Prison van taking up prisoners at the House of Detention

Book illustration showing a prison van taking up prisoners at the House of Detention, Clerkenwell, from page 467 of 'The criminal prisons of London and scenes of prison life' by Henry Mayhew and John Binny. Prisoners to be discharged from Clerkenwell were gathered together by the warders. "At a quarter-past nine o'clock in the morning, each warder brings out such prisoners, who are ranged in line. A list is furnished to the reception warder, from which he calls out the different names, and ascertains if he has the right prisoners, and the courts to which they are to be forwarded. They are then passed by the clerk in the office, and the commitments handed to the police sergeant in the van."