Lifting apparatus for serving the dinner at the city prison, Holloway

Book illustration of the lifting apparatus for serving dinner at the city prison, Holloway, from page 449 of 'The criminal prisons of London and scenes of prison life' by Henry Mayhew and John Binny. The authors examined the prison kitchen and then view "a large apartment nearly of a semi-circular form, situated under the central hall. At each end is a windlass for hoisting up provisions to the various corridors, and in the centre is a spiral staircase leading up through the central hall to the galleries of the prison.."

Prison food at Holloway consisted of either gruel or cocoa and bread for breakfast. "The butcher in general arrives about ten o'clock, when we prepare for dinner, consisting of meat and potatoes, or soup and potatoes, which are served up at one o'clock to all the branches of the prison." Supper consisted of more gruel and bread.