The Great British Dig: History in Your Back Garden

Archaeologists have uncovered a prison dating from the 19th century in the county of Wiltshire. The building’s revolutionary architectural layout meant that only a few guards were required to keep watch over a large population of inmates. This design allowed a small contingent of staff to monitor hundreds of convicts simultaneously.

A Victorian Prison in Devizes is a television programme presented as a single episode. The series focuses on historical investigations, and this particular instalment follows a team of archaeologists as they explore a forgotten site in the English countryside. During the investigation the archaeologists uncover a prison dating from the 19th century in Wiltshire. Their work reveals that the building’s design was ahead of its time, employing a layout that let a very small number of guards keep watch over a large population of inmates. The episode highlights how this revolutionary architecture meant that only a handful of staff were required to monitor hundreds of convicts. By examining the structure’s features, the team shows how the prison’s innovative plan transformed supervision within a Victorian‑era penal institution.