Tuesday, June 20, 2017

Kingston Pen

Naturally, I took loads of pics at the Pen on Fathers Day. On a timed tour, you do what you can while trying to stay up with the group, so they were hurried, but a few are okay. I am going to concentrate on the building, both outside and inside, in this post, which was constructed from local limestone.

Construction took place in 1833-34, and the Provincial Penitentiary of the Province of Upper Canada opened in 1835 with a total of 154 tiny cells but with only six initial prisoners.

I did this batch of photos in black and white with a bit of a gritty look, which seemed appropriate to me.

A corner tower seen from the outside. It would have overseen
one corner of the exercise yard.

Abandon hope all ye who enter here
The tower at the other corner of the Yard, which was cement covered and divided into two sections for crowd control.

We didn't get into most buildings, but we did see the inside of the former workshop building, the entrance of which was quite impressive. The follwing three photos are of the entrance hall,.




Unfortunately, the actual workshop rooms were empty, so it was difficult to get a flavour for the original workings. We did get into the former Mattress Workshop, and I was quite taken with the red brick ceiling. I am tempted to show it in colour, but I have decided to keep this post in monochrome.

That rascal, JJ, made an unscheduled appearance.

On the wall was an illustration of one of the shops in times past when work was going on.


And that's it for this post, but I am not finished with the Pen. No indeedy. I can hear the deep sighs of eager anticipation from you all the way over here.

7 comments:

Marie Smith said...

Imagine the feelings of the people who entered there and saw that staircase in those early days.

Blogoratti said...

Love the black and white, gives it more substance. There must be so much history behind those walls. Warm greetings.

Mara said...

Isn't it amazing how even jails were built to such an architectural degree? It seems as if the treatment of prisoners is inversely proportionate to the architecture of the buildings.

Debbie said...

hehehe, I am excited!! Parts of this did not feel penitentiary like, others of course did. The entryway seemed grand, almost pretty!!

Tabor said...

I like the gritty look. Most appropriately for the subject.

Jenn Jilks said...

You did B & W justice.

Vicki Lane said...

Great black and white subjects!