ashwell cited concerns about prisoners' vulnerability,race relationsand the quality of work and training at the prison.In the same year an inmate at the prison escaped from guards while receiving treatment fortuberculosisat theLeicester Royal Infirmary. The prisoner was recaptured days later.
Then on Friday 10th and Saturday 11th April 2009 a significant number of prisoners started to riot which led to the total loss of control at the prison. The riot was successfully brought under control by the evening of the Saturday. The operation launched by authorities in response to the riot was called Operation Tornado,which saw the introduction of specialist riot trained prison staff. Three prisoners were injured and 75% of the prison was made uninhabitable, however, no member of staff was injured or directly attacked.
The riot started when a prisoner, serving a three-year sentence, confronted staff and refused to return to his room. He began to cause damage and was joined by others. It was believed that all 400 prisoners engaged in acts of indiscipline and the Police then surrounded the prison to protect the public.
Leaders of the Prison Officers Association said they were not surprised at the disturbance. Speaking at the time, Colin Moses, POA national chairman, said: "We have been warning of this type of disturbance for many months, but no one wants to listen.
"The current prison population and lack of appropriate prison places has resulted in prisoners being transferred away from their homes and put in lower category prisons, resulting in more drugs, violence and gang cultures in our prisons.
"The drive for savings has led to fewer staff, a reduction in regime and offending behaviour programmes being cancelled. End result: unhappy and bored prisoners.
"This long weekend appears to have sparked the trouble but the root cause is lack of investment in our prisons."
Edward Garnier, Conservative MP for Harborough, said the Government needed to address the issue of overcrowding in prisons.
He said, regarding the event: "I was there about 18 months to two years ago when the previous governor, who sadly died, was in charge. I got the impression that it was a reasonably contented prison.
"It's a Category C prison, accommodating people coming to the end of long-term sentences but also it has the usual mix of short-term prisoners as well. But owing to prison overcrowding it appears that Category B prisoners are being pushed down to the C estate and people on the C estate are being pushed out on to the D estate."
Speaking outside Ashwell Prison, after the riot, Mr Garnier said the answer was to increase prison capacity. He added: "We need to stop overcrowding our prisons by increasing the capacity of the prison estate and by making sure that we put the right prisoners in the right prisons."
Instead, in 2011, they closed the prison and demolished the fire damaged block. Rutland County Council acquired it from the Ministry of Justice in early 2013. The site has been redeveloped as Oakham Enterprise Park, a business park for office and light industrial use.
The Explore
This was a permission visit, we were working in the prison anyway for a zombie themed, overnight event and the organisers had no problems with us wandering off for an hour and grabbing a few photos. The night was pretty fun, with many screams and I think we may have annoyed a few of the locals too, Rincewind is particularly apt and jump scaring large groups of make up artists hahaha
It is a huge site so I got quite a few photos, if there are too many then I will try and chop a few out, this is 30 out of over 160, not including the actual events photography. I am sure you didn't need to see photos of Zombie nuns and clowns
Either way, here are the shots!
Rincewind ready to go (Excuse the huge bag, we slept over at the prison)
There were random props from the events around
Certain blocks were damaged. This what we called the prototype block, I am not sure why there was an electric chair in there (I messed up the photos of the control room next door but I assume this was from filming they did at the location a few months back!)
These are then the photos from other blocks, they reminded me a bit of student accommodation to be honest. Lots of tiny rooms with their own bathroom. We had people sleeping in these for the event, I don't envy them haha!
SO that's it guys.
As usual any feedback is welcomed, thanks for looking
Much Love
JaneEyre
Prison was constructed on the site of a World War II US Army base (home to part of the 82nd Airborn Division), and first opened in 1955 as an open prison for adult male prisoners. In October 1987 it was converted to an Adult Male Category C establishment.
The prison, which had a capacity of 619, housed adult men and was described as operating a relatively relaxed regime. Improvements were been carried out at the jail after safety concerns were raised in a report by the Chief Inspector of Prisons. Among the measures were the installation of CCTV and steps to tackle drug abuse.
In 2003, four prisoners smashed computers and windows in a wrecking spree that caused £10,000 worth of damage. The trouble started when an officer found an inmate had been drinking alcohol in his cell. The officer was attacked by the inmate, who then barricaded himself into a room with three other prisoners. Despite this incident Ashwell achieved Resettlement Stage 1 accreditation in the same year.
Lee Hughes, a professional footballer spent time in Ashwell from 2004 after being convicted of death by dangerous driving. Hughes went on to become manager of the prison's football team.
A 2005 inspection report of Ashwell cited concerns about prisoners' vulnerability,race relationsand the quality of work and training at the prison.In the same year an inmate at the prison escaped from guards while receiving treatment fortuberculosisat theLeicester Royal Infirmary. The prisoner was recaptured days later.
Then on Friday 10th and Saturday 11th April 2009 a significant number of prisoners started to riot which led to the total loss of control at the prison. The riot was successfully brought under control by the evening of the Saturday. The operation launched by authorities in response to the riot was called Operation Tornado,which saw the introduction of specialist riot trained prison staff. Three prisoners were injured and 75% of the prison was made uninhabitable, however, no member of staff was injured or directly attacked.
The riot started when a prisoner, serving a three-year sentence, confronted staff and refused to return to his room. He began to cause damage and was joined by others. It was believed that all 400 prisoners engaged in acts of indiscipline and the Police then surrounded the prison to protect the public.
Leaders of the Prison Officers Association said they were not surprised at the disturbance. Speaking at the time, Colin Moses, POA national chairman, said: "We have been warning of this type of disturbance for many months, but no one wants to listen.
"The current prison population and lack of appropriate prison places has resulted in prisoners being transferred away from their homes and put in lower category prisons, resulting in more drugs, violence and gang cultures in our prisons.
"The drive for savings has led to fewer staff, a reduction in regime and offending behaviour programmes being cancelled. End result: unhappy and bored prisoners.
"This long weekend appears to have sparked the trouble but the root cause is lack of investment in our prisons."
Edward Garnier, Conservative MP for Harborough, said the Government needed to address the issue of overcrowding in prisons.
He said, regarding the event: "I was there about 18 months to two years ago when the previous governor, who sadly died, was in charge. I got the impression that it was a reasonably contented prison.
"It's a Category C prison, accommodating people coming to the end of long-term sentences but also it has the usual mix of short-term prisoners as well. But owing to prison overcrowding it appears that Category B prisoners are being pushed down to the C estate and people on the C estate are being pushed out on to the D estate."
Speaking outside Ashwell Prison, after the riot, Mr Garnier said the answer was to increase prison capacity. He added: "We need to stop overcrowding our prisons by increasing the capacity of the prison estate and by making sure that we put the right prisoners in the right prisons."
Instead, in 2011, they closed the prison and demolished the fire damaged block. Rutland County Council acquired it from the Ministry of Justice in early 2013. The site has been redeveloped as Oakham Enterprise Park, a business park for office and light industrial use.
The Explore
This was a permission visit, we were working in the prison anyway for a zombie themed, overnight event and the organisers had no problems with us wandering off for an hour and grabbing a few photos. The night was pretty fun, with many screams and I think we may have annoyed a few of the locals too, Rincewind is particularly apt and jump scaring large groups of make up artists hahaha
It is a huge site so I got quite a few photos, if there are too many then I will try and chop a few out, this is 30 out of over 160, not including the actual events photography. I am sure you didn't need to see photos of Zombie nuns and clowns
Either way, here are the shots!
Rincewind ready to go (Excuse the huge bag, we slept over at the prison)
There were random props from the events around
Certain blocks were damaged. This what we called the prototype block, I am not sure why there was an electric chair in there (I messed up the photos of the control room next door but I assume this was from filming they did at the location a few months back!)
These are then the photos from other blocks, they reminded me a bit of student accommodation to be honest. Lots of tiny rooms with their own bathroom. We had people sleeping in these for the event, I don't envy them haha!
SO that's it guys.
As usual any feedback is welcomed, thanks for looking
Much Love
JaneEyre
at least that's what the firewall at work says about where ya got the pics at. ... 
has someone been a naughty lassie? , Hmmm? 
:
