Description of Historic Place

The Former Prison for Women, also known as Building A3, is located within the enclosed complex at Kingston Penitentiary. This three-storey, stone building features a rectilinear plan, a classically detailed main entrance, and a shallow hipped roof cupped with a cupola. Bands of large, rectangular windows are evenly spaced around the façades. The designation is confined to the footprint of the building.

Heritage Value

The Former Prison for Women is a Recognized Federal Heritage Building because of its historical associations, and its architectural and environmental value.

Historical Value
The Former Prison for Women is strongly associated with the evolution of thought in Canadian penology. In particular, the separate treatment of female prisoners, the employment of outside cells, and behaviour modification through classification and distinctive treatment. Women first admitted to Kingston Penitentiary in 1835 were housed temporarily in the prison hospital and then in the north wing. In 1913 the women inmates moved into the first separate facility for women in Canada known as the “female department” of Kingston Penitentiary. Overcrowding led to the establishment of a separate prison for women outside of the Penitentiary complex in 1934. The Former Prison for Women became a facility attempting to segregate and offer specialized treatment to inmates of different types and later became an administrative building.

Architectural Value
The Former Prison for Women is a very good example of modernized classical revival architecture. Classical features of this style include the rectilinear plan, the classically detailed main entrance and the small, central cupola. Modernized features include the windows grouped in vertical bands and the ashlar quoins used to trim the regularly spaced window recesses. This building is the only existing building at Kingston Penitentiary, attributable to Henry H. Horsey, an architect who specialized in prison design.

Environmental Value
The Former Prison for Women is compatible with the present character of its institutional setting at the Kingston Penitentiary.

Sources: Dana Johnson, Kingston Penitentiary, Kingston, Ontario, Federal Heritage Building Review Office Building Report 89-032; Prison for Women (A-3), Kingston Penitentiary, Kingston, Ontario, Heritage Character Statement, 89-032.

Character-Defining Elements

The following character-defining elements of the Former Prison for Women should be respected.

Its modernized classical revival architecture, for example: the rectilinear plan and the medium-pitched, hipped roof capped by a small central cupola; the masonry construction; the moulded main cornice and the main entrance which consists of two flanking pilasters capped by an entablature; the arrangement of windows grouped in vertical bands with two or three superimposed large rectangular openings separated by panelled spandrels; the ashlar quoins used to trim the regularly spaced window recesses.

The manner in which the Former Prison for Women is compatible with the present character of the institutional setting at the Kingston Penitentiary, as evidenced by: its modernized classical revival architecture, scale and materials which are compatible with the adjacent structures within the institutional complex.

Heritage Character Statement

Disclaimer - The heritage character statement was developed by FHBRO to explain the reasons for the designation of a federal heritage building and what it is about the building that makes it significant (the heritage character). It is a key reference document for anyone involved in planning interventions to federal heritage buildings and is used by FHBRO in their review of interventions.

The Prison for Women was erected between 1909 and 1913 to a design prepared by the architect Henry H. Horsey. No significant external modifications were made to the building before 1959-60, when it was converted to administrative use. The breaking of 10 or more new window openings, the breaking down of three existing windows to form doors, and the addition of one or more glazed porches date from this conversion. All of the interior partitioning and many of the stairways date from the same 1959-60 conversion. The Prison for Women is currently operated by Correctional Services Canada as an administration building for Kingston Penitentiary.

See FHBRO Building Report 89-32.

Reason for Designation

The Prison for Women was designated Recognized because of its historic association, the quality of its architecture, and the integrity of its environment. The building is a very good example of Horsey's work.

The building is associated with the evolution of thought in Canadian penology, in particular the separate treatment of female prisoners, the employment of outside cells and behavior modification through classification and distinctive treatment.

Architecturally the building is in the modernized Classic Revival style and as such harmonizes with its older neighbours. The Prison for Women is the only extant building at Kingston Penitentiary, attributable to Henry H. Horsey, an architect who specialized in prison architecture.

Those changes which have been made to the landscape adjacent to the building, i.e. the demolition of the garden wall and the realignment of pathways have not altered substantially the historic relationship between the building and its site.

Character Defining Elements

The heritage character of the Prison for Women resides in its status as a very good example of modernized Classical Revival architecture. At the exterior, the traditional Classical features, characteristic of the style are: the rectilinear plan, the moulded main cornice, the classically detailed main entrance feature (two flanking pilasters
capped by an entablature) and the medium pitched hipped roof capped by a small central cupola. The modern features distinguishing the style are: the windows grouped in vertical bands (two or three superimposed large rectangular openings separated by panelled spandrels) and the ashlar quoins used to trim the regularly spaced window recesses. Internally, the building has been stripped of all significant original fabric.

The presence of so many original architectural elements at the exterior (notwithstanding the alterations of 1959-60) and the coherency and unity of design which can still be read, means the designation applies to the whole exterior of the building with the exception of the various porches which contribute little to the visual integrity of the elevations.

The restoration of the original pattern of window openings and plain wall (when and where functionally possible) and the redesign of the porches in a more architecturally respectful and harmonious manner would enhance the aesthetic qualities of the building. Repairs which would ensure the survival of the stone chimneys, roof dormers and cupola, should be continued.

The existing drainage gutter at the base of the wall around the perimeter of the building, with its pedestrian crossovers is an important landscape feature both functionally and visually. The maintenance of this feature, in its present form, will ensure the integrity of the historical relationship between the building and the landscaping of the entry courtyard.