Parkhurst Prison unlocked

A fascinating Isle of Wight institution

Whenever I drive past HMP Isle of Wight on my way to Cowes, I always think of the Victorian inmates from my crime history research and wonder what their life behind bars was really like. Although now housed in a rather unprepossessing building, Parkhurst Prison has held some of the most notorious prisoners and its compelling history is quite unique, including the original juvenile offenders, who were known as the Parkhurst Boys.