HM Prison Bullwood Hall is a former Category C women's prison and Young Offenders Institution, located in Hockley, Essex, England. The prison was operated by His Majesty's Prison Service.
 HMP Bullwood Hall viewed from the west | |
 | |
| Location | Hockley, Essex |
|---|---|
| Security class | Adult Female/Young Offender |
| Population | 248 (as of December 2012) |
| Opened | 1960s |
| Closed | 2013 |
| Managed by | HM Prison Services |
| Website | Bullwood Hall at justice.gov.uk |
History
editBullwood Hall was built in the 1960s originally as a female borstal. Over time the prison also began to hold female adult prisoners.
In 2002 Bullwood Hall was featured in a series of six 30 minute documentaries titled "The Real Bad Girls".[1] Although the series portrayed the prison in a positive light, a 2005 report condemned Bullwood Hall for still using the practice of slopping out.[2] A year later the prison was singled out for its high levels of attempted suicides and self-harm amongst inmates.[3]
Bullwood Hall continued to serve as a women's prison until 2006, when it was announced that it was to be converted into a Category C male prison, due to a shortage of male prison places.
On 10 January 2013 it was announced by the government that Bullwood Hall would be one of seven British prisons to be closed. The prison closed on Thursday 28 March 2013.[4] In November 2015 outline planning proposals were submitted to redevelop the site for residential use, including 60 homes.[5]
Notable former inmates
edit- Tracie Andrews[6]
- Sharon Carr – Britain's youngest female murderer
- Sally Clark
- Mary Druhan[7]
- Lisa and Michelle Taylor[7]
- Sara Thornton[8]
References
edit- ^ "Real Bad Girls". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 3 February 2009. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
- ^ "Women inmates forced to slop out". BBC News. 5 May 2004. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
- ^ "Report criticises women's prison". BBC News. 15 December 2005. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
- ^ Danny Shaw (10 January 2013). "BBC News - Seven prison closures in England announced". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
- ^ Philip Jones (17 November 2015). "Former Hockley prison site, Bullwood Hall, to get makeover into 60 homes". echo-news.co.uk. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
- ^ Harvey, Maureen (5 May 2008). Pure Evil - How Tracie Andrews murdered my son, deceived the nation and sentenced me to a life of pain and misery. ISBN 9781843582397.
- ^ a b "EXCLUSIVE: 'WHAT JUSTICE? THERE IS NONE'". The Independent. 21 August 1993. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
- ^ "'The darkest hour is before the dawn'". The Independent. 3 June 1996. Retrieved 22 August 2023.