Mat room at Coldbath Fields Prison

Book illustration of the mat room at Coldbath Fields Prison from page 316 of 'The criminal prisons of London and scenes of prison life' by Henry Mayhew and John Binny. The authors comment that mat-making is a favourite occupation with prison authorities "owing to the facility with which a man can be taught the occupation, and because such kinds of manufacture afford considerable occupation to others in preparing the different materials, 'hands' being required, not only to pick the coir, but also to make the rough cordage for the mat; and in a jail labour is so plentiful, that the difficulty is to find sufficient employment for all the prisoners.... All the mats made at Coldbath Fields are contracted for by a wholesale dealer, who is allowed to place foremen over the prisoners, both to instruct the new, and superintend the old hands. There are thirty-six prisoners employed in the mat-room; but including those who dress the flax and coir, and spin the rope, occupation is afforded for about sixty hands."