Monument record 1169102000 - HMP Grendon

HMP Grendon was built in 1959-62 on land adjacent to Spring Hill prison, and opened in 1962. Originally conceived in 1939 as a special psychotherapeutic institution for 300 inmates, offering a wide range of agricultural and recreational activities along with vocational training and employment, the site at Grendon was only finalised in 1955. In 1956 plans were drawn up and published in 'The Builder', with the main accomodation wings comprising long open corridors flanked by cells and connected to an administration, chapel, hospital and assembly block and a Y-shaped holding block. When the prison was finally built, the accomodation was arranged in two large wings on several storeys without open landings and the Y-shaped block had been dropped (B3).

On 1st January 1953 Grendon Hall and the adjacent hutted military camp were acquired by the Prison Commission and the accommodation was adapted to serve as an open prison, HMP Spring Hill. In the same year an application was submitted for permission to build a new secure prison on part of the estate and by 1954 permission had been granted following a public enquiry. Work began in 1959 and Grendon opened in August 1962. [On 18th July 1996] HMP Grendon is entered by a simple gate in its west side. It is a means of access only, as administration and visits are located separately within the perimeter. Inmate accommodation consists of two pairs of wings on either side of a corridor which runs from the administration to the wings, hospital, chapel and gymnasium. The only buildings which cannot be reached from the corridor directly are reception and visits, workshops and laundry. In architectural style the blocks are very geometric, with brick-clad walls and concrete window surrounds. Their very cubic form is enhanced by the use of flat roofs. Grendon is significant for two reasons: Firstly, it was the first and only prison designated as a "Psychiatric Prison". Secondly, it is only one of two prisons build around 1960 when new ideas on prison design were developing (B4,B9).
This record includes National Record of the Historic Environment Information provided by Historic England on 4 June 2025 licensed under the Open Government Licence (B10).