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HM Prison Manchester
HM Prison Manchester
HM Prison Manchester
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HM Prison Manchester is a Category A and B men's prison in Manchester, England, operated by His Majesty's Prison Service. It is still commonly referred to as Strangeways, which was its former official name derived from the area in which it is located, until it was rebuilt following a major riot in 1990.

Key Information

It is a local prison, holding prisoners remanded into custody from courts in the Manchester area and Category A prisoners (those held under maximum security conditions).

The prison featured an execution chamber prior to the abolition of capital punishment in the United Kingdom in the 1960s; the last execution at the prison took place in 1964.

Strangeways was designed by Alfred Waterhouse and opened in 1868 alongside the demolished Manchester Assize Courts. The prison is known for its prominent ventilation tower and imposing design, structured by the principles of the separate system.

History

[edit]
Strangeways ventilation tower

Construction of the Grade II listed prison was completed in 1869,[2] to replace the New Bailey Prison in Salford, which closed in 1868.[3] The prison, designed by Alfred Waterhouse in 1862 with input from Joshua Jebb,[2] cost £170,000 (equivalent to £20,037,482 in 2023) and had a capacity of 1,000 inmates. Its 234-foot (71 m) tall ventilation tower (often mistaken for a watchtower) has become a local landmark.[4] The prison's walls, which are rumoured to be 16 feet (4.9 m) thick, are said to be impenetrable from either inside or out.

The prison has an element of the separate system with its plan in the form of a star or a snowflake, with two blocks housing ten wings that emanate from a central core.[5] The prison consists of two radial blocks branching from the central core with a total of ten wings (A to F in one block, and G, H, I, and K in the second).[6]

The jail was built on the grounds of Strangeways Park and Gardens, from which it was named. Strangeways was recorded in 1322 as Strangwas from the Anglo-Saxon Strang and gewæsc meaning "[a place by] a stream with a strong current".

The prison was open to male and female prisoners until 1963 when the facility became male-only,[7] and in 1980, it began to accept remand prisoners. As of 2005, the prison held more than 1,200 inmates.[needs update]

As a place of execution

[edit]
Overlooking Manchester Arena and the old Boddingtons tower to Strangeways

Originally, the prison contained an execution shed in B wing and after World War I a special execution room and cell for the condemned criminal was built. Strangeways was one of the few prisons to have permanent gallows.[4] The first execution at Strangeways was that of twenty-year-old murderer Michael Johnson, who was hanged by William Calcraft on 29 March 1869.[8]

Twenty-nine hangings took place over the next twenty years and 71 took place in the 20th century, bringing the total number to 100. During the second half of the century, the number of executions decreased, with no hangings between 1954 and 28 November 1962, when James Smith was executed. John Robson Walby (alias Gwynne Owen Evans), one of the last two people to be hanged in England, was executed here on 13 August 1964. Out of the 100 hangings, four were double hangings, while the rest were done individually. The "quickest hanging" of James Inglis, in seven seconds, carried out by Albert Pierrepoint, took place here.[9]

Other executions

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  • John Jackson was executed on 7 August 1879.
  • Mary Ann Britland (38) was executed on 9 August 1886 for the murder of two family members and her neighbour. She was the first woman to be executed at the prison.
  • Thom Davies was hanged on 9 January 1889 for sexual deviancy charges.
  • Lieutenant Frederick Rothwell Holt was hanged on 13 April 1920 for the murder of twenty-six-year-old Kathleen Breaks.
  • Louie Calvert was hanged on 24 June 1926.[4]
  • Doctor Buck Ruxton was executed on 12 May 1936 for the murder of his wife. A petition for clemency was signed by 10,000 people, both sympathetic locals with high regard for this "people's doctor" and abolitionists who mounted a large demonstration on the day of his execution.
  • Margaret Allen was hanged on 12 January 1949 by Albert Pierrepoint for the murder of an elderly widower. Her execution was the first of a woman in Britain for 12 years[4] and the third execution of a woman at Strangeways.
  • After the seven second hanging, Albert Pierrepoint executed Louisa May Merrifield on 18 September 1953. She was the fourth and last woman to be executed at the prison.[10]

The bodies of executed criminals were buried in unmarked graves within the prison walls, as was the custom. During prison rebuilding work in 1991, the remains of 63 executed prisoners (of which 45 were identifiable) were exhumed from unmarked graves in the prison cemetery[11] and cremated at Blackley Crematorium in Manchester. The cremated remains were re-interred in two graves (plot C2710 and C2711) at the adjacent cemetery.[12][13]

The following people were hanged at Manchester Prison between 1869 and 1964:

People hanged at Manchester 1869–1964
Date hanged Name Reason given
29 March 1869 Michael Johnson murder of Patrick Nurney
26 December 1870 Patrick Durr murder of his wife, Catherine
30 December 1872 Michael Kennedy murder of his wife, Ann
21 December 1876 William Flanagan alias Robinson murder of Margaret Dockerty
27 March 1877 John M'Kenna murder of his wife, Annie
4 February 1878 George Pigott murder of Florence Galloway
19 November 1878 James McGowan murder of his wife
20 May 1879 William Cooper murder of Ellen Mather
17 February 1880 William Cassidy murder of his wife, Rosemary Ann
28 November 1881 John Aspinall Simpson murder of Ann Ratcliffe
13 February 1882 Robert Templeton murder of Betty Scott
12 February 1883 Abraham Thomas murder of Christiana Leigh
26 November 1883 Thomas Riley murder of Elizabeth Alston
24 November 1884 Kay Howarth[h 1] murder of Richard Dugdale
24 November 1884 Harry Hammond Swindells murder of James Wild
9 August 1886 Mary Ann Britland murders of daughter Elizabeth, husband Thomas and Mary Dixon
15 February 1887 Thomas Leatherbarrow murder of Katherine Quinn
30 May 1887 Walter Wood murder of his wife, Emma
15 May 1888 John Alfred Gell murder of Mary Miller
7 August 1888 John Jackson (Charles Firth) murder of Ralph D Webb
24 December 1889 William Dukes murder of George Gordon
19 May 1891 Alfred William Turner murder of Mary Ellen Moran
20 December 1892 Joseph Mellor murder of his wife, Mary Jane
28 November 1893 Emanuel Hamar murder of Catherine Tyrer
31 July 1894 William Crossley murder of Mary Ann Allen
27 November 1894 James Wilshaw Whitehead murder of his wife
4 August 1896 Joseph Hurst murder of his daughter, Maud Goddard
22 February 1898 George William Howe murder of Joseph Keirby Pickup
6 December 1899 Michael Dowdle murder of his wife, Ellen
4 December 1900 Joseph Holden murder of his grandson, John Dawes
3 December 1901 Patrick M'Kenna murder of his wife, Anna
2 December 1902 Henry Mack murder of Esther Elizabeth Bedford or Thompson
12 May 1903 William George Hudson murder of Harry Short
2 December 1903 Charles Whittaker murder of Eliza Range
27 February 1906 John Griffiths murder of Catherine Garrity
12 May 1908 John Ramsbottom murder of James McCraw
28 July 1908 Fred Ballington murder of his wife, Ellen
3 August 1909 Mark Shawcross murder of Emily Ramsbottom
22 February 1910 Joseph Wren murder of John Collins
12 December 1911 Walter Martyn murder of Edith Griffiths
12 December 1911 John Edward Tarkenter murder of his wife, Rosetta
23 July 1912 Arthur Birkett murder of Alice Beetham
13 August 1913 James Ryder murder of his wife, Ann
17 December 1913 Ernest Edwin Kelly murder of Daniel Wright Bardsley
8 March 1916 Fred Holmes murder of Sarah Woodall
29 March 1916 Reginald Haslam murder of Isabella Holmes Conway
19 December 1916 James Howarth Hargreaves murder of Caroline McGhee
21 March 1917 Thomas Clinton murder of Henry Lynch.
17 December 1918 William Rooney murder of his sister in law, Mary Rooney
6 January 1920 Hyman Perdovitch murder of Solomon Franks
6 January 1920 David Caplan murder of his wife, Freda
13 April 1920 Frederick Rothwell Holt murder of Katherine Elsie Breaks
22 June 1920 William Thomas Aldred murder of Ida Prescott
31 December 1920 Charles Colclough murder of George Henry Shenton
5 April 1921 Frederick Quarmby murder of Christina A Smith
24 May 1921 Thomas Wilson murder of Olive Duff
30 May 1922 Hiram Thompson murder of his wife, Ellen
3 January 1923 George Frederick Edisbury murder of Winifred Drinkwater
28 March 1923 George Perry murder of Emma Perry
8 April 1924 Francis Wilson Booker murder of Percy Sharpe
13 August 1924 John Charles Horner murder of Norman Widderson Pinchin
26 May 1925 Patrick Power murder of Sarah Ann Sykes
11 August 1925 James Makin murder of Sarah Elizabeth Clutton
15 December 1925 Sam Johnson murder of Beatrice Philomina Martin
16 March 1926 William Thorpe murder of Frances Clarke
24 June 1926 Louie Calvert murder of Lilly Waterhouse
3 January 1928 Fred Fielding murder of Eleanor Pilkington
28 June 1928 Walter Brooks murder of Beatrice Brooks and Alfred Moore
6 December 1928 Chung Yi Miao murder of Wai Sheung Yi Miao
4 April 1929 George Cartledge murder of his wife, Ellen
16 April 1931 Francis Land murder of Sarah Ellen Johnson
15 December 1931 Solomon Stein murder of Annie Riley
3 February 1932 George Alfred Rice murder of Constance Inman
18 May 1932 Charles James Cowle murder of Naomi Annie Farnworth
19 December 1933 William Burtoft murder of Frances Levin
30 May 1935 John Harris Bridge murder of Amelia Nuttall
12 May 1936 Buck Ruxton murder of his wife, Isabelle and Mary Jane Rogerson
4 February 1937 Max Mayer Haslam murder of Ruth Clarke
12 August 1937 Horace William Brunt murder of Kate Elizabeth Collier
20 April 1938 Charles James Caldwell murder of his wife, Elisa Augustine
11 February 1941 Clifford Holmes murder of his wife, Irene
4 September 1941 John Smith murder of Margaret Helen Knight
26 July 1944 James Galbraith murder of James William Percey
9 April 1946 Harold Berry murder of Bernard Phillips
24 April 1946 Martin Patrick Coffey murder of Harold Dutton
27 February 1947 Walter Graham Rowland murder of Olive Balchin
12 January 1949 Margaret Allen murder of Nancy Ellen Chadwick
28 November 1950 James Henry Corbitt murder of Eliza Wood
19 December 1950 Nicholas Persoulious Crosby murder of Ruth Massey
26 January 1951 Nenad Kovacevic murder of Radomir Djorovic
8 May 1951 James Inglis murder of Alice Morgan
12 June 1951 John Dand murder of Walter Wyld
3 July 1951 Jack Wright murder of Mona Mather
15 January 1952 Alfred Bradley murder of George Camp
26 February 1952 Herbert Roy Harris murder of his wife, Eileen
18 September 1953 Louisa May Merrifield murder of Sarah Ann Rickets
17 December 1953 Stanislaw Juras murder of Erena Wagner
8 January 1954 Czeslaw Kowalewski murder of Doris Douglas
28 November 1962 James Smith murder of Sarah Isabella Cross
13 August 1964 Gwynne Owen Evans murder of John Allen West
  1. ^ Kay Howarth (a male)

Strangeways riots

[edit]
Main article: 1990 Strangeways Prison riot

Between 1 April and 25 April 1990, 147 staff and 47 prisoners were injured in a series of riots by prison inmates. There was one fatality among the prisoners, and one prison officer died from heart failure.[14] Much of the old prison was damaged or destroyed in the rioting. Several inmates were charged with various offences, and Paul Taylor and Alan Lord faced a five-month trial as ringleaders.

The riots resulted in the Woolf Inquiry, and the prison was rebuilt and renamed Her Majesty's Prison, Manchester. Repair and modernisation cost more than £80 million after the riot, and rebuilding was completed in 1994.[15]

The prison post-1994

[edit]

The prison is a high-security category A prison for adult males and has a maximum capacity of 1,269 as of 4 August 2008. Operation of the prison was put out to tender in 1994 and 2001.[6] Accommodation is divided into nine wings in two radial blocks. Cells are a mixture of single and double occupancy, all having in-cell power points and integral sanitation.

The prison has become known for a high suicide rate following its reopening in 1994. From 1993 to 2003, Strangeways prison had the second highest number of suicides among inmates of any prison in the United Kingdom[16] and, in 2004 Strangeways had the highest number of suicides in the country.[17]

Education and vocational training is provided by The Manchester College. Courses offered include information technology, ESOL, numeracy, industrial cleaning, bricklaying, painting and decorating, plastering, textiles and laundry. The prison's gym runs courses in physical education and offers recreational sport and fitness programmes.

Prison entrance in 2014

In 2015 The Daily Telegraph reported that a drone aircraft was being used in an attempt to deliver drugs and smartphones to precise locations within the prison.[18]

In 2016 Nicky Reilly, also known as Mohammed Saeed Alim, a Muslim convert was found dead in his cell after hanging himself. Reilly had a chronic history of self harm, and it was also known that he was autistic and had a personality disorder. A jury decided it was "more likely than not" that he did not intend to die and "acted impulsively." It is unclear if Reilly understood the concept of death or could form the intent to die. Senior coroner, Joanne Kearsley said evidence given at the court raised "significant concerns." Kearsley said she was not convinced the prison had a clear plan and awareness of his needs and she questioned why he was not under a care programme approach (CPA) where care coordinators are given to individual prisoners. The coroner asked whether a type of review should be considered for prisoners with recognised lifelong mental health problems and chronic risk of self-harm.[19]

In 2017 a report by the Independent Monitoring Board described Manchester Prison as squalid, vermin infested and reminiscent of Dickensian England. The report added that the prison urgently needed modernisation and assaults on staff have risen owing to staff shortages.[20]

In 2022 Manchester City Council leader Bev Craig called on the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) to move HMP Manchester elsewhere in the region, as the building is "not suitable for the significant remodelling or expansion it would need to meet modern-day requirements for a prison". However, the MoJ said there were "no plans to close or relocate" the jail.[21]

Notable inmates

[edit]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

HM Prison Manchester

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HM Prison Manchester is a Category A high-security men's prison located in central Manchester, England, housing adult male inmates serving sentences for serious crimes or held on remand. Originally constructed between 1864 and 1868 to designs by architect Alfred Waterhouse, it operated under the name Strangeways Prison until 1994. The facility maintains a capacity for approximately 1,200 prisoners, functioning primarily to detain high-risk individuals under strict security protocols managed by His Majesty's Prison Service. It has long been characterized by overcrowding, with operational pressures exacerbating challenges in maintaining order and rehabilitation efforts. The prison achieved notoriety through the Strangeways riot, which erupted on 1 April 1990 during a service and persisted for 25 days—the longest such disturbance in British history—resulting in two deaths, over 190 injuries, and damage costing around £144 million. Triggered by chronic overcrowding, unsanitary conditions including the practice of waste, and perceived institutional injustices, the event dismantled much of the Victorian-era structure and catalyzed the Woolf , whose recommendations spurred widespread reforms to prison conditions, management, and sentencing practices. Subsequent decades have seen persistent issues, with HM Inspectorate of Prisons reports documenting elevated levels of , illicit drug prevalence, infestations, and vulnerabilities as recently as 2024 and 2025, underscoring enduring systemic strains in high-security incarceration despite infrastructural upgrades.

Physical Site and Design

Architectural Features and Historical Construction

HM Prison Manchester, commonly known as Strangeways Prison, was constructed between 1866 and 1868 to replace the aging New Bailey Prison in . The project, costing £170,000, was completed on the site of Strangeways Park and Gardens, with official opening on 25 June 1868. Initially designated as Salford Prison to serve the hundred of , it adopted the name Strangeways from its location in the Strangeways area of . The prison was designed by architect Alfred Waterhouse in 1861, in collaboration with Joshua Jebb, the Surveyor General of Prisons, employing the radial concept prevalent in Victorian-era penal architecture for enhanced surveillance. Constructed primarily of brick, the facility featured a dodecagonal central hall from which six wings (A through F) radiated outward, designed to accommodate up to 1,000 prisoners. Distinctive elements included two imposing gatehouses, a T-shaped F wing housing administration offices on the ground floor and a above, and a prominent 234-foot-high tower serving as a for heating and ventilation, which functioned as a local landmark. A at the entrance marks the prison's opening. This radial layout exemplified the era's emphasis on centralized oversight, allowing guards in the central hall to monitor multiple cell blocks simultaneously, though the design prioritized security over reformative ideals in practice. The architecture reflected Waterhouse's broader Gothic Revival influences, evident in the turreted and robust perimeter walls, yet adapted for utilitarian prison functions rather than ornamental public buildings.

Layout and Infrastructure

HM Prison Manchester employs a radial layout originating from its Victorian construction, with wings radiating from a central hub to enforce the of inmate isolation and monitoring. Completed in under designs by architect Alfred Waterhouse, the structure includes six primary wings (A through F) extending from a central hall, supplemented by a separate block for female prisoners until its repurposing. A distinctive 234-foot-tall ventilation tower, resembling a , facilitates air circulation throughout the facility while serving as a landmark. The prison's infrastructure spans two main blocks housing nine wings, configured for Category A and B male inmates with operational capacity reaching 1,238, though certified normal accommodation stands at 695 to prioritize single occupancy where feasible. Cells mix single and shared arrangements, with wings allocated by security needs: B, C, D, G, and H for general population (including workers and induction); E for high-risk Category A, B, and escape-list prisoners. Perimeter defenses feature thick boundary walls—up to 20 feet high in places—and multiple watchtowers for oversight, underscoring its high-security designation amid urban proximity. Post-1990 reconstructions integrated modern reinforcements, including reinforced cell doors and enhanced electronic locking in select areas, though much of the core infrastructure retains 19th-century brickwork prone to decay from age and overuse. The site's 10-acre footprint on Southall Street includes ancillary facilities like workshops, healthcare units, and exercise yards, but limited expansion space constrains adaptations for contemporary standards such as improved ventilation or modular .

Operational Framework

Security Classification and Capacity

HM Prison Manchester is designated as a Category B training within the United Kingdom's prison classification system, intended for adult male inmates who do not necessitate the utmost containment of Category A facilities but still pose a substantial risk of harm, escape, or public threat if not securely managed. It primarily accommodates long-term sentenced prisoners, including approximately 36% serving indeterminate terms such as life sentences, while incorporating a specialized Category A remand function to hold up to 31 standard Category A prisoners and an additional 8 high-risk Category A inmates pending trial or transfer. The facility also operates a for isolating and managing the most disruptive or dangerous individuals, enhancing its capacity to handle elevated security needs beyond standard Category B operations. This hybrid role aligns with its location in , serving as a receiver for serious offenders from local courts. In terms of accommodation, the prison's baseline certified normal accommodation (CNA)—the Ministry of Justice's measure for sustainable, uncrowded occupancy—stands at 744 places, though the in-use CNA has been adjusted to 676 to enforce single-occupancy cells and mitigate risks. Its operational capacity, representing the maximum safe holding limit under current configurations, is likewise set at 744 following reductions implemented to address , infiltration, and decay, including a recent cut of up to 24 places amid urgent remedial actions. As of the unannounced conducted between 17 September and 3 October 2024, the actual was 623 (excluding six in the ), operating below capacity but amid persistent security vulnerabilities such as compromised CCTV and perimeter breaches via drones. These limits reflect post-1990 reconstructions and ongoing estate pressures, prioritizing containment over expansion.

Daily Regime and Inmate Management

The daily at HM Prison Manchester, a Category B/C facility primarily serving as a reception and remand prison for adult males in the region, is structured around core periods of unlock, association, purposeful activity, meals, exercise, and lock-up, but has been persistently restricted due to chronic staffing shortages and high operational pressures. In the 2024 HM Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) inspection, covering 17 September to 3 October, inspectors found time out of cell to be poor, with a restricted in place that limited access to activities and association; roll checks revealed 38% of locked in their cells during the working day. Prisoner surveys indicated 30% spent less than two hours out of cell on weekdays and 46% on weekends, falling short of national expectations for purposeful activity and contributing to outcomes assessed as not sufficiently good across safety, respect, and progression domains. Purposeful activities, including , , and work, are intended to occupy prisoners constructively but deliver low participation rates amid the constrained regime. Only 19% of prisoners were observed attending activities during the inspection, with an average attendance of 58%, rated "inadequate" by for lacking an ambitious curriculum, sufficient English and maths provision, and plans for half of learners. Work opportunities are predominantly low-skilled and repetitive, such as cleaning or laundry, with few leading to accredited qualifications or post-release preparation; is limited, and high staff absence exacerbates delivery failures. Association time is further curtailed by the need to manage 226 prisoners on keep-apart lists due to conflicts, while exercise is nominally 30 minutes daily but often inconsistent, with Category A prisoners using segregated, barren yards described as inadequate for physical or benefits. Inmate management relies on a combination of incentives, , and , but systemic weaknesses undermine effectiveness. The incentives and earned privileges (IEP) scheme is applied weakly, with over half of prisoners on the highest level despite prevalent poor , including the highest rate of serious assaults among prisons from September 2023 to August 2024. processes recorded 853 use-of-force incidents in the prior year and a 43% backlog in adjudications, reflecting challenges in addressing driven by , drugs (39% positive tests), and gang tensions; 40% of officers have less than two years' , impacting consistent . Visits occur in six sessions per week via an effective booking system, with plans to expand family visits to twice monthly, though overall management was deemed insufficient, prompting an Urgent Notification on 10 October 2024 for leadership and resourcing interventions. In response, the prison's January 2025 action plan commits to regime reviews, staffing increases via operational panels, and enhanced activity allocation by April-May 2025 to address these deficits.

Historical Evolution

Establishment and Early Operations (1868–1900)

HM Prison Manchester, originally known as the New Prison for the or Salford New Prison, was constructed between 1866 and 1868 to replace the outdated New Bailey Prison in , which had closed that year amid growing demands for modern penal facilities in the rapidly industrializing region. Designed by architect Alfred Waterhouse—renowned for structures like —the facility embodied Victorian penal architecture with a radial layout inspired by the principle, facilitating centralized surveillance over cell blocks, and incorporated input from prison reformer Joshua Jebb. The construction, completed at a cost of £170,000, featured brick-built cell wings radiating from a central hub, including a distinctive 234-foot for ventilation and heating, and was officially opened on June 25, 1868. As a local prison, it primarily accommodated prisoners from the Manchester area on remand awaiting , those serving short for minor offenses, and debtors, reflecting the era's emphasis on containment and rudimentary reform rather than long-term incarceration. The initial design provided capacity for approximately 1,000 inmates, with separate wings for males and females, though became an issue as industrial-era rates rose. Operations adhered to the strict "separate system" prevalent in mid-19th-century British , enforcing to prevent contamination among inmates, combined with penal labor such as picking or exercise to instill discipline and . Executions, conducted privately within a dedicated , commenced early; the first occurred on March 29, 1869, when hangman executed Michael Johnson for murder, establishing the site's role in for the region until 1964. By the 1880s, the facility had adopted the colloquial name Strangeways, derived from the surrounding district, and underwent minor expansions, including the addition of 130 cells in to address mounting pressure from local assize courts. Daily management focused on maintaining order through rigorous classification of by offense and , with chaplains and governors overseeing moral instruction alongside basic vocational training, though reports from visiting committees highlighted persistent challenges like and ventilation in the dense urban setting. Between 1869 and 1899, at least 28 men and one woman were executed there, underscoring its function as a hub for serious judicial outcomes amid Manchester's high volume of criminal cases.

Judicial Executions and Capital Punishment Role (1868–1964)

HM Prison Manchester, upon its opening in 1868, assumed a central role in the administration of capital punishment for northern England, serving as the execution site for convictions from the Manchester assizes and surrounding regions. Executions were conducted by hanging in a purpose-built chamber adjacent to the condemned cells, with the drop calibrated to ensure death by spinal severance rather than strangulation, following evolving practices from the long-drop method introduced in the late 19th century. Between 29 March 1869 and 13 August 1964, precisely 100 individuals—96 men and 4 women—were executed there for capital offenses, predominantly murder under common law. The initial phase saw 29 hangings from 1869 to 1899: 28 men and the first woman, , executed on 9 August 1886 for poisoning her husband, mother-in-law, and a lodger with to pursue an affair and claim insurance. Michael Johnson, aged 20, was the inaugural execution, hanged on 29 March 1869 for the axe murder of his landlady during a robbery. Early executioners included , whose short-drop technique often resulted in prolonged strangulation, prompting procedural refinements by successors like James Berry and . Public executions outside the prison walls ceased after 1868 under the Capital Punishment Amendment Act, shifting all proceedings indoors with restricted witnesses, including officials, chaplains, and medical personnel, to maintain order and deter sensationalism. In the 20th century, 71 executions occurred—68 men and 3 women—with frequency declining sharply after due to growing abolitionist sentiment and exercised in over two-thirds of death sentences by the 1950s. Notable cases included Louis Voisin (hanged 10 May 1909 for murdering his wife to marry her sister) and (executed 4 April 1962 for the A6 murder, later subject to posthumous over evidence reliability). State executioners such as and his nephew Albert performed many, with Albert handling over 20 at Strangeways, emphasizing efficiency in his memoirs. The chamber's secrecy was enforced; bodies were buried within the prison grounds in unmarked lime pits to prevent grave disturbances, a practice that persisted until exhumations in the 20th century for reburial. The final execution, Gwynne Owen Evans (born John Robson Walby), took place at 8:00 a.m. on 13 August 1964 for the bludgeoning murder of a 17-year-old acquaintance during a robbery; it coincided with the simultaneous hanging of Peter Allen at Walton Prison, , marking the last capital punishments in the before suspension under the Murder (Abolition of Death Penalty) Act 1965. This endpoint reflected empirical shifts in penal policy, driven by data on deterrence inefficacy—studies like those by the Royal Commission on Capital Punishment (1949–1953) showed no clear reduction in homicide rates attributable to executions—and causal analyses prioritizing rehabilitation over retribution. Post-1964, the chamber was repurposed, symbolizing the prison's transition from punitive to custodial functions amid broader considerations.

Mid-20th Century Shifts and Pre-Riot Developments

Following the suspension of in Britain in 1965, HM Prison Manchester transitioned from its role as a site for judicial executions—having hosted the last on 13 August 1964—to a primary function as a local Category B men's prison focused on remand and short-sentence inmates. This shift aligned with broader penal policy emphasizing rehabilitation over retribution, yet the prison's Victorian infrastructure, designed for 970 inmates, underwent minimal modernization, retaining and communal facilities ill-suited to evolving demands. By the 1970s, operational pressures intensified as the prison population rose from approximately 35,000 in 1970 to over 40,000 by 1980, driven by stricter sentencing for property crimes and rising remand admissions amid court backlogs. At , this manifested in chronic overcrowding, with certified normal accommodation consistently exceeded; by the mid-1980s, the facility held up to 1,200 prisoners in spaces meant for fewer, exacerbating sanitation issues like "" in shared cells lacking in-cell toilets. In 1980, the prison began routinely accepting remand prisoners, increasing turnover and instability, as untried inmates—often comprising over 20% of the population—faced prolonged uncertified lock-up with limited access to legal visits or exercise. Pre-riot developments in the late highlighted regime failures, including staff shortages reducing purposeful activity to under 2 hours daily for many inmates, fostering idleness and tensions between officers and prisoners. The Woolf Inquiry later deemed these conditions "intolerable," citing a combination of —peaking at 1,647 inmates by March 1990, 70% above capacity—and inadequate grievance mechanisms as key precipitants. Despite national efforts like the Security Review to bolster perimeter controls, internal management at prioritized over , with reports of overuse straining relations. This era underscored systemic underinvestment in aging facilities, where empirical data from inspections revealed high violence rates and neglect, unaddressed by incremental policy tweaks.

The 1990 Strangeways Riots

Precipitating Factors and Outbreak

The 1990 Strangeways riot stemmed from chronic and deteriorating physical conditions at HM Prison Manchester, which exacerbated tensions between and staff. The facility, designed to hold approximately 1,000 prisoners, housed 1,642 at the time of the disturbance, operating at over 160% capacity and forcing multiple occupants into single cells. This compounded sanitation issues, including the practice of "," where prisoners used chamber pots or buckets for waste that were emptied only once daily, leading to pervasive filth and health risks. The Woolf Inquiry later identified these as core underlying factors, noting an imbalance between security measures and constructive daily regimes, with experiencing extended lock-up periods, purposeful activities, and reduced time due to resource constraints. Staff shortages and strained prisoner-officer relations further fueled , as low morale among officers—stemming from high workloads and inadequate training—hindered effective communication and grievance resolution. perceived the as arbitrary, with decisions on privileges and transfers lacking transparency, contributing to a sense of powerlessness. The inquiry highlighted that while no single flashpoint ignited the event, cumulative frustrations over these operational failures created a volatile environment, particularly amid national population pressures that had doubled in prior decades without corresponding infrastructure expansion. The outbreak occurred on April 1, 1990, during a service in the prison chapel, attended by 309 inmates and supervised by fewer officers than standard—approximately three instead of the usual eight—due to scheduling variations. Around 11:00 a.m., prisoners disrupted the proceedings, attacked the staff present, seized keys, and released others from nearby cells, rapidly escalating control over multiple wings. Inmates then ascended to the rooftops, set fires to parts of the facility, and dismantled structures to signal their demands, marking the beginning of a 25-day that spread disturbances to other prisons.

Sequence of Events and Tactical Response

The Strangeways riot commenced on April 1, 1990, at approximately 11:00 a.m. during a service attended by around 300 , when prisoner Paul Taylor seized the microphone and incited unrest over poor conditions, prompting others to overpower staff, arm themselves with makeshift weapons, and seize keys to release additional prisoners from cells. By noon, prison governor Brendan O'Friel acknowledged the loss of control over the facility, which housed 1,647 against a certified capacity of 970; staff evacuated to safety as rioters demolished cell doors, furniture, and structural elements across multiple wings, igniting fires that gutted significant portions of the prison. Approximately 700 surrendered by the end of the first day, but around 350 ascended to the rooftops for a prolonged , hurling debris at authorities below and grievances via loudspeakers. Over the ensuing days, the rooftop occupation persisted with demonstrators erecting banners, such as one on April 6 declaring "We fight and stand firm on behalf of humanity," while inflicting further damage estimated at £55 million, including the near-total destruction of three wings through and . Sympathy disturbances erupted in at least 25 other prisons, amplifying national concern, as the Manchester standoff drew media attention with live broadcasts of prisoners taunting police and performing acts like dancing on the roof. Casualties mounted, including the fatal stabbing of inmate Derek Lewis by a fellow rioter on April 1 and a prison officer's fatal heart attack amid the chaos; in total, 147 officers and 47 prisoners sustained injuries ranging from cuts to fractures. Greater Manchester Police rapidly established a secure cordon around the perimeter to contain the situation and prevent escapes, deploying hundreds of officers supported by national prison service units for logistical and specialist aid. Tactical measures included non-lethal deterrents such as water cannons, amplified disruptive music, and pyrotechnic devices to disorient and encourage descent from the roofs, alongside ongoing negotiations broadcast via loudspeakers to urge surrender. The siege strategy emphasized containment over immediate assault, allowing gradual attrition as rooftop numbers dwindled from hundreds to dozens, though the prolonged nature—25 days, the longest in British prison history—tested resources and public patience. The riot concluded on April 25, 1990, when prison officers and police initiated a coordinated retaking of the interior starting in the early morning, methodically securing upper landings and wings against minimal remaining resistance inside. By evening, the final five rooftop holdouts, including Paul Taylor, agreed to end the protest and were removed via hydraulic cherry picker baskets at 6:20 p.m., marking the restoration of full control without additional fatalities during the operation. This denouement reflected a preference for where feasible, though the event exposed vulnerabilities in pre-riot intelligence and rapid-response capabilities, as later inquiries noted the absence of effective contingency plans for such scale.

Immediate Aftermath and Casualties

The ended on 25 1990, after 25 days of unrest, when the last five prisoners descended from the rooftop using a hydraulic cherry picker following negotiations. Earlier in the siege, hundreds of prisoners had surrendered in waves, including a group of about 30 who gave themselves up after discussions facilitated by a editor acting as an intermediary. then secured the facility, with initial assessments revealing widespread destruction from fires set by rioters, including the gutting of cell blocks and the partial collapse of structures. Casualties comprised two fatalities: Derek White, a 46-year-old who died from stab wounds inflicted by fellow inmates during the initial violence on 1 April, and , a 46-year-old who suffered a fatal heart attack amid the chaos. Injuries totaled 194, with 147 s and 47 requiring medical treatment for assaults, burns, and other trauma sustained over the course of the disturbance. Early media reports speculated higher death tolls, up to 12 or more, but these were unconfirmed and later disproven by official accounts. Immediate post-riot efforts focused on evacuating remaining inmates, providing emergency care, and containing fires that had ravaged approximately half the prison's buildings, with repair costs preliminarily estimated in tens of millions of pounds. Ringleaders faced swift arrests and additional charges, while the site remained under military-assisted lockdown to prevent further incidents.

Post-Riot Reforms and Challenges

Woolf Inquiry Findings and Implementation

The Woolf Inquiry, formally titled Prison Disturbances April 1990, was commissioned by on 3 May 1990 in response to the Strangeways riot and related disturbances at 27 other prisons, with Lord Justice Woolf appointed as chair and Judge Stephen Tumim as assessor. The report, submitted on 31 January 1991, analyzed the Strangeways events in detail, attributing the 25-day siege—which involved the destruction of much of the prison's and resulted in one and 147 injuries—to systemic failures rather than isolated indiscipline. It identified five interconnected causes: acute overcrowding (Strangeways held 1,647 prisoners against a certified normal accommodation of 970, exceeding capacity by 70%); a deficient regime lacking purposeful activity, with only 20-30% of inmates engaged in work or education; deteriorated staff-prisoner relationships marked by low morale and mistrust; squalid physical conditions including (use of chamber pots due to insufficient sanitation); and weak failing to enforce control or address grievances effectively. The report outlined 204 recommendations framed by 12 guiding principles, emphasizing , , and rehabilitation over mere . Key proposals included capping prison populations at 88% of capacity to prevent ; mandating purposeful activity for at least 60% of through expanded work, , and programs; enhancing staff and status with better pay and promotion prospects; establishing independent local prison boards with oversight powers; strengthening the role of the of Prisons; and improving inter-agency coordination within the system to reduce remands and short sentences contributing to instability. For Strangeways specifically, it criticized the pre-riot regime's reliance on lock-up and association periods without constructive engagement, recommending a balanced approach prioritizing "care and " alongside . In its February 1991 response, the government accepted 11 of the 12 main recommendations, rejecting only the proposal for independent prison boards in favor of enhanced accountability via the Prison Service's director general.) This led to the 1991 White Paper Custody, Care and Justice, which committed £67 million annually to regime improvements, staff recruitment (adding 1,000 officers), and new prison construction to alleviate overcrowding.) Implementation at Strangeways post-rebuilding included upgraded sanitation to end slopping out by 1996, expanded education and work programs, and incentives-earned-privileges schemes to encourage compliance, aligning with Woolf's emphasis on positive relationships. Broader UK reforms introduced mandatory activity targets, better adjudication procedures for fairness, and closer-to-home custody policies, reducing some disturbances in the 1990s. Outcomes were mixed, with short-term gains in regime quality and staff professionalism but persistent challenges from rising prison populations—reaching over 85,000 by the —undermining capacity limits and purposeful activity goals. At Strangeways, while physical rebuilding completed in incorporated safer designs like electronic locking, reports noted incomplete adherence to activity standards due to shortages and constraints. Lord Woolf later assessed in that conditions had regressed to 1990 levels, citing "tough on " sentencing inflation as a causal factor overriding reforms, prompting calls for renewed . Empirical data from subsequent inspections showed partial success in reducing through better but failure to sustain under pressure from systemic .

Physical Rebuilding and Policy Changes (1990s–2000s)

Following the 1990 Strangeways riots, which caused severe structural damage including the near-total destruction of several wings and the chapel, reconstruction efforts at the prison began immediately, with temporary accommodations used for inmates during the process. The rebuilding project, completed over four years, cost £90 million and featured redesigned architecture to prevent future vulnerabilities, such as reinforced roofs and limited access points to elevated areas, while expanding capacity to approximately 1,250 prisoners. The facility was officially reopened on 27 May 1994 as HM Prison Manchester, marking the shift from its historical name and incorporating upgraded infrastructure like a new healthcare center and modular cell blocks with integral sanitation to comply with emerging standards against slopping out. Policy reforms during this period were heavily influenced by the Woolf Inquiry's 1991 report, which analyzed the riots' root causes—, poor regime management, and inadequate grievance procedures—and proposed a framework balancing security with humane treatment. At , implementation included the introduction of "purposeful activity" regimes, mandating at least 50% of prisoners' time in , vocational , or work programs by the mid-1990s, alongside staff in and the establishment of independent monitoring boards for oversight. These changes aimed to reduce idleness, a key precipitant identified in the riots, though early audits noted uneven rollout due to resource constraints. Into the 2000s, further adjustments addressed Woolf's emphasis on , such as streamlined processes to handle disciplinary matters more transparently and the piloting of listener schemes where trained supported peers' , reducing isolation-related tensions. However, national policy shifts toward stricter sentencing inflated the prison population beyond certified normal accommodation—reaching 1,600 by 2003—undermining sanitation and regime goals, with reports highlighting persistent cell-sharing and limited exercise access despite physical upgrades. These reforms, while structurally advancing conditions from pre-riot squalor, faced criticism for insufficient funding and political prioritization of custody over rehabilitation, as evidenced by recurring metrics.

Persistent Operational Difficulties

Despite post-1990 reforms aimed at improving security and regimes, HMP Manchester has exhibited ongoing deficits, with 57% of prisoners reporting feeling unsafe at some point during their incarceration in a 2024 survey. levels remain elevated, including assaults involving weapons, exacerbated by the prevalence of illicit drugs and organized criminal networks operating within the facility. Drug misuse constitutes a core persistent issue, described as reaching "catastrophic levels" in 2024 inspections, with easy access facilitating debt-related and heightened among . Mandatory drug testing revealed positive rates exceeding 40%, while intelligence indicated widespread supply chains linked to external gangs, including via drone incursions that security measures have failed to fully mitigate. These dynamics contribute to staff corruption risks and undermine rehabilitation efforts, as prisoners prioritize survival over purposeful activity. Staffing shortages and inexperience compound operational strains, with high vacancy rates and reliance on inexperienced officers leading to inadequate oversight and vulnerability to manipulation by . Assaults on staff have risen in correlation with these gaps, while training deficiencies impair threat assessment, particularly for high-security Category A prisoners. incidents and risks persist at concerning levels, with at-risk individuals often unsupported due to resource constraints and poor intelligence-sharing. Infrastructure decay further entrenches difficulties, manifesting in chronic infestations of , damp conditions, and accumulation that compromise and morale. lapses, such as insufficient netting and CCTV coverage, enable entry and escapes attempts, as evidenced by multiple drone-related incidents prompting emergency fixes like window grills in 2025. These material shortcomings, unaddressed despite capital investments post-riots, reflect systemic underfunding and maintenance failures within the Prison Service.

Contemporary Conditions and Developments

Recent Inspections and Internal Issues (2010s–2025)

In September 2018, HM Inspectorate of Prisons reported that levels of at HMP had increased threefold since 2014, with 45 assaults on staff recorded in the six months prior to ; overall, there were nearly 100 assaults on staff annually, alongside high rates of prisoner-on-prisoner linked to debts and organised crime influences. availability was described as pervasive, contributing to despair and instability, while incidents were elevated, though specific quantification was not detailed in the findings. Staffing shortages exacerbated control issues, with inspectors noting inadequate responses to aggressive behavior. A 2021 unannounced by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons reiterated concerns, including ongoing and problems, though outcomes showed some progress in purposeful activity but persistent weaknesses in reducing ; the prison received a rating of "not sufficiently good" in . strained resources, with the population exceeding capacity thresholds common across prisons during this period, amplifying internal tensions. The most recent unannounced , conducted from 17 September to 3 October 2024, uncovered "catastrophic" levels of illicit drugs, with 39% of tested prisoners positive, fueling organised crime dominance and the highest serious assault rate among adult male prisons in . rates had risen steeply to among the highest nationally, linked to drug-related debts and squalid conditions including infestations, filth, and structural decay; six self-inflicted deaths occurred since the prior inspection, plus three suspected drug-related. Staffing comprised many inexperienced officers with low , leading to manipulation by and inadequate , prompting an Urgent Notification on 10 October 2024 requiring ministerial intervention. An action plan submitted in January 2025 outlined measures like enhanced drug testing and infrastructure repairs, but early 2025 reports highlighted ongoing risks from novice staff being ignored or coerced, posing national security threats.

Security Interventions and External Threats

In response to escalating external threats, HM Prison Manchester has faced persistent incursions via unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) used by groups to smuggle drugs, weapons, and other into the facility. reported 220 drone sightings at the prison in the year prior to January 2025, with deliveries including , mobile phones, and even takeaway food, exacerbating internal and undermining control. These operations, often involving hired drone experts recruited by gangs, represent a broader risk, as noted by the of Prisons, due to the potential for arming high-risk inmates in Category A facilities. arrested four men on February 25, 2025, after seizing a drone laden with drugs and near the prison perimeter, highlighting ongoing external criminal targeting. Security interventions have intensified since an October 2024 inspection revealed "catastrophic" levels and inadequate perimeter defenses, prompting the prison's placement under . The announced bolstered measures on November 7, 2024, including the installation of comprehensive netting across the site to block drone access and a upgraded CCTV system for enhanced surveillance and deterrence. Additional staff training programs were rolled out to improve detection and response to aerial threats, alongside targeted operations against external smuggling networks in coordination with police. These steps build on prior countermeasures, such as the recovery of a drug-laden drone in November 2015, but inspections in 2025 underscored persistent vulnerabilities in physical barriers like windows and legacy netting. Despite these interventions, external threats remain acute, with drone activity likened to a "pack of wasps" evading current defenses and fueling dominance within the prison. National efforts, including a July 2025 crackdown on gangs, aim to disrupt supply chains, but the prison's urban location near amplifies risks from local criminal enterprises. Ongoing evaluations by HM Inspectorate of Prisons emphasize the need for integrated technology, such as advanced detection systems, to mitigate these incursions effectively.

Relocation and Regeneration Proposals

In March 2025, and City Council published the draft Strangeways and Strategic Regeneration Framework (SRF), outlining a vision for transforming approximately 320 acres around HM Prison Manchester into a including up to 7,000 new homes, commercial spaces, and public amenities over a 20- to 30-year horizon. The framework identifies the prison's central location as a constraint on , proposing its eventual relocation to unlock the site's full potential for seven distinct neighborhoods with buildings up to 30 storeys high. The proposals envision creating around 4,500 jobs through , alongside such as a 60-acre park in the area of to enhance connectivity and . Relocation of the Victorian-era facility, operational since 1868, is framed as a long-term prerequisite for comprehensive , with leaders arguing that the prison's outdated and high-security footprint hinder adjacent growth in one of the 's most deprived wards. An eight-week on the SRF commenced in late March 2025 to gather input on phasing and feasibility. Greater Manchester Mayor endorsed the relocation in April 2025, describing the prison as "out of date" for its city-center position and advocating for its shift to a peripheral site to facilitate housing and economic revitalization. However, the stated in March 2025 that no immediate relocation plans exist, emphasizing ongoing operational needs amid national , though it acknowledged discussions on estate modernization without committing timelines. Critics, including local residents during early feedback sessions, have raised concerns over potential displacement and traffic impacts, underscoring the need for detailed infrastructure assessments. The SRF builds on prior policing initiatives like Operation Vulcan, which addressed crime hotspots, but implementation hinges on cross-party funding and national government alignment.

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