Dartmoor Prison

Located in Princetown, high amidst Dartmoor, the prison presents a bleak and formidable sight. Constructed originally by local labour for prisoners of both the Napoleonic and the War of 1812 with America, between 1806 and 1809, its high granite walls dominate this area of the moor.

In April 1815, and although the wars had ended with the [Treaty of Ghent]? in December of the previous year, many American prisoners of war still remained and some were unfortunate enough to be massacred in the prison at the behest of a British officer,who thought some were attempting to escape.

Dartmoor was reopened in 1851 as a civilian prison and has contained some of Britain's most serious offenders ever since. It has a (misplaced) reputation for being escape-proof.