HM Prison Belmarsh, Maximum security prison in Thamesmead, London, England.
The prison complex contains residential units with single and multiple occupancy cells, specialized security zones, and an adjacent crown court building.
Established in 1991 on former Royal Arsenal grounds, Belmarsh Prison began operations as a Category A facility for high-security inmates.
The prison maintains educational programs, physical training facilities, and rehabilitation workshops to support inmate development and reintegration into society.
Visitors need advance bookings, valid identification documents, and must comply with security procedures including searches and biometric scanning.
Archaeological excavations in 2009 revealed a 6000-year-old wooden track beneath the prison grounds.
Location: Royal Borough of Greenwich
Inception: 1992
Official opening: 1991
Website: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/belmarsh-prison
Address: HMP Belmarsh, Western Way, Thamesmead, London, SE28 0EB SE28 0EB SE28 0EB
Opening Hours: Monday-Friday 07:00-20:00; Saturday-Sunday 07:00-17:00
Phone: +442083314400
Website: https://gov.uk/guidance/belmarsh-prison
GPS coordinates: 51.49666,0.09327
Latest update: November 22, 2025 12:42
This collection brings together penal institutions that have marked the history of incarceration worldwide through their architecture, detention conditions, or roles in major historical events. From the Guantanamo Bay naval base in Cuba, established in 2002 for holding individuals suspected of terrorism, to high-security facilities like Red Onion in Wise County, Virginia, these sites document the evolution of penal systems across continents. Among the institutions transformed into memorial sites, Diyarbakır Prison in Turkey stands out for its conversion into a cultural center and museum since 2019. Its 24 dormitories spread over two floors, its cells, and corridors allow visitors to explore this chapter of Turkish penal history. In Argentina, Mendoza Prison, built in the early 20th century, reflects the prison practices of that era and the development of the regional judicial system. Other facilities remain operational and raise questions about prisoners' rights and incarceration conditions. Gldani Prison in Tbilisi caused national protests in 2012 after images exposing systemic abuses were released, leading to major reforms in the Georgian penal system. Ciudad Barrios Prison in El Salvador continues to function as a correctional center in the eastern region of the country. These sites, spread across multiple continents, provide documented insights into penal practices in various political and social contexts. From Rwanda to North Korea, passing through Colombia and the United States, they help understand the evolution of judicial and correctional systems while raising current issues related to detention and rehabilitation.
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