NewgateThis was once London's most notorious prison. Public hangings took place outside its gates, and it features in several of Charles Dickens's novels. Newgate was rebuilt several times, and finally demolished in 7902. The Central Criminal Court (Old Bailey) was built on the site of the prison.
DartmoorDartmoor was first used for prisoners of war during the Napoleonic Wars and has served as a high-security, long-term prison ever since. The prison is miles from anywhere on a bleak Devon moor so if prisoners escape, they are usually recaptured quickly.
Devil's IslandFrance's worst criminals and political prisoners were sent to this prison off the coast of French Guiana from 1852 until 1938. Henri Charrière, known as Papillon, is one of the few inmates ever to escape. Conditions on the island were very harsh and many prisoners died of disease.
AlcatrazThis island in San Francisco Bay, California, USA, is often known as The Rock, but was originally called Isla de los Alcatraces (Isle of the Pelicans). It was first used as a military prison, but then became a prison for the country's most dangerous criminals, among them Al Capone. Robert Stroud, a bird expert who became famous as the Birdman of Alcatraz, spent many years there.
Sing SingThis New York prison was named after the Sin Sick Native Americans who originally lived there. It was built from 1825 to 1828, and from 1891 onwards many murderers were electrocute in the electric chair at Sing Sing. In 1969 the prison was renamed Ossining Correctional Facility.