This is hardly the most prepossessing space, but after the sense of secure enclosure elsewhere in the prisoners' environment, time spent in this space must come as a relief. Certainly, I was thankful to walk outdoors here.

The main building facing the yard is the gym where Scott, the prisoner I met, works. I was curious to know what crime had brought him here - particularly as he referred to his 'difficult case'. However, I respected the prison protocol that 'entry qualifications' were not mentioned in conversation.

I had expected that prisoners would collect their meals from a service counter (with other prisoners ladling out the chips and peas) and eat in a large refectory as you see in American movies. But most eat their meals off a tray in their cell in front of the television.

The newest building, around 10 years old, offered up to date facilities for processing the reception of prisoners, visitors, kitchens and video court links. In a way that somewhat relieved the gloom of the Victorian cell blocks.