Ashford Remand Centre ,(Inside Times report ‘Behind the Gate’), ‘had been in operation from the 1950s and held boys between the ages of 14 and 21 who were either remanded by the courts or sentenced to periods of youth custody. The sentenced prisoners were known as ‘YPs’ (Young Prisoners) and would do most of the jobs around the prison. Ashford Remand Centre had a bad reputation for violence and bullying amongst its young prisoners, and the fabric of the buildings was very poor with many broken windows, furniture, and cell-fittings. In short, Ashford Remand Centre was a prison slum and its eventual closure was mourned by very few’.
At least 8 Islington Survivors were placed at Ashford in the 70s and 80s by the courts. The press cuttings below show that Islington Social Workers raised the alarm about the conditions in Ashford at that time. It was closed in 1988 and reopened for a brief time before it closed permanently in 1990.
Islington Survivors Network 