Kingston Penitentiary facts for kids
Kingston Penitentiary front entrance
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| Location | Kingston, Ontario |
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| Security class | Maximum security |
| Capacity | 564 |
| Opened | June 1, 1835 |
| Closed | September 30, 2013 |
| Managed by | Correctional Service Canada |
| Designated: | 1990 |
Kingston Penitentiary, often called KP or Kingston Pen, was a very old and important prison in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. It was known as a maximum security prison, meaning it held people who were considered the most dangerous. It was located right by Lake Ontario.
Contents
History of Kingston Pen
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Building the Prison
Kingston Penitentiary was built between 1833 and 1834. It first opened its doors on June 1, 1835. At that time, it was called the "Provincial Penitentiary of the Province of Upper Canada." When it closed, it was one of the oldest prisons in the world that had been used continuously.
The prison was built on land that was good for building. It had easy access to water and lots of strong limestone. This stone was perfect for building the strong walls of a prison.
Early Days and Design
When the prison first opened, it accepted only six inmates. The cells were quite small. They were about 73.7 centimeters (26 inches) wide. They were also about 244 centimeters (8 feet) deep and 200.7 centimeters (6 feet, 7 inches) high.
At first, the area was surrounded by a 12-foot-high wooden fence. Later, between 1845 and 1861, more parts were added. Towers, strong stone walls, and a north gate house were completed. A large dome was also added. This dome connected four different cellblocks.
A Famous Visitor
In 1842, a famous English writer named Charles Dickens visited Kingston. He wrote about his visit in his book, American Notes. He said that Kingston had an "admirable jail." He thought it was well-run and organized.
Dickens saw the prisoners working. They were shoemakers, rope makers, blacksmiths, and tailors. Some were carpenters and stonecutters. They even helped build new parts of the prison. The women prisoners did needlework.
Nearby Connections
The western wall of Kingston Penitentiary is next to the Portsmouth Olympic Harbour. This harbor was used for sailing events during the 1976 Summer Olympics.
Right across the road to the north was the Kingston Prison for Women. This prison opened in 1934. It was built to hold female prisoners. Before that, women were kept in separate areas within the main Kingston Penitentiary. The Prison for Women closed in 2000.
Images for kids
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Guard house under main dome connecting the four cellblock buildings
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Aerial photo from 1919
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A full-scale model of a KP cell found in the Correctional Service of Canada Museum
