HMP The Verne, Portland, Dorset
The Verne Citadel is an incredible piece of architecture. Built in to the hillside atop the highest point of Portland and surrounded by an enormous moat, it’s Victorian grandeur in every sense. Built in the mid-late 18th century it became HMP The Verne – a category C prison in 1949.
Growing up on the island, The Verne had always been a place of mystery. Gazing down in to the moat and seeing arches leading in to darkness, walking around the perimeter and visitors car park looking through the old battlements & tunnels. There had always been a couple of abandoned buildings in the grounds too – extremely unsafe and weather-beaten, but interesting nonetheless.
In 2013 the prison was closed and plans put in place to turn it in to an immigration centre which would work as a kind of “holding pen” for around 600 illegal immigrants awaiting deportation. Some parts of the citadel were never converted from its military beginnings, and these antiquated, original parts are really interesting.
Walking across the bridge, easily 100ft over the moat there’s a distinct feeling of, “you ain’t getting out of here, son!” but over the prison’s 64 year period, there were in fact several escapees! HMP The Verne actually holds the record for the world’s most successful prison fugitive, notching up 60 years after escaping using knotted bedsheets!
Passing over the bridge you walk through a winding entrance tunnel, the kink in the tunnel presumably there to make would-be invaders life difficult if they ever managed to traverse the moat.
Once inside, there’s a lower level to your left, accessed via a set of stairs at the far end. It’s on this level where the old mortuary exists. Next to the mortuary is a room with a spiral staircase, it’s here where you descend in to the depths of the citadel towards the moat.
The next levels down are dark, stone passageways branching out to large rooms where infantry would defend the citadel through the slits in the thick stonework. Back to the spiral staircase you head down again and a large double-door exits in to the impressive ditch. And there’s really no easy way out of here! The moat walls surrounding you are dizzying and the thought of being a prisoner, seeing daylight thinking you’ve escaped to be confronted with this would be demoralising to say the least!
The moat has two doors around the base, the second door leads to a much more dormant, abandoned section of the citadel with passageways to the interior all blocked off. Graffiti on the walls suggest that this has been a local hang-out for kids over the decades. In fact, ask any Portlander who grew up in Fortuneswell and the surrounding areas and they’ll tell you that they often played in the prison grounds & tunnels.
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I ventured here about a year ago with my boy (kinda thought if caught trying to get to the shooting range or old mock village I could blame him) so we parked up near the main prison and followed a gap in the bushes running level to the sea, we eventually came to 7 foot spiked railings with a devotion missing with a huge keep out sign. We slipped through and came to some buildings that looked like a machine gun post, I could see the way in to the old fort some 39m down the slope, there was a rope to drop down 12 feet or so but couldn’t see it being easy for my lad to get back up.
So taking the bull by the horns we followed a footpath that twisted around the hill and straight to the fort. It was going well until I noticed a very sophisticated CCTV camera locked on to us, we were so close but thinking a bit sensible much annoying my teenager I bottled it and made our way the way we had come. I’m thinking of going back and nailing it, has anyone been recently? What happened when you went? Thanks
How do you get into the abandoned part and do you know if the CCTV works and if you can get in that way.
Is there any chance you could please email me with details how to get to here/get into here please Urban Explorer as I would really love to take a group of my friends who I go exploring with here?
Thanks,
Beth.
@Beth
http://www.itv.com/news/westcountry/2017-04-11/investigation-into-death-of-man-at-immigration-removal-centre-on-portland/
Personally I’d stay away for a few months!
Okay, thanks for the heads up! Will keep away for a little while! :)
Hi Beth we are planning on exploring some of Portland if you’re keen on tagging along this goes to anyone else.
Certainly Matt! :) could you drop me an email at bethvincephotograph76@gmail.com so we can sort something?
Hi Matt, I live on Portland and have a group of friends coming down on the weekend of the 17th March. If that ties in with your exploring let me know.
Cheers Giles
Hiya Matt,
Have you already been to this place or still waiting to go? Would absolutely love to join you if the chance is still there :)
Are you guys still exploring the area?
I used to live in a Hawksley prefabricated bungalow just opposite the derelict house in the first photo. Was there from 1957 to 1963 when the family moved down to Verne Common Road. A great place to grow up and explore but rather isolated from the rest of the islands community.
Interesting, never knew they were called “Hawksley” bungalows. I was there from 63-72 in number 23, a bit farther down the road towards the Gov’s house to the left of the picture.
I am so surprised that these vacant places you shoot have not become home to shooting galleries for heroin or meth addicts. Did you happen upon anyone like that anywhere you’ve been? Usually these types of places become home to all sorts. I’d LOVE to do an art installation in one of them.
We don’t tend to have those kind of problems in the UK, Anne. Especially in the more rural locations. Luckily I’ve never happened upon any “undesirable” while exploring but I know many who have in the bigger city areas.
How do you get in?
Went down there but the bridge has CCTV and metal guards preventing you from climbing/walking over it. The immigration centre is still there and up & running… we went inside and up to the top and even had lunch in the Prison Cafe. We couldn’t get in to the actual tunnels/prisons/photos shown here sadly. We did find the gun range and lost city close by though…
Can pics, has the whole thing been converted to an immigration centre or are the bits pictured still unused?
Looks amazing, can’t wait to pay it a visit in the near future!
According to the MOJ page, it’s still in use as an immigration removal centre?
Wonderful pics. Love the fact the plastic bag is there!
What a fantastic place and still in very good nick! Well done and thanks.
Always look forward to seeing your escapades!
Nice one! I wondered when I might be seeing this place on your website, great photos and feed as always mate