Woking Male Invalid Convict Prison for male convicts was opened in 1859. This prison, created to manage the ever-increasing demand for a place to house invalided convicts, took in those considered too weak to follow the expected heavy labour associated with general prisons. Those with epilepsy, blindness, mental incapacitation, physical disability and ailments associated with old age, were all held in this new prison. It was felt at the time that the healthy atmosphere and the slightly less rigorous regime, would prevent the decline and death so common for this subset seen in standard gaols.
To read more about this prison and some of the men incarcerated check out the Woking Prison Page.
Notorious Inmates at Woking Male Invalid Convict Prison
John Lynch – The Bold Fenian Man
Alexander Moir – The Merciless Murderer
William Strahan – The Bent Banker
Aaron Rungay – The Water Boatman
Emery Spriggs – The Dark Shooter