Description

PORTLAND

SY67SE
969-1/1/146

THE GROVE, Grove
(North side)
HM Young Offender Institution, west
cell block

GV
II

Prison cell block, Raleigh/Drake/Benbow wings. 1898. Fine
coursed Portland ashlar, some rock-faced masonry, slate roofs.
One of two parallel blocks, a T-shaped building in long N/S
wing and shorter E/W wing projecting centrally from W side. In
5 or 6 storeys, 8:1:15:1:6 bays to E, and 5 storeys 13 bays to
central arm, linked by splays to main block; the single bays
being projecting service towers (not staircases). Windows are
small square-headed iron small-pane casements with external
horizontal bars,in flush chamfered surrounds and to very heavy
weathered cills; on the service towers set in returns, with
plain outer wall rising to steep coped gable. Most
ground-floor windows modified, and opening extended to meet
underside of first-floor cills. Coped gable ends on heavy
3-course kneelers, have 4 x 3 close-set vertical casements in
flush chamfer surrounds, but at ground floor are 3 wide-spaced
square lights, some of these blind. Entrances at ends of
blocks and in base of service towers. In the splays connecting
the arms are close-set segmental-headed lights at each level.
Ten lofty large square stacks with rock-faced quoins, a plain
necking band, and dentilled cappings. The eaves in 2
continuous chamfered courses above bold dentils. Interior
partly inspected, retains most of original structure and
fittings: adjacent to service towers are stone flush-soffit
dog-leg stairs to simple rail balusters, original cell doors,
access balconies on cast-iron brackets, iron rod roof trusses
to roof with long runs of laylights to each slope, and all to
painted brick walls and partitions. This building, with the
Grenville/Nelson block (qv) to the E, although of late C19, is
a characteristically bold design, carried out in very splendid
masonry showing little signs of discolouration or
deterioration. It replaces the former timber-clad 1848
structures of the original prison group, and the two blocks
figure prominently in views from many parts of the island.

Listing NGR: SY7016172338

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26498675

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990: Updated version
• 
  Old House Care and Repair
• 
  Somerset: North and Bristol: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Dorset (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Hampshire: South (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Devon (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)