Holloway (HM Prison)

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HM Prison Holloway is a women's prison in the London Borough of Islington, London, United Kingdom.

Holloway Prison, c. 1896

It was opened in 1852 as a mixed prison, but due to growing demand for space for female prisoners became female-only in 1903. Prisoners included suffragettes such as Constance Markeivicz and Hanna Sheehy-Skeffington. In the 20th century, it was the site of five executions, most famously that of Ruth Ellis on July 13, 1955 - she was the last woman in Britain to be hanged.

It was rebuilt in the 1970s, and remains in use. Confusingly, it stands at the end of a road bearing the name of another prison: Parkhurst Road. In 2005 its operational capacity was 485.

It held Diana Mitford during World War II, and after a personal intervention from Prime Minister Winston Churchill, her husband Sir Oswald Moseley was moved there. They were released in 1943. More recently it housed, in 1966, Moors murderess Myra Hindley, in 1967, Nazi synagogue arsonist Françoise Dior, and in 2002, Maxine Carr who was implicated in the Soham murders.

The British music group Bush wrote a song about the prison called Personal Holloway, on their CD Razorblade Suitcase. Marillion's song "Holloway Girl" can be found on their album Seasons End. The Kinks' "Holloway Jail" appears on Muswell Hillbillies. Million Dead also have a song called Holloway Prison Blues on their album Harmony No Harmony.