Drawing by Falcon Hildred - Cardiff Prison, 1986
Cardiff was commissioned after the earlier Cardiff Gaol was deemed insufficient to cope with the likely prison needs of the rapidly expanding industrial town. It was opened at the end of 1832 with room to house eighty prisoners and twenty debtors. It was built to the 'Pentonville' plan, housed within a seven acre walled enclosure in the centre of Cardiff. Falcon recorded the prison prior to major building works in 1996, when the capacity was increased with the addition of three extra wings. The grey dusk and full moon highlight the myriad lit windows with chilling effect.
Ref. FHA 02_66