Ironing room at the Brixton Prison

Book illustration of the ironing room at Brixton Prison from page 193 of 'The criminal prisons of London and scenes of prison life' by Henry Mayhew and John Binny. From the wash room the authors pass to the drying room and then the ironing room "and as we approached the place, we knew by the smell of burnt flannel the nature of the occupation carried on within. Here were gas-stoves for heating the irons, the ordinary grates being found too hot for the summer, and there was a large blanketed dresser, at which a crowd of clean-looking women were at work, in very white aprons, while the place resounded with the continued click of the irons returned every now and the to their metal stands. On the floor stood baskets of newly-ironed clothes, and plaited, and looking positively like so much moulded snow; whilst, over-head, might be heard the rumbling of the mangles at work on the upper floor."