Borstal : A History of Rochester Prison

The word Borstal is synonymous with treatment of young criminals, but do you know where it originates? A convict prison built on the top of a hill above the River Medway, which took its name from the local village of Borstal.

First a prison to house the labour building the forts to defend Chatham Dockyard against the French, it became the experiment for a system of youth justice which spread across the country and the Empire.

Thoroughly researched and illustrated, take a step back in time to learn about the changes in justice systems and a Prison which now celebrates its 150th Anniversary

150 pages with 10pp bibliography, 4pp index and 26 illustrations and 64 b/w photographs