Holloway Prison: Women Behind Bars (Female Prisoners Documentary) | Real Stories

From a Moors Murderer to suffragettes and even a suspected witch, this true crime documentary delves deeply into the history of the North London jail as it prepares to close after 164 years. Once Europe's largest women’s prison, this is HMP Holloway.

A hard-hitting documentary presented by renowned criminologist and former prison governor, Professor David Wilson, Holloway: Women Behind Bars investigates the extraordinary story of the prison and profiles some of its famous female inmates.

Since it was first established in 1852, the infamous institution has housed some of Britain’s most notorious female murderers; from the last woman to be hanged, Ruth Ellis, who killed her abusive lover, to the Moors Murderer Myra Hindley, and serial killers Rose West, and (most recently) Joanne Dennehy.

During its reign as one of the biggest women’s prisons in Western Europe, Holloway was the setting for the highest number of female executions during the 20th Century in England and Wales. It has also had its fair share of controversies, from audacious escapes and bullying, to sex scandals with guards and the abolition of the death penalty.

As the documentary was being filmed, there are around 90,000 prisoners in England and Wales, but only 4,000 were women. With interviews from criminologist Dr Elizabeth Yardley, historian Kate Williams and those who worked and served time at Holloway, Professor David Wilson investigates the history of the prison from the very beginning.

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[mariyaa]

How does this channel not have SO many more likes ?! They have such different content than the other documentaries channels!!

[BucketHeadianHagg]

This was a really good episode! The history aspect is super interesting and very well written!

[swampophelia]

The new Holloway wasn’t a Victorian building, I read it was built as a hospital then made into a prison, I was there over 30 years ago and many of the rooms had four beds in just like a hospital bay. I was only there three weeks and it was enough to make me change my ways sharpish.

[bluecollarnobody]

I do believe in reform for certain people that actually want to change

But you also have to accept the fact that some people are just bad people they’re doing wrong things they know they’re doing things that are wrong and they just don’t care go out to Maine wonder victimized take advantage of and do whatever they have to do to the weekend defenseless satisfy their own cravings and needs

[coffeecrimegal]

Prison is meant to be a deterrent not a holiday!
And unfortunately there’s always going to be those who contribute nothing to society but malice & pain, who need to be separated from the rest.


As far as mental health is concerned that’s a separate issue. Perhaps they shouldn’t have done away with all the mental hospitals in the 80’s leaving little to no other option but prisons to which we know isn’t suitable for those with severe mental illnesses.

[irishgurl]

I don’t know about British prisons today but I know not much has changed in American prisons as far as the class system goes.

[marciajones]

Imagine going to prison and finding out you still have the washing to do. 😂😂

[merimasviland]

All the crazy music and sounds makes it impossible to listen to, so disturbing and stressing.

[bluecollarnobody]

Guess what ladies and gentlemen you’re in jail it shouldn’t be fun you should have to suffer a little bit so therefore you don’t keep doing the same things and put yourself back

Jail is not a country club I don’t care how rich or poor you are

Can’t do the time don’t do the crime

[thekitowl]

David Wilson sure loves the sound of his own voice.

[merimasviland]

Elisabeth brings NOTHING to the shows, she is just saying the most common sense things and just repeat things, so boring

[livchris]

"Transported to Australia and Tasmania" bruh don't word it like that, Tasmania is part of Australia 😂 if you're gonna describe it in terms of separate settlements, go by colony name instead

[Csobye]

Why was life created. what an awful design. Life is disgusting people are disgusting so really whoever did create this deserves to be slapped for such a stupid idea.

[Zero-hlzy]

The power of a woman is to give birth to life all women who kill are very disturbed mentally 👩‍👦‍👦