The cells are heated by hot air supplied from two stoves constructed in the rooms at the end of the buildings next to the observatory; by these means the objections to the introduction of a separate fire-place to each cell is remov ed, and less superintendence effected, with greater econo my, security and privacy.
A covered way is introduced from each radiating build ing of the cells to the centre, for the convenience of super intending the prisoners, and conveying their food in bad weather : this cheap screen is covered with a shingled roof, and enclosed by weather-boarded sides, in which are insert ed windows, and finished with a floor, as may be seen by a reference to the drawings.
The centre building forms a cover for the reservoir, its basement is a general watch-house, and the room over it is a chamber for the accommodation of the under-keepers and watchmen : at the outside of the building, on a level with this floor, a platform is designed for the purpose al ready described, a bell is hung in the roof for the watch men and domestic purposes of the institution.
It is of the first importance in a building of this nature that it should be conveniently and securely watched : to effect this, the observatory and alarm bell should be in the power of the keeper commanding the whole prison, and particularly the entrance, which is confined to one aperture —this has been happily effected in the front building ; to promote it, the internal buildings of the prison have been as few as possible, and placed so as not to obstruct the sight from the observatory.
A multiplicity of buildings scattered about the site, is here avoided, as they are objectionable, serving only as hiding places to assist escape. It will be perceived by the present plan, that the offices for cooking, washing, and other domestic purposes of the prison, are disposed in the basement of the front building ; by this arrangement the internal part of the prison is rendered more solitary and secure, and no domestic is suffered to proceed further into the interior, than the private yard of the keeper, except at meat, or watching periods, when he would be accompa nied by one of the officers of the prison.
The dimensions of the rooms and the purposes for which they are applied is expressed in the plan, and the rooms in which those who are to be employed to do the work of cooking, baking, &c. are disposed in theleft wing, with a yard and privy annexed to it for their acconnnodation ; the rooms in the right wing are applied for those purposes in which female domestics are generally employed, such as the washing, ironing, &c.; they are also provided with a
separate yard and privy. The access to those rooms in the basement, from the entrance, is by a flight of steps that descend on the right, and on the left by a similar number of steps you ascend to the rooms on both sides on the first floor, which is seven feet above the level of the ground, and entrance over the bake-room, kitchen, &c. The rooms in the left side, are appropriated for the officers of the pri son, such as the commissioners', clerks', and turnkeys' rooms, as thereon expressed : they are of suitable dimen sions, and placed in the most appropriate position ; the rooms on the right side, corresponding to those on the left, are to be used as expressed on the drawings, for the keeper and turnkeys' purposes, &c. by which it will be perceived that care has been taken to dispose conveniently of such rooms, or stores, that require the keepers' particular at tention.
In the centre room over the entrance is placed the apo thecary's room ; it would be found the most convenient and central situation, either for the use of the prism or in firmary, as you can have access to it from either side; with regard to the infirmary, it is placed to occupy the second floor of the left wing; it is the most healthy and airy situa tion, is convenient for the care of the keeper, has a private entrance ; this department requires some particular expla nation, for it would appear from the plan, as it is under the same roof, to be connected with the rest of the building ; but, on the contrary, it is a distinct and separate fire-proof section, without any door, window, or other aperture con nected with the other rooms of the building, provided with a private stone stair-ease, and entrance from an external door in the rear, and approachable only through this en trance, except in time of alarm, when the keeper can pass over from his chamber, through a fire-proof door, into the apothecary's room; thus it will be seen that in case of any contagious disease in the infirmary, there is no chance of infection to the residents of the front building. The ad vantages of this plan will be easily conceived, for all the accommodations that are contained in this front building are placed in their most desired situations, with the eco nomy of one roof, and its front wall.