General views of Dartmoor Prison taken from outside the walls.
An Aerofilms view of Dartmoor Prison taken in July 1930. A zoomable version of the photograph can be viewed on the Britain From Above website here.
A curiously re-touched undated Frith's Series card. C-Hall is in the midst of being demolished in this view.
A suspiciously similar card to the one above. This one from Jarrold and Sons, Norwich. I wonder if this represents the original negative and Frith's later 'appropriated' it for their card?
An undated card by Donlion Productions, Doncaster. An earlier image than the one immediately above, note the mass of C-Hall demolished between 1945 to 1950 on the left of the picture.
An undated card from the Stuart's Real Photographic Art Series. The printing on the back is of a very slapdash quality, perhaps Depression-era? Quite why the photographer chose to fill so much of the frame with the Prison gas works remains a mystery!
An undated card published by W. B., P.
Published by Kenneth E. Ruth of Ashburton, this undated card probably dates to the 1950's.
An undated Chapman card, S/N: 11589.
An undated card from an unknown publisher. The intent to get the same view as the earlier Chapman card is quite intense really.
W H Smith were also determined to sell the same view too. An undated card from the Kingsway Series.
An undated card published by E. A. Sweetman & Son, Tunbridge Wells.
An undated view of Dartmoor Prison by an unknown publisher.
A W H Smith Kingsway Real Photo Series card. Postally used September 26 1912. A second copy of this card has fallen into my collection. Dated 27 October 1917, it reads: Mr. & Mrs. Durrant, Manor Dairy, Lufton, Yeovil, Somerset. "Dear Mr and Mrs Durrant. Just a card you will see where I am. I went to catch a train this morning with 3 horses for hunting, when the train came there was no box so I had to ride out. Hope you are all well. You can send on another cheese if you will. Love Norman."
An undated card from an anonymous publisher. Who the lone striker was, and when he carried out his protest remains unknown at this time.
A Frith's Series card. Postally used from Ashburton, September 25th 1903.
A sadly foxed and faded stereoscopic image of Dartmoor Prison. The reverse of the card simply has the word Furze for the publisher. The date is unknown, but may be one of the earliest views of the Prison.
A view of the inside of Dartmoor Prison Published by the Western Morning News after the mutiny of 1932. You can click here to see a fascinating Pathe news reel film concerning the mutiny.
This undated card is by an unknown publisher. However, I also have in my possession an identical card, also undated that states that it is a view taken by Surrey Flying Services of Croyden.
A Chapman of Dawlish aerial view of Dartmoor Prison. Undated. S/N: 17652
This is a really weird card. It is undated and has no publisher details on the reverse. Somehow, the two figures lend it almost a holiday snapshot feel.
An Aerofilms view of Dartmoor Prison taken in July 1930. A zoomable version of this view can be seen at the Britain From Above website here.
A later undated Tuck series card.
An undated W H Smith Kingsway Real Photo Series card.
A card published by H. Lord, The Cafe, Princetown. Postally used December 4 1911.
A card published by W. Willis, Princetown. Addressed but never sent to Mrs. J Wood, 142 Beaumont Road, Plymouth.
An Excel Series postcard of an unknown date. I am unsure of the use of the curious 'yardarm' structure in the middle of this picture. I have vague recollections of hearing about a semaphore system to indicate alarms to officers working on the prison farm, was this part of that system?
A few yards closer, and a couple of inches to the side. Bish bash bosh, job done. An undated Kingsway card.
An undated card by an unknown publisher. The meaning of the initials " C. T. P. & F. H. " remain obscure. Note the absence of the bell tower of the administration block, this card must date to after the mutiny of 1932.
An undated card by Judges Ltd., Hastings.
A card from the Western Morning News Prison Mutiny commemorative series.
Possibly dating to 1904 judging by the scaffolding around the construction of part of A-Wing, this is a Valentine's Series card S/N: 14918.
An undated card by Photochrom Ltd., London and Tunbridge Wells.
An undated Frith's Series card.
An undated card, published by Two Bridges (Dartmoor) Hotel, Ltd.
An undated WH Smith's Kingsway series view card.
A wonderfully sharp W. R. Gay's Series card. Sadly visually dominated by the wall at the bottom of the picture. Undated.
A postcard by an unknown publisher, postally used December 17 1908.
A later, undated Chapman card. A tinted version of an earlier photograph:
A classic Chapman postcard of Dartmoor Prison, S/N 10955. With pin sharp focus from the front to the rear of the image, this demonstrates just how good Chapman's work could be.
An undated card, published by W. E. Tooker, Post Office, Princetown.
A Frith's Series card S/N 41951. According to their archive this image was taken in 1898, a date that would fit with the barracks buildings still being existent, as can be seen to the left of the picture.
Postally used 18th June or July 1934, this card was published by S. B. Wadge, Tavistock. The American Prisoner of War Memorial arch can be quite clearly seen to the right of the picture.
The third, and latest of a series of views taken from an almost identical viewpoint. C-Hall is undergoing demolition which dates this card from an unknown publisher to between 1945-1950.
An undated later period Chapman card. S/N 4666
A Frith's Series card, postally unused. The view taken from the bridge over the Devonport Leat above the Ockery Bridge.
A W H Smith Kingsway Series card. Postally used 8th December 1932.
An undated Chapman view of the Prison S/N: 10956, taken a few yards forward of the view above.
Another view taken from beside the Devonport leat on an undated card from an unknown publisher.
An Aerofilms view of Dartmoor Prison taken in July 1930. A zoomable version of this view can be seen at the Britain From Above website here.