{{Short description|Site of HM Prison Isle of Wight}} {{EngvarB|date=September 2013}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}} {{Infobox prison | prison_name = HMP Parkhurst | image = The entrance to HMP Isle of Wight, Parkhurst - geograph.org.uk - 2653329.jpg | caption = Entrance to HMP Parkhurst | location = Parkhurst, Isle of Wight | coordinates = | status = | classification = Adult Male/Category B | capacity = | population = 497 | populationdate = August 2008 | opened = 1805 | closed = | former_name = | managed_by = HM Prison Services | governor = Doug Graham | website = {{URL|https://www.gov.uk/guidance/isle-of-wight-prison}} }} '''HM Prison Parkhurst''' is a Category B men's prison located in Parkhurst on the Isle of Wight, and is operated by His Majesty's Prison Service.<ref name="Parkhurst Prison">{{cite web|url=http://ericmasonuk.co.uk/parkhurst.htm|title=Parkhurst Prison – Eric Mason homepage|publisher=ericmasonuk.co.uk|access-date=8 December 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091022104525/http://ericmasonuk.co.uk/parkhurst.htm|archive-date=22 October 2009}}</ref> Parkhurst prison is one of two formerly separate prisons that today make up HMP Isle of Wight, the other being Albany.
== History== Parkhurst as an institution began in 1778, originally serving as a military hospital and children's asylum. By 1838, it had transformed into a prison for children.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.blacksheepancestors.com/uk/parkhurst_page.shtml |title= PARKHURST PRISON |website= BlackSheepAncestors.com |access-date= 9 February 2016 |archive-date= 2 May 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160502184007/http://www.blacksheepancestors.com/uk/parkhurst_page.shtml |url-status= dead }}</ref> 123 Parkhurst apprentices were sent to the Colony of New Zealand in 1842 and 1843,<ref name="NZ">{{cite web |url= http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~tonyf/parkhurstboys/convicts4.html |title=CONVICTS SENT TO NEW ZEALAND! The Boys from Parkhurst Prison |author=Anthony G. Flude |date=2003 |access-date=9 February 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160129084454/http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~tonyf/parkhurstboys/convicts4.html |archive-date=29 January 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and nearly 1500 boys between the ages of 12 and 18 were sent to various colonies in Australia and New Zealand. The Swan River Colony (Western Australia) received 234 apprentices between 1842 and 1849, then chose to accept adult convicts as well.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.sro.wa.gov.au/archive-collection/collection/convict-records |title= Convict Records |publisher= State Records office of Western Australia |access-date= 9 February 2016}}</ref> Victoria and Tasmania also received "Parkhurst Boys", who were always referred to officially as "apprentices", not convicts. During this period, Parkhurst Prison Governor Captain George Hall (in office from 1843 to 1861) employed the boys to make bricks for the construction of the C and M block wings of the prison building.<ref name="NZ"/>
From its early days as a prison for young offenders, Parkhurst faced severe criticism from the public, politicians and the press due to its harsh regime (including the use of leg irons initially).<ref>Hagell A and Hazel N (2001) 'Macro and micro patterns in the development of secure custodial institutions for serious and persistent young offenders in England and Wales.' Youth Justice 1, 1, 3–16.</ref> The prison became a focal point for reformers, most notably Mary Carpenter (1807–1877), who campaigned against the use of imprisonment for children.<ref name="carpenter-reformatory">{{cite book|last= Carpenter|first= Mary|title= Reformatory Schools: For the Children of the Perishing and Dangerous Classes and for Juvenile Offenders|publisher=C. Gilpin|location= London|date= 1851|url= https://archive.org/details/reformatoryscho00carpgoog|quote= Reformatory Schools for the Children of the Perishing and Dangerous Classes, and for Juvenile Offenders.|access-date=5 April 2009}}</ref>
In 1966, Parkhurst became one of the few top-security prisons in the United Kingdom, known as "Dispersals", because they separated more troublesome prisoners rather than housing them all together in one place. However, it lost its "Dispersal" status in 1995.<ref name="Parkhurst Prison" /> In 2009, Parkhurst merged with HM Prison Albany to form super-prison HM Prison Isle of Wight, with both sites retaining their original name.<ref name="HMP Isle of Wight">{{cite web|url=http://www.iwcp.co.uk/news/news/prisons-to-become-hmp-isle-of-wight-25161.aspx|title=Isle of Wight County Press – "Prisons to become HMP Isle of Wight"|publisher=iwcp.co.uk|access-date=30 March 2009}}</ref>
===1995 escape=== {{main|1995 HM Prison Parkhurst escape|}} On 3 January 1995, three prisoners (two murderers and a blackmailer) escaped from Parkhurst prison and enjoyed four days of freedom before being recaptured. One of the escapees, Keith Rose, was an amateur pilot. During those four days, the escapees lived rough in a shed in a garden in Ryde, after failing to steal a plane from the local flying club.<ref name="Parkhurst Prison"/>
A documentary entitled ''Britain's Island Fortress'' was produced about this daring prison escape, and it was featured in the National Geographic Channel's ''Breakout'' documentary series.<ref name="Britain's Island Fortess">{{cite web|url= http://natgeotv.com/uk/breakout/videos/britains-island-fortress|title=Britain's Island Fortess |access-date=6 April 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130412010736/http://natgeotv.com/uk/breakout/videos/britains-island-fortress|archive-date=12 April 2013 }}</ref>
==Notable inmates== Many high-profile criminals have been incarcerated at Parkhurst, including Lord William Beauchamp Nevill;<ref>{{cite book |last1=Nevill |first1=Lord William Beauchamp |title=Penal Servitude |date=28 January 1903 |publisher=William Heinemann |location=London}}</ref> the Yorkshire Ripper, Peter Sutcliffe;<ref name="Peter Sutcliffe at Parkhurst">{{cite web|url=http://www.crimeandinvestigation.co.uk/famous_criminal/54/the_aftermath/1/Peter_Sutcliffe_The_Yorkshire_Ripper.htm|title=Peter Sutcliffe: The Yorkshire Ripper – The aftermath|publisher=crimeandinvestigation.co.uk|access-date=8 December 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070707014748/http://www.crimeandinvestigation.co.uk/famous_criminal/54/the_aftermath/1/Peter_Sutcliffe_The_Yorkshire_Ripper.htm |archive-date=2007-07-07}}</ref> Moors Murderer Ian Brady; drug smuggler Terrance John Clark, the Teacup Poisoner, Graham Young;<ref>{{cite web |title=Graham Young – Poison, Death & Teacup |url=https://www.biography.com/crime-figure/graham-young}}</ref> and the Kray twins.<ref name="The Kray twins at Parkhurst">{{cite web|url=http://www.assistnews.net/Stories/2008/s08070146.htm|title=The Kray twins at Parkhurst Prison|publisher=assistnews.net|access-date=8 December 2008}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>
Michael Gaughan died at Parkhurst prison after a 64-day hunger strike. In December 1971, Gaughan had been sentenced at the Old Bailey to seven years imprisonment for his involvement in an IRA bank robbery in Hornsey, north London, which yielded {{£|530}} ({{Inflation|UK|530|1971|fmt=eq|cursign=£|r=-2}}). He was also convicted for the possession of two revolvers. On 31 March 1974, Gaughan went on hunger strike demanding political status. At this time, British policy was to force-feed hunger strikers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/forumy/2006/06/guantanamo-and-medical-ethics.php|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060615205914/http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/forumy/2006/06/guantanamo-and-medical-ethics.php|archive-date = 15 June 2006|title = JURIST | School of Law | University of Pittsburgh}}</ref> Over the course of his protest, Gaughan was force-fed 17 times. The last time he was force-fed was the night before his death on Sunday, 2 June. He died on Monday 3 June 1974, at the age of 24.<ref>Coogan, Tim (2000). The I.R.A.. Harper Collins. pp. 415–418. {{ISBN|0-00-653155-5}}.</ref>
War criminal Radovan Karadžić has been serving a life sentence at Parkhurst since May 2021 for the Bosnian genocide during his presidency.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/europe/butcher-of-bosnia-radovan-karadzic-imprisoned-on-isle-of-wight-1.1231810 | title='Butcher of Bosnia' Radovan Karadzic imprisoned on Isle of Wight | work=The National|location=Abu Dhabi | date=29 May 2021 }}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[http://www.justice.gov.uk/global/contacts/noms/prison-finder/isle-of-wight/ Ministry of Justice pages on Parkhurst] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120216012204/http://www.justice.gov.uk/global/contacts/noms/prison-finder/isle-of-wight/ |date=16 February 2012 }}
{{Prisons in South East England}}
{{coord|50|42|55|N|1|18|30|W|type:landmark|display=title}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Parkhurst (HM Prison)}} Parkhurst Parkhurst Category:1805 establishments in England Category:Newport, Isle of Wight Category:Dispersal prisons