More than 30 Victorian prisons across the UK remain operational, accommodating approximately a quarter of the country's prison population. These include facilities such as HMP Lincoln and HMP Liverpool, which opened during a period between 1842 and 1877 when 90 prisons were constructed or significantly expanded.
The enduring nature of these buildings has been highlighted by photographer Andy Aitchison, whose new book, "Incarcerated," features images from Britain's still-functioning Victorian prisons. Aitchison began photographing prisons in 2004 and has since documented nearly 50 facilities, often making repeat visits.
His work, which adheres to strict conditions including not showing prisoners' faces without Ministry of Justice permission, contributes to ongoing research by geographers, criminologists, and historians. This research examines how the architecture and function of 19th-century prisons have evolved and what it is like to live and work within them today.