| History |
| 2.1
Since 1883, 1891 and 1902 respectively there have been
units at Dumfries, Aberdeen and Inverness for the holding
of women prisoners on remand from the appropriate
hinterland. In the earlier part of this century convicted
women prisoners from the central belt were held in HMP
Duke Street, Glasgow. From 1955, however, when Duke
Street was closed, HMP Greenock became the permanent
holding establishment for convicted women and that
position obtained until the opening of Cornton Vale in
1975. In addition, for many years there were at HMP Perth
and HMP Edinburgh units similar to those at Aberdeen,
Dumfries and Inverness but with the opening of Cornton
Vale only the last three establishments continued to hold
any female prisoners. (There had also been a small unit
for female remand prisoners in HMP Barlinnie but that
unit closed in the late 1960s.) |
| 2.2
Greenock records reveal that short sentence women
prisoners were employed on cleaning parties on the basis
that they could not be fitted into any training scheme.
Longer sentence women were employed in the work room
where they learned to use electric sewing-machines,
knitting machines, button-hole and over-lock machines.
They were also employed in the cook-house, after which
experience it was hoped that they would be fitted for
employment in hostel or hospital kitchens. Evening
classes were held in Cookery, Shorthand and Typing and
there were classes in Child Care and Home Nursing. There
was a class in Handicrafts and correspondence courses in
various subjects might be arranged for "special
prisoners". |
| 2.3
Greenock also housed a female borstal. According to the
records every girl was given a thorough training in
practical domestic science and attended educational
classes "to bring her up to the standard required to
fit her for employment on liberation". The emphasis
was on subjects similar to those in the adult
establishment: Sewing, Dressmaking, Knitting, Mending,
Laundry, Cookery, Cleaning and Child Care and Home
Nursing. Educational classes covered English, Arithmetic,
Shorthand and Typing, Art and Physical Training. A
Marriage Guidance Counsellor conducted a series of Group
Discussions annually. |
| 2.4
The modern era in female regimes began with the
construction of Cornton Vale. This establishment was
built on the site of a former male borstal institution
during the period 1970-74. Most of the construction work
was carried out by prison staff from various
establishments and borstal inmates from Cornton Vale and
Polmont although electrical and heating installations and
other specialised work was completed by private
contractors. |
| 2.5
Meanwhile planning of a new look regime - including
aspects such as the management structure and new staff
uniforms - was being carried out under the aegis of Lady
Martha Bruce, the first - and to date the only female -
Governor of the establishment which was opened in April
1975 and became fully operational the following year. |
