Prisoner in refractory cell

Book illustration showing a prisoner in a refractory cell at Millbank prison, from page 249 of 'The criminal prisons of London and scenes of prison life' by Henry Mayhew and John Binny. The refractory cells were used to house prisoners who had committed some violent assault or insubordination. They resembled ordinary cells "except in two particulars; the wooden door was outside, and was kept firmly closed over the iron door or grating, while the windows were blocked up so as to admit only the smallest possible number of rays." Prisoners in refractory cells were kept on bread and water rations.