C O N T E X T 1 5 0 : J U L Y 2 0 1 7 33 thus the assessment was largely based on the building’s architectural character and contribution to local townscape. In some cases, this overlooked the significance of secondary buildings, or innovations in planning. Thus Pentonville, the exemplar forVictorian prison planning, was listed only in 1994. Research work carried out by the Royal Commission on Historical Monuments for England in the 1990s culminated in the publication by English Heritage of English Prisons: an architectural history in 2002. This provided for the first time a detailed assessment of prison architecture and planning in England, helping to inform a consistent national approach to listing decisions. Historic England’s criteria for listing are published in the listing selection guide for law and government buildings. There are numerous examples across the country of former hospitals, barracks and warehouses which have been converted into attractive residential uses. In many cases, the original room sizes, general layouts, fenestration and surrounding landscape of the buildings lend themselves to conversion, with the character of the original building forming part of the appeal to purchasers. Redundant prisons tend to pose more of a challenge for re-use, due to the massive construction of typical prison wings composed of small repetitive cells and multi-height atria. As yet there are no examples of completed conversions of prisons into private residential dwellings; and it remains to be seen whether the historic associations of a former prison – which can be negative for obvious reasons – will have an impact on the marketability of the apartments. However, the purchase of former prisons by experienced residential developers is a sign of confidence that prisons can be successfully re-used for housing and other uses.The conversion of the main wings at Oxford prison for a Malmaison Hotel provides an encouraging example of how the retention of historic character can contribute to the distinctiveness and economic success of a conversion scheme. Various residential typologies and arrangements have been explored in the conversion of prison buildings.The simplest arrangement might be the conversion of a series of consecutive, horizontally adjacent cells into a one or two-bedroom apartment. An alternative approach is the conversion of a series of vertically aligned cells into a series of multi-storey town houses.While this enables the creation of larger units, it requires the insertion of individual staircases to each unit, having a greater impact on historic fabric. A further permutation is to create duplex apartments. Historic prison buildings are robustly constructed masonry structures.Cell ceilings are typically barrel-vaulted The gatehouse at Dorchester is the only listed part of the entire prison. Plans have been approved for 60 residential units in the existing buildings with an interpretation space in the gatehouse.There will also be 125 new-build residential units.
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