HM Glendairy Prison, Colonial prison in Station Hill, Barbados
HM Glendairy Prison was a detention facility in Station Hill comprising multiple buildings and cell blocks designed to house up to 1,000 male and female inmates. The complex was enclosed within perimeter walls and served as the island's main correctional center.
The facility was constructed in 1855 and operated for 150 years until a major uprising in March 2005 caused its destruction by fire. This event marked the end of one of the island's longest-serving institutions.
The site displays British colonial architecture that reflects the history of Caribbean incarceration practices, still visible in its remaining structures.
The location is no longer accessible as a functioning prison because operations were transferred to the new HMP Dodds facility in St Philip district in 2005. Visitors can only view the ruins and grounds from outside.
The site was originally a naval base before being converted into a prison, adding an interesting layer to the location's history. This transformation shows how the purpose of institutions changed over time.
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