Usk Prison

The creation of a new entrance at NW in mid C20 shifted the focus away from the original central entry plan. Adjacent to the former main entrance hall (N) is a small museum of early plans and artefacts from the prison including the history of former houses of correction in Usk which preceded the current building. Here is the now unused exit from the tunnel linking the adjacent court house and prison. In the adjacent block (S), an early door with serving hatch and spy-hole is retained as an example of past arrangements. The control centre lit by a roof lantern is an open space off which radiate the 3 cell blocks. These are two storeys with metal landings, rails and stairs; round-arched vaulted ceilings with wide ribs. At far end (E) of central block is a small room converted to a chapel, the original large chapel, now a gym, was at first floor level adjacent to the control centre

Prison. Red sandstone with prominent slate roofs. The complex comprises a high stone wall with central gateway flanked by polygonal towers and inside the enclosure, seen from the front, a roughly symmetrical composition of 3 storey blocks with projecting wings flanking the entrance and surmounted by an octagonal low tower, tall rendered chimney to right. Wall is of coursed red sandstone with pale ashlar dressings. High stone outer wall has moulded glazed brick coping, plinth and equally spaced buttress-pilasters. At its centre is a dignified entrance gateway comprising a projecting entrance bay with high round-arched doorway with Gibbs surround, voussoirs and keystone; cast iron portcullis style grille over the boarded door which has now been permanently closed. Ashlar bands at plinth, impost and cornice with parapet stepped up over doorway. Lower slit windows resembling arrow loops. On either side are deeply projecting five sided towers. Mid-C20 door inserted at far left with some different style red brick detailing.

Behind the walls is a complex of blocks within the semi-polygonal enclosure formed by the prison wall. The two periods of construction are identified by the masonry - coursed rubble for the early work, tooled and snecked stonework for the 1860s extensions. Slate roofs. Facing the entrance is a group of 3-storey blocks: at centre the former 'office wing', to N the former governor's house and to S the former female wing, now an administration and education block. Wing extends E to the control centre lit by a second roof lantern from which radiate the three long 2-storey cell blocks (now termed A,B,C). Separate single storey kitchen block. Single storey workshops. Tall rendered chimney. Windows have ashlar block surrounds and mostly small-pane cast-iron windows with guards. Windows to cells are small, windows to former sanatorium ward are larger; some sashes, and a bay window to the former governor's house. The original doorway opposite the original entrance has a deep painted channelled surround; the inner face of the original entrance gateway has similar details to exterior.