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Prison discipline, 1888
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Prison discipline, 1888
Prison discipline, 1888. Prisoners at hard labour on the treadwheel in an English local jail. The prisoner had 15 minutes on, 5 minutes off the wheel, until his time was finished for the day. The treadwheel was often used to grind flour for the prison. From Cassells Saturday Journal. (London, 8 December 1888)
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Media ID 14846419
© Ann Ronan Picture Library / Heritage-Images
Bored Boredom Boring Discipline Exercise Exercising Grim Hard Labour Penitentiary Prison Prisoner Punishment Treading Treadmill Ann Ronan Pictures Pointless
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Prison Discipline, 1888 - A Glimpse into the Grim Reality of Victorian Incarceration
EDITORS COMMENTS
. This haunting print captures a chilling scene from an English local jail in 1888. The image depicts prisoners engaged in hard labor on the treadwheel, a notorious form of punishment during that era. Each prisoner endured grueling fifteen-minute intervals on the wheel, followed by only five minutes of respite before their time was up for the day. The monotony and boredom etched onto their faces speak volumes about the harshness of prison life back then. With no escape from this mind-numbing exercise, it is evident how such discipline aimed to break both body and spirit. The treadwheel served a dual purpose as it was also used to grind flour for the prison. This further emphasizes its utilitarian nature, reducing human beings to mere cogs in a machine designed solely for productivity. As we gaze upon this somber scene frozen in time, we are reminded of the power dynamics at play within society's penal system during the nineteenth century. The engraving evokes feelings of sympathy towards these anonymous men who found themselves trapped within this cycle of punishment and futility. This thought-provoking image serves as a stark reminder that justice systems have evolved over time but still bear witness to struggles between rehabilitation and retribution. It prompts us to reflect on our own notions of crime and punishment while appreciating how far we have come since those grim days in Victorian England.
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