Address Wandsworth Prison Museum, c/o: POA Office, HMP Wandsworth, Heathfield Road, London
Opened in 2008 following the 150th Anniversary of the prison. Wandsworth Prison Museum is an Aladdin’s cave of documents, uniforms, displays, kit, memorabilia, stories of prisoners and staff, numerous artefacts, including an original lock and key of the jail. Wandsworth Prison is a radial design prison which originated from the USA.
Significant collections relating to regional crime and punishment organisation or to a particular individual The gaol remains the largest local prison in London. The prison was the national store for execution equipment since 1942 and the Museum displays artefacts and documents on this subject. The prison housed the last operational gallows until 1993. Notable prisoners with displays include: Oscar Wilde; John Haigh (Acid bath Murderer); William Joyce (last execution for Treason); Ronnie Biggs (train robber and escapee); James Earl Ray (assassin of Dr Martin Luther King) was also held in the prison and documents are on display.
