The original Manor of Foston and Scropton was held by the Agard family from the 14th to the 17th century. It was bought by John Bate in 1679. Richard Bate was High Sheriff of Derbyshire in 1705.[3] Brownlow Bate sold the estate to John Broadhurst in 1784. The 17th century manor house was destroyed by fire in 1836, but many parts of that house survive.
HM Prison Service acquired the hall and grounds in 1953. During its Prison Service history Foston Hall has been a detention centre, an immigration centre, and finally before its closure during 1996 a satellite of Sudbury Prison. It was re-opened on 31 July 1997, following major refurbishment and building work, as a closed-category female prison.[citation needed]
The prison today
Foston Hall Prison is spread over 5 wings; C, D, E, F, T and the First Night Centre. (A & B were recently demolished). During the COVID-19 pandemic, a wing of temporary accommodation (designated G Wing) was constructed to isolate prisoners whose roles were vital to the running of the prison (Kitchens, Laundry etc) in case of a severe outbreak. The prison can accommodate both remand and convicted. Foston Hall also has a Health Care Centre.
The prison provides inmates with work in the prison gardens, the gym, the textile and craft workshop and the kitchens, all of which can lead to qualifications. In addition the prison's education department offers NVQs in Cleaning Services and hairdressing, as well as basic and key skills learning.[citation needed]
Notable inmates
Current
Georgina Henshaw[5] – waitress who stabbed her restaurant's chef to death after boasting of her intentions to friends, sentenced to 16 years imprisonment in 2018.[6]
Lorraine Thorpe[9] – Britain's youngest female double murderer at the age of 15. One of those she killed was her own father. She became eligible for parole in 2023.[10]
Zara Phythian – Doctor Strange actress. She was jailed for eight years for sexually abusing a 13-year-old girl.[11]
Former
Maxine Carr[12] – Sentenced to three and a half years' prison for lying about her knowledge of the Soham murders.
