Her Majesty’s Prison
Her Majesty's Prison is a modest colonial jail in Grand Turk's old town of Cockburn. Built in the 1830s, this waterfront building served as the country's lone prison until 1994. The Bell Tower, which was rung five times a day, is a significant landmark of the institution (except Sunday). It was rung at sunrise and sunset to signal the start and end of the work day. The location is now a historical tourist attraction.
Her Majesty's Prison has both men's and women's wards for daily life in prison. The inmates were fed three times a day and given 12 hours of sleep. Prisoners were also expected to work on occasion, such as smashing boulders with hammers for road use or supervised clean-up and upkeep around town. When a storm was approaching, it was normal procedure for non-serious offenders to be freed in order to care for their families, houses, and cattle.
The prison has had one big occurrence in its history that resulted in mass escapes. The prison's roof was ripped off and the external stone walls were damaged by the devastating hurricane of September 30, 1866, which destroyed 871 dwellings and badly damaged another 197. All the boats in the harbor were sunk, and 16 persons aboard Grand Turk were killed (along with 4 on nearby Salt Cay).
Over the course of its existence, the prison underwent many additions to boost capacity. At any given time in the early years, there were between two and six prisoners, most of whom were incarcerated for drunkenness and other minor infractions. By the time it closed in 1994, the inmate population had risen to an average of 50 to 60 people.
When a cruise ship is in port, Her Majesty's Prison is usually open. The cost of admission for adults is $7. The tours are self-guided, and there are plenty of explanatory signs to help you figure out what you're looking at.
Location: Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos Islands
